Bottom Shaw

Wood, Forest in Oxfordshire South Oxfordshire

England

Bottom Shaw

Direction Sign – Signpost on Hardwick Road, Whitchurch-on-Thames Located on the southwest side of the junction of Hardwick Road, Sheepwash Lane and a bridleway to Mapledurham, in Whitchurch-on-Thames parish. 3 arms and pawn finial. See also <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2182449" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2182449">Link</a>.

Milestone Society National ID: OX_SU6577
Direction Sign – Signpost on Hardwick Road, Whitchurch-on-Thames Credit: John V Nicholls

Bottom Shaw is a picturesque woodland area located in Oxfordshire, England. Nestled within the larger Shaw Forest, this tranquil spot is a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful escape from the bustling city life. The area is renowned for its dense woodlands, providing a serene setting for leisurely walks and exploration.

Covering an expansive area of approximately 100 acres, Bottom Shaw boasts a rich variety of plant and animal life. Towering oak and beech trees dominate the landscape, forming a lush canopy that offers shade and shelter to a diverse range of woodland creatures. Visitors can expect to encounter an array of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, and a multitude of bird species.

The woodland paths wind through the forest, guiding visitors along the enchanting trails that showcase the natural beauty of Bottom Shaw. The area is particularly captivating during the spring, when the forest floor becomes carpeted with vibrant bluebells, creating a breathtaking sight.

Bottom Shaw is also home to a small pond, where visitors can observe an assortment of aquatic life, such as frogs and dragonflies. The pond serves as a peaceful spot for reflection and relaxation, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the surroundings.

With its idyllic setting and abundance of natural beauty, Bottom Shaw offers a peaceful retreat for nature lovers and those seeking a break from the fast-paced urban lifestyle. Whether it's a leisurely stroll, wildlife spotting, or simply enjoying the serenity of the woods, Bottom Shaw provides a truly rejuvenating experience for all who visit.

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Bottom Shaw Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.49534/-1.0368872 or Grid Reference SU6677. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Direction Sign – Signpost on Hardwick Road, Whitchurch-on-Thames Located on the southwest side of the junction of Hardwick Road, Sheepwash Lane and a bridleway to Mapledurham, in Whitchurch-on-Thames parish. 3 arms and pawn finial. See also <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2182449" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2182449">Link</a>.

