Wokingham has more than 1,000 years of history, yet underneath the vestiges of the modern town, it is still possible to uncover a secret past that includes takes of bull baiting and highwayman, breweries and medieval fairs.
A new book, Secret Wokingham, looks at the history of the town.
Finchampstead author Richard Gibbs wrote: “Secret Wokingham lies to be discovered by those who open their eyes.
“Much of the town’s history is hidden in plain view. If we know where to look, and what we’re looking for, the story of the town can be uncovered by walking around.”
Looking at why the location of the town was chosen as long ago as 750 AD, he wrote: “The Emm Brook is a small river that flows to the west of the town. It is not navigable and probably never has been. It would have been attractive to small game, which could have been hunted and, of course, it would have provided a water supply for the inhabitants of the embryonic town.
“The town is around 75 metres above sea level, which makes it approximately 30 metres higher than the surrounding area. It would probably have been drier due to its elevation, and being sited on gravel, would have been less prone to flooding and cold dampness.
“Wokingham sits on what was the border between two distinct kinds of landscapes and environments, one providing timber the other providing pasture for cattle. The town was situated on the edge of a vast forest that we now know as Windsor Great Park.
“As the forest petered out, the countryside to the west of the town would have become more open heathland as reflected in the name East Heath.
“We can speculate that the choice of location was, consequently, not random but deliberate. The site would have provided numerous benefits to the earliest inhabitants.”
The book looks at many historic and notable events in Wokingham through the ages, many of which are depicted in images of the town that are still recognisable today.
It will be tempting to stroll around the town, book in hand, to spot some of the locations and events that have been depicted.
Whether you’re new to the town or have lived here all your life, this book will certainly give you a glimpse into the history of the town we call home.
Secret Wokingham by Richard Gibbs will be published by Amberley Publishing on September 15, and is priced at £15.99.
