Wargrave Local History Society

THE Old Pavilion meeting room was full for Wargrave Local History Society’s April meeting, when Clive Williams – formerly Berkshire County Council’s County Secretary and County Solicitor, gave an entertaining and informative insight into the history of Shire Hall and some of the personalities involved in its running.

The County Council was formed in 1889.

At that time, the county town was Abingdon, and the population of the county was about 176,000 (Reading then being a separate county borough) – the first members of Berkshire County Council including several major landowners.

New law courts were built in Reading, and so that became the county town, with the old Shire Hall built in 1912, although many departments were in buildings scattered across the town. It was replaced by the building at Shinfield Park in 1982, bringing all the departments together.

Clive recalled various incidents, from the pushing of the heavy gate at a bridge into the River Thames, the serving of a building preservation order, or the invitation to council members to go to the top of a tall fire engine ladder to view a site under discussion!

He has written a book of Shire Hall Recalled, which is due to be published shortly.

The next meeting, at the Old Pavilion on the Recreation Ground, Wargrave, will be at 8pm on Tuesday, May 8, when noted local historian Dr Margaret Simons will share some of her discoveries about Reading in the First World War.

Contact me, Peter Delaney, by visiting our website www. wargravehistory.org.uk/, or on 0118 940 3121 for more information about the Society.