Milestone Society National ID: OX_SU6577
Direction Sign – Signpost on Hardwick Road, Whitchurch-on-Thames
Located on the southwest side of the junction of Hardwick Road, Sheepwash Lane and a bridleway to Mapledurham, in Whitchurch-on-Thames parish. 3 arms and pawn finial. See also Link. Milestone Society National ID: OX_SU6577
No Trace of The Fox This place now has no resemblance to earlier photos here.
Graham Horn's picture from 15 years ago shows the building which used to be on this site until a few years ago. Then it was a large pub "The Fox" <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/348561">SU6779 : The Fox at Cane End</a>
A later picture of mine <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2083210">SU6779 : Palm Tree  (Ex Fox)</a> shows it as an Indian restaurant "The Palm Tree."  
In my caption at the time I wished them luck in this tricky out of town location.
Not to be. After yet another spell as a Thai restaurant the place finally closed its doors.
Now demolished and replaced by these new houses. The only clues are the pub style sign post which now carries the developer's name board and the new cul de sac which is called Fox Heath Gardens..
No Trace of The Fox
This place now has no resemblance to earlier photos here. Graham Horn's picture from 15 years ago shows the building which used to be on this site until a few years ago. Then it was a large pub "The Fox" SU6779 : The Fox at Cane End A later picture of mine SU6779 : Palm Tree (Ex Fox) shows it as an Indian restaurant "The Palm Tree." In my caption at the time I wished them luck in this tricky out of town location. Not to be. After yet another spell as a Thai restaurant the place finally closed its doors. Now demolished and replaced by these new houses. The only clues are the pub style sign post which now carries the developer's name board and the new cul de sac which is called Fox Heath Gardens..
Oxford Road (A329), Purley on Thames
Oxford Road (A329), Purley on Thames
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: rear view
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: rear view
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: The Good Samaritan
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: The Good Samaritan
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: pulpit
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: pulpit
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (1)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (1)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (2)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (2)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (3)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: memorial (3)
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: Norman window
St Mary, Purley-on-Thames: Norman window
Pumpkins by the Greenhouse Back after a couple of years off due to covid, the Tolhurst Organic Farm Squash & Pumpkin Festival was back this year. 
So many pumpkins.
This lot is by one of the old greenhouses which were once part of the Hardwick Hall kitchen garden.
The OS map still marks it with the crosshatch Greenhouse symbol.
Pumpkins by the Greenhouse
Back after a couple of years off due to covid, the Tolhurst Organic Farm Squash & Pumpkin Festival was back this year. So many pumpkins. This lot is by one of the old greenhouses which were once part of the Hardwick Hall kitchen garden. The OS map still marks it with the crosshatch Greenhouse symbol.
Squash & Pumpkin Festival, 2022 After a couple of years off due to covid, the Tolhurst Organic Farm Squash & Pumpkin Festival was back this year. 
We are in the old kitchen garden next to Hardwick Hall for the festival, but the farm covers several nearby fields.
Not just for Halloween, all these varieties are good to eat. Some better than others, but that's vegetables for you.
Squash & Pumpkin Festival, 2022
After a couple of years off due to covid, the Tolhurst Organic Farm Squash & Pumpkin Festival was back this year. We are in the old kitchen garden next to Hardwick Hall for the festival, but the farm covers several nearby fields. Not just for Halloween, all these varieties are good to eat. Some better than others, but that's vegetables for you.
Reading Road, Cane End
Reading Road, Cane End
Reading Road in Green Dean Wood
Reading Road in Green Dean Wood
Horsepond Road, Cane End
Horsepond Road, Cane End
Working watermill, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire C15; extended C17, C18 and C19. Red brick with random grey headers; weatherboarding; plain tile roof. Complex plan. 2 storeys and attic; 3-window range. Central plank door with 2-light windows to left and right with segmental brick heads. Single window to first floor. Weatherboarding to half-hipped cross-gable to roof with 3-light window. Weatherboarded sack hoist; cupola with pyramidal tile roof to centre. Subsidiary wing to left of single storey and attic; with single window to ground floor. gabled dormer. Interior: Timber framing, part probably a survival from the C15 mill. Good collection of mill machinery.

(Source:Historic England)
Working watermill, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire
C15; extended C17, C18 and C19. Red brick with random grey headers; weatherboarding; plain tile roof. Complex plan. 2 storeys and attic; 3-window range. Central plank door with 2-light windows to left and right with segmental brick heads. Single window to first floor. Weatherboarding to half-hipped cross-gable to roof with 3-light window. Weatherboarded sack hoist; cupola with pyramidal tile roof to centre. Subsidiary wing to left of single storey and attic; with single window to ground floor. gabled dormer. Interior: Timber framing, part probably a survival from the C15 mill. Good collection of mill machinery. (Source:Historic England)
The King Charles Head, Goring Heath, Oxfordshire The history of this building from pub to private house can be seen here <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/26752">SU6678 : Gutteridge Wood and The King Charles Head between Nunney Wood and Collins End</a>and here <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1166729">SU6678 : The King Charles Head</a>.
The King Charles Head, Goring Heath, Oxfordshire
The history of this building from pub to private house can be seen here SU6678 : Gutteridge Wood and The King Charles Head between Nunney Wood and Collins Endand here SU6678 : The King Charles Head.
Church of St Margaret, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire C13, Bardolf aisle added c.1381, alterations of C15 and C16, restoration of 1834 at the expense of William IV, restoration of 1863 by William Butterfield. Flint with stone dressings to nave, chancel and vestry; flint and stone chequer to porch; brick and flint chequer to tower; plain tile roof. Nave chancel and aisles with west tower plan. Gabled porch of c.1863 to right of centre with double plank doors with ornamental wrought iron hinges. Ornamental pierced barge boards to gable. 2-light C19 Perpendicular stone window to centre. 3-light rectangular window with stone Perpendicular tracery. 2-light paired trefoil lancet to vestry to left. Plank door to left with cusped arch. Paired cusped louvred lancet to top of tower. Pyramidal roof to tower. 3-light Perpendicular tracery window to left hand return. Rear: Bardolf aisle has flint and stone in random courses. Stepped buttresses. Perpendicular tracery windows to left and right ends and middle. Plank door to left of centre. Blocked window and door to right. 3-light plate tracery window to right return base of tower. 

