Tilehurst

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Tilehurst
population= 40,349
unitary_england=Reading
unitary_england1=West Berkshire
lieutenancy_england=Berkshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Reading West
post_town= READING
postcode_district= RG30, RG31
postcode_area=RG
dial_code= 0118
os_grid_reference= SU667736
latitude= 51.4579
longitude= -1.0406

Tilehurst is a suburb of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is also, with different boundaries as described below, a civil parish.

Location

Tilehurst is situated on the high ground some three miles (5 km) to the west of central Reading. This high ground rises gradually from central Reading with its highest point at the extreme west of Tilehurst. The area is bounded to the north by the valley of the River Thames, to the south by the valley of the River Kennet and to the west by the valley of the Rivers Pang and Bourne. In contrast to the gentle rise from the east, the drops into all three of these valleys are steep, as instanced by the steep road inclines of Kentwood, Langley, Norcot and Sulham Hills.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 - Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.]

Because of this high ground, the main roads and railway lines of the area by-pass Tilehurst, with the Bath Road and railway line to the West Country in the valley to the south, and the Oxford Road and Great Western Main Line to Bristol, South Wales and the Midlands in the valley to the north.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 - Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.]

Tilehurst railway station is in the extreme north of the Tilehurst area. Reading Buses provides 8 buses an hour during week days on its route 17 from the central area of Tilehurst to Reading town centre. Other Reading Buses routes link other parts of Tilehurst to the town centre via different routes, some being frequent premier routes with several buses an hour, whilst others are less frequent.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 - Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.] cite web | title = Reading Buses - Service Route Details - From 25th February 2008 | url = http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/Service%20route%20details%20from%2025%20Feb/ | publisher = Reading Transport Ltd | accessdate = 2008-02-29]

Government

Changes to local government boundaries over the years have split local government responsibility for Tilehurst. This fragmentation tends to lead to confusion and political controversy.

The eastern part of Tilehurst (sometimes referred to as "Tilehurst Within") is in the Borough of Reading, forming the "Tilehurst", "Kentwood" and "Norcot" wards of that borough. All local government responsibility for this part of Tilehurst lies with the borough council.

The western part of Tilehurst (sometimes referred to as "Tilehurst Without") forms part of the civil parish of Tilehurst, which has an elected parish council. This part of Tilehurst falls within the area of the unitary authority of West Berkshire, forming the "Birch Copse" and "Westwood" wards of that district. The civil parish of Tilehurst also includes that part of the adjacent suburb of Calcot that lies to the north of the A4 Bath Road, but this area falls within the "Calcot" ward of West Berkshire. Both the parish council and the unitary authority are responsible for different aspects of local government.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 - Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.] cite web | url = http://www.westberks.gov.uk/media/pdf/n/j/04_d__Ward_Boundaries.pdf | title = Ward Boundaries effective from May 2003 | publisher = West Berkshire Council | accessdate = 2007-09-26]

All of Tilehurst falls within the Reading West constituency of the UK Parliament and the South East England constituency of the European Parliament.

The three Reading Borough wards making up Tilehurst Within have an area of 6.3 square kilometres and a total population of 29,329 living in 11,723 dwellings. The two West Berkshire wards of Birch Copse and Westwood have an area of 4.17 km² and a total population of 11,020 living in 4091 dwellings. Tilehurst as whole thus has an area of 10.47 km² and a population of 40,349 living in 15,814 dwellings.cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics home page | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do?bhcp=1 | publisher = National Statistics | accessdate = 2007-08-26]

History

The name Tilehurst comes from tigel or tile and hurst or wooded hill. Tile manufacturing was present in the district until recent times.
* 1167: First mention as Tigelhurst
* 1189: Founding of Church of St Michael, Tilehurst
* 14th century: Now Tygelhurst
* 16th century: Tylehurst
* Later Tilehurst

The manor house of Tilehurst is at Calcot Park within the ancient parish. It was, for many years, the home of the Blagrave family, whose members include the mathematician, John Blagrave, and the regicide, Daniel Blagrave. In March 1894 JH Blagrave sold an area of land to the Church wardens and overseers of the parish of Tilehurst. This land later became known as the Blagrave Recreation Park (or the Rec). It was agreed that the land was there for the children of the area to use. Since then, it has been used by people of all ages, from various backgrounds. In March 1898 Tilehurst Parish Council were appointed as trustees being replaced by the forerunner of Reading Borough Council in February 1914.

William Lloyd, the late 17th century bishop of St Asaph, Lichfield and Coventry, and Worcester was born in Tilehurst in 1627.

See also

*Arthur Newbery Park
*Denefield School
*Little Heath School
*St Michael's Church
*Tilehurst railway station

References

External links

* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/tilehurst.html Royal Berkshire History: Tilehurst]
* [http://www.stmichaeltilehurst.org.uk/ St. Michael's Church, Tilehurst]
* [http://www.tilehurst.net www.tilehurst.net]
* [http://www.tilehurst-terriers.co.uk Tilehurst Terriers Football Club]
* [http://www.tilehurstpanthers.com Tilehurst Panthers Football Club]