Wargrave Local History Society’s December meeting was the Christmas Party, when members enjoyed delicious festive fare prepared by Wendy Smith.
During the evening, the society’s secretary showed some items From the Archives, with photographs recently added to the collection.
On this occasion, they covered a slightly wider area than the village itself, with images from over the last century or so.
The earliest was from 1915, when Empire Day was celebrated in Crazies Hill on May 25, and young people received a certificate for “helping to send some comfort and happiness to the brave sailors and soldiers of the British Empire, fighting to uphold Liberty, Justice, Honour and Freedom in the Great War.”
The original postcard had been printed ‘back to front’, but was able to be turned round the right way to be shown.
The rivers have had an impact on village life for centuries and, from the early 20th century, 1930s houseboats were moored along the banks of the Loddon, to be followed by development on the adjacent plots, the houses being built up on piers to be clear of the flood waters that can affect the area, as could be seen in a 1990 picture where the land on both sides of the river could was under water from the St George and Dragon to the Henley Sailing Club.
Changes in the wider area included views in Reading, which had several department stores in time past, and where trolleybuses existed until 1968, and tram tracks were still in place over 30 years after they last ran, while the building of the local motorways featured in 1970s images, and other views showed how parts of the town centre have changed in the last 50 years.
Examples of aerial photographs from the early 1960s and late 1970s revealed changes in the landscape and village development.
Down at ground level, the most recent picture shown was one taken at the bottom of Victoria Road in 2021, but even that is now a historic image, as the large Edwardian house had been demolished earlier this year.
Fortunately history society members have been able to it photograph it before that happened, recording the present for the benefit of future historians.
More details of the Society can be found at www.wargravehistory.org.uk – or email info@wargravehistory.org.uk to confirm meeting details.
PETER DELANEY
