Woolhampton, A Civil Parish And Village In West Berkshire, England
Woolhampton is a civil parish and village in West Berkshire between Newbury and Reading. The A4 road bisects the village, and most of the residences are clustered on the northern side. The Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Kennet traverse through the southern part of the parish where Woolhampton Lock is found. The River Enborne marks the southern boundary.
The name of the parish is derived from the Saxon word “Wulflafingatun”, but the record in the Domesday Book written by the Normans in Latin was “Ollivintone”. The name evolved to ‘Woulhampton’ in 1588 at the time of the Armada.
Food, Shopping And Accommodation In Woolhampton
Since the village is strategically located along the Bath road, it has become famous for its coaching inn. Most of the coaching inns banished through time except for the Angel, which was converted into the Falmouth Arms, a traditional country pub. The Rowbarge, an 18th-century building, is another pub in the village serving creative British dishes. It can be found along the Kennet and Avon Canal close to the swing bridge.
While the village itself has no accommodation to offer, visitors can go to Reading or Newbury for accommodation.
Things To See And Do In Woolhampton
The Woolhampton Reed Bed, an open land consisting of a dense reed bed, carr woodland and tall fen plants, is one of the Sites of Special Science Interest in Berkshire. The protected area is noted for the variety of insects it supports and as a nesting place for passerine birds.
The Douai Abbey, a monastery of monks of the Benedictine Congregation, is a place of interest in Woolhampton. It was originally founded in 1615 in Paris, transferred at Douai in Flanders and finally settled in this town in 1903. At present, the monastery is open to guests for retreats and seminars as well as for individual quiet time. There are modestly sized facilities for meetings and conferences, and a library and archive which are rich in resources for research and studies. Occasionally, the monks host religious concerts by famous performers.