(Source:Historic England)
Church of St Margaret, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire
C13, Bardolf aisle added c.1381, alterations of C15 and C16, restoration of 1834 at the expense of William IV, restoration of 1863 by William Butterfield. Flint with stone dressings to nave, chancel and vestry; flint and stone chequer to porch; brick and flint chequer to tower; plain tile roof. Nave chancel and aisles with west tower plan. Gabled porch of c.1863 to right of centre with double plank doors with ornamental wrought iron hinges. Ornamental pierced barge boards to gable. 2-light C19 Perpendicular stone window to centre. 3-light rectangular window with stone Perpendicular tracery. 2-light paired trefoil lancet to vestry to left. Plank door to left with cusped arch. Paired cusped louvred lancet to top of tower. Pyramidal roof to tower. 3-light Perpendicular tracery window to left hand return. Rear: Bardolf aisle has flint and stone in random courses. Stepped buttresses. Perpendicular tracery windows to left and right ends and middle. Plank door to left of centre. Blocked window and door to right. 3-light plate tracery window to right return base of tower. (Source:Historic England)
Show me another place!

Bottom Shaw is located at Grid Ref: SU6677 (Lat: 51.49534, Lng: -1.0368872)

Administrative County: Oxfordshire

District: South Oxfordshire

Police Authority: Thames Valley

What 3 Words

///types.sticky.award. Near Pangbourne, Berkshire

Related Wikis

Hardwick House, Oxfordshire

Hardwick House is a Tudor house on the banks of the River Thames on a slight rise at Whitchurch-on-Thames in the English county of Oxfordshire. It is reputed...

Mapledurham Lock

Mapledurham Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England, about 4 miles upstream of Reading. The lock was first built in 1777 by the...

Mapledurham Watermill

Mapledurham Watermill is a historic watermill in the civil parish of Mapledurham in the English county of Oxfordshire. It is driven by the head of water...

Mapledurham

Mapledurham is a small village, civil parish and country estate beside the River Thames in southern Oxfordshire, England. The large parish borders Caversham...

Mapledurham House

Mapledurham House is an Elizabethan stately home located in the civil parish of Mapledurham in the English county of Oxfordshire. It is a Grade I listed...

Trench Green

Trench Green is a hamlet in Oxfordshire about 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of the village of Mapledurham and about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Reading in...

Purley on Thames

Purley on Thames (known locally as Purley) is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. Purley is centred 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of Reading...

Chazey Heath

Chazey Heath is a hamlet in Oxfordshire, England, about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Reading, Berkshire. It is situated on the A4074 road, between Caversham...

Related Videos

Walking The Thames Path - Part 1 - Purley to Goring

Part 1 of 2022 challenge to walk the entire Thames Path. I am starting from Reading and walking to the source first. After that, I will ...

The Copse - Wedding Weekends John and Kach Howe - TwoMonkeysTravel

We would like to share with you our latest wedding from England. We were filming a wedding of two travelers, whose job is ...

Walking The Thames Path - Part 2 - Goring to Shillingford

Part 2 of my 2022 challenge to walk the entire Thames Path. I am starting from Reading and walking to the source first. After that, I ...

Berkshire 3.7 mile circular walk: Collins End Wood

Collins End Wood: 3.7 mile circular walk Guided Walk: ...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.49534,-1.0368872
Barrier: kissing_gate
Bicycle: no
Foot: yes
Lat/Long: 51.4934177/-1.0425829
Power: tower
Lat/Long: 51.4914194/-1.0345762
Barrier: stile
Foot: yes
Note: disused
Lat/Long: 51.4967342/-1.0344628
Bench
Lat/Long: 51.494709/-1.0426758
Barrier: kissing_gate
Bicycle: no
Foot: yes
Lat/Long: 51.4949896/-1.0426741
Barrier: kissing_gate
Foot: yes
Lat/Long: 51.4983082/-1.0348518
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 51.4943634/-1.0321087
Power: tower
Lat/Long: 51.494158/-1.0302231
Power: tower
Lat/Long: 51.4930057/-1.0321113
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 51.4991293/-1.0330662
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 51.4953002/-1.0319853
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 51.4961685/-1.0318378
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 51.4967847/-1.0313288
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Have you been to Bottom Shaw?

Leave your review of Bottom Shaw below (or comments, questions and feedback).