Although Shinfield’s VE Day Commemorations had to be cancelled due to the current restrictions we’ve taken the opportunity to update our website to create an area about the impact of the Second World War, and the Great War, on the … Continued
As we celebrate 100 years of Women’s right to vote in the UK, our group wanted to show what impact this had on the local community, and how many women’s lives this fundamentally changed. The campaign for women had begun … Continued
In reviewing our new book, it occurred to us that for such a small village which is expanding rapidly we are blessed with some lovely buildings and other assets. We have the old United Reformed Church building now turned into … Continued
With Christmas almost upon us again, the theme this time is simply Christmas. There was a workhouse at Grazeley, which we hope to research. Prior to 1834, Christmas day was the traditional treat for most workhouse inmates when they would … Continued
A Quiz based upon words of the 1720s. What are the meanings of the following words taken from John Watts Memorandum of 1722-3 and 1728-9? 1. SALLETS 2. BEARWARDS 3. BROACHES 4. NEATS 5. COLLATION 6. COLLERD 7. MONTEBANKS … Continued
Spencers Wood has a clear sense of its own identity. It has however been a community for not much more than two hundred years. It was formerly an area of common land, woods and farms with small groups of poor … Continued
It is good that the new Co-operative shop in Shinfield is involved with the community but there was also a shop in Spencers Wood some years ago. This one was established in 1921, by the Reading Co-operative Society (RCS) whose … Continued
Lorna Merry was a founder member of Spencers Wood Women‘s Institute who gave the group these memories to go in our first village book. Initially there were only twenty members but the numbers increased to around sixty or so. They … Continued
Spencers Wood – Farms, Pubs and Stores – An Analysis of the 1881 Census The 1881 census does not really differentiate between the villages – be it Grazeley, Three Mile Cross, Shinfield Village or Spencers Wood. Our group have spent … Continued
William Clements, aged 28, was recorded as being a baker at Anita’s, in 1891 employing his brother Arthur John Clements. William died in 1902 and Arthur, born in 1873, took over as William left a widow (Emily Cordery) and five … Continued