Four oak uprights with red clay tiled roof, square, open sided, contains central modern concrete slabs framing broken stump of an iron pump shaft and base. The shelter itself is marked with a dedication to Queen Victoria on two sides of the tie beam for the roof, which reads on one side ‘To the memory of Queen Victoria, in the year of the Coronation of her son Edward VII, 1902′, while on the opposite side is a biblical text, ‘O ye wells, Bless ye the Lord’ (from the Hymnal Benedicite omnia opera domine (15)).
Although the shelter is referred to as a well shelter, the remains of an iron pump shaft can be seen at the centre of the two concrete slabs which now sit at the centre of the shelter.
The field itself is known as The Wells, which suggests a well or wells stood here, perhaps later replaced with a village pump. Although the HER record suggests the shelter has been moved from an original setting there is no absolute evidence of this. There is a pump marked on the 1936 6 inch to a mile map (Berkshire XLIV.4)
The shelter alone is to be listed.
A few well-head shelters survive in West Berkshire, but this is notable in part because of the inscription, which is unusual – generally memorials to Edward V or Victoria are statues, drinking fountains or memorial stones, not something of greater public worth. It is in good condition, attractive and well maintained, and is a local landmark because of its position in a well-used recreation area.
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