News

Local Listing Submissions approved

The Local Listing submissions for The Dell, Bucklebury; St Gabriel's Convent Chapel, Cold Ash; the Baseball Bleachers and Baseball Scoreboard at the John Mello Field, Greenham; and the Georgian Water Pump at Linear Park, Holybrook; have all been approved for inclusion on the Local List.

The Forum welcomes suggestions for Local Listing. Assets should not be nationally Listed, and should have a local historic connection or value to the community.

Blue Plaque for Doris Page

A Blue Plaque has been unveiled for the writer and disability campaigner Doris Page (1925-1991). Doris contracted polio in 1955 and was confined to an iron lung for the rest of her life. With her husband's support, she returned to her home at 39 Essex Street in 1957, and campaigned for the infrastructure to allow disabled people to live a viable home life, as a founder member of the charity "Independence at Home". She also wrote on disability issues under the pen name 'Ann Armstrong' and edited The Responaut magazine from 1963-88. She was awarded an MBE in 1968.

Everyday Heritage Grants - Celebrating Working Class Histories

Historic England has announced its Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories, which will fund community-led and people-focused projects which aim to further the nation's collective understanding of the past. The grants will focus on heritage which links people to overlooked historic places, with a particular interest in recognising and celebrating working class history.

Local Listing Panel Recommendations - Consultation

Of the five submissions put forward in August, four were recommended by the Panel to go forward for Listing. They are:

Baseball Seating and Scoreboard at Diamond Playing Field, Greenham

St Gabriel's Convent Chapel, Cold Ash

The Dell, Lindens, Upper Bucklebury

Georgian Water Pump, Linear Park, Calcot

A consultation is running and will close on 20th January. members of the public may make representations in support of or against the recommendations.

https://info.westberks.gov.uk/locallist

Local Listing Panel 23rd August 1-4pm

A Local Listing Panel will be held on 23rd August at The Old Bluecoat School, Chapel Street, Thatcham RG18 4QN. Numbers may be limited in line with Government guidelines.

To be considered: Alec McCurdy's workshop at Woodland Leaves, Cold Ash; St Gabriel's Convent Chapel, Cold Ash; The baseball scoreboard and bleachers at the John Mello(w) Field (The Diamond) Greenham; The Dell, Bucklebury; and the Georgian water pump, Linear Park, Holybrook.

For more information on the Local List of Heritage Assets see West Berkshire Coucnil website:

Sandham Memorial Chapel reopens

The exhibition and chapel building at Sandham Memorial Chapel will reopen to visitors on 20th May. The orchard and gardens are open Thursday to Sunday. If you wish to visit the Chapel you will need to book in advance, tickets are released every Friday and visitors should book by 3pm on the day before their visit.

For more information and to book tickets please go online: 

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sandham-memorial-chapel

Archaeology at Greenham

Since October 2020, Thames Valley Archaeological Services have been excavating at a site at Greenham. Initially little archaeology was expected, but a wealth of features, including roundhouses and Roman artefacts and a burial have been found. The site has been occupied from the Bronze Age.

More information is available on the TVAS website: http://tvas.co.uk/news/post036-Greenham.html

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