Whitley welcomes the M4
WHITLEY watched on throughout the 1960s as the M4 was built, connecting London and the west.
This week’s photograph was taken in 1968 by a resident from the area where the footbridge was built over the motorway at the junction between Whitley Wood Lane and Longmore Road.
The footbridge was primarily used by students at Ryeish Green School, but was also used as a shortcut to the Six Bells and Black Boy pubs.
Whitley Community Museum curator David Turner said: “The construction of the motorway and Junction 11 changed that area of Whitley immeasurably.
“We have all become used to the changes now, but who can remember, for instance, how the A33 Basingstoke Road was a straight road through to Three Mile Cross and Spencers Wood?
“At the commencement of the motorway construction in the late 1960s, I stood in the car park of the Black Boy and managed a few photographs of the diggers in progress as they created the cutting the motorway would take through Whitley. Officially the Black Boy was closed for safety reasons so I was not able to stay very long.”
Mr Turner remembered that the pub was closed as large cracks had started to appear when the diggers commenced work. Remedial work was carried out which meant the pub was able to reopen.
“The A327 to Shinfield and Arborfield at the point of the Black Boy Pub had to be removed so a temporary bailey bridge had to be installed,” he added.
“It was like this for some years with many of us thinking it would become permanent.
“Now, of course, it has changed yet again with another replacement bridge to link up with the Shinfield bypass. The pub also had a name change recently and is now known as the Shinfield Arms.”
Resident Mart Rippe remembered the Dairy at
Whites Farm, which sadly was demolished to make way for the M4 construction. The farm can just be seen in one of my ‘digger’ photographs.
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