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Aldermaston

Civil Parish in Berkshire

England

Aldermaston

Reading Road at the junction of Welshmans Road
Reading Road at the junction of Welshmans Road Credit: David Howard

Aldermaston is a civil parish located in the county of Berkshire, England. It lies approximately 48 miles west of London and is situated along the River Kennet. The village of Aldermaston is the main settlement within the parish.

The area has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic era. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has remained a significant location throughout the centuries. Aldermaston is perhaps best known for its association with the Aldermaston Court, a manor house that was once the residence of royalty and high-ranking individuals.

Today, the parish is predominantly rural, with a mixture of residential areas and agricultural land. The village itself has a small population and retains a charming, traditional character. It features a selection of amenities, including a primary school, a pub, and a post office.

Aldermaston is also notable for its role in the nuclear industry. The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) is situated within the parish and is responsible for the design, production, and support of the UK's nuclear weapons. While the AWE site is highly secure and not open to the public, its presence has had a significant impact on the local economy and employment opportunities.

Overall, Aldermaston is a picturesque civil parish with a rich history and a diverse range of attractions. Its rural setting, combined with its proximity to London, makes it an attractive location for those seeking a peaceful lifestyle within easy reach of the capital.

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Aldermaston Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.376842/-1.141847 or Grid Reference SU5964. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Reading Road at the junction of Welshmans Road
Reading Road at the junction of Welshmans Road
Red Lane at the junction of Spring Lane
Red Lane at the junction of Spring Lane
Spring Lane at the junction of Red Lane
Spring Lane at the junction of Red Lane
Red Lane heading for Aldermaston The Ministry of Defence installation at Aldermaston Park is along the left side of the entire road.
Red Lane heading for Aldermaston
The Ministry of Defence installation at Aldermaston Park is along the left side of the entire road.
Soke Road A blue fence of the Easter Park business park is on the left.
Soke Road
A blue fence of the Easter Park business park is on the left.
Red Lane is closed The Boiler House Gate to the Aldermaston AWE is on the left.
Red Lane is closed
The Boiler House Gate to the Aldermaston AWE is on the left.
Rag Hill The name of the lane.
Rag Hill
The name of the lane.
Mortimer West End Chapel This is one of a group of churches founded in the 18th century by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon. Known as the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, the group has churches in England and Sierra Leone. More information on <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.cofhconnexion.org.uk/history/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.cofhconnexion.org.uk/history/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Mortimer West End Chapel
This is one of a group of churches founded in the 18th century by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon. Known as the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, the group has churches in England and Sierra Leone. More information on LinkExternal link
Access land south of the road This is an odd square for Geographs, with 2/3 of it taken up by the heavy duty security of the Aldermaston nuke labs. I'm not sure how secret it all is or what the rules are about taking pictures of these places and posting them on the internet. I just notice none of us Geographers have tried to find out, so I'm not going to be the first to get arrested. So....safe photo opportunities are on the south side of the road. This is a small patch of heath marked as access land, although it doesn't look as if anybody does. It's fairly impenetