Woodley

Woodley is a town in the English county of Berkshire. It forms part of the metropolitan area of Reading, although not part of the Borough of Reading.

History

The name Woodley means 'a clearing in the wood', probably referring to Windsor Great Forest which was once much bigger than its current size.

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Until the 1930s, Woodley was a very small village of no great significance. In that decade, an airfield and flying school was opened in the 100 Acre Field belonging to Sandford Farm. In 1932, F.G. Miles came to Woodley and joined forces with Philips and Powis in the production of the Miles Hawk airplane, leading to the foundation of Miles Aircraft Ltd which continued producing aircraft in Woodley until after the second world war. During the pre-war years many famous aviators landed at Woodley, including Charles Lindbergh and Amy Johnson; Douglas Bader lost his legs in an accident on the airfield.

Related Topics:
1930s - 1932 - Miles Hawk - Miles Aircraft Ltd - Charles Lindbergh - Amy Johnson - Douglas Bader

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After the war Woodley continued to grow, with industry relocating from Reading and new housing growing up. In the 1960s a new town centre was created, replacing the old village shops. In the 1980s the airfield site was redeveloped as a major housing area, and Woodley is now largely indistinguishable from Reading to the casual visitor.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1980s

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In the west of Woodley, the large house of Bulmershe Court was built in 1777 by James Wheble. The house was subsequently bought by Henry Addington, at that time Speaker of the House of Commons and later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He lived there when not in London and was frequently visited by other prominent figures of the age, including William Pitt the Younger and, it is said, King George III. During the second world war, the house was used by the US Army. In the 1960s it was demolished and replaced by a teacher training college which has subsequently become part of the University of Reading.

Related Topics:
Bulmershe Court - 1777 - Henry Addington - Speaker of the House of Commons - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - London - William Pitt the Younger - King George III - US Army - 1960s - University of Reading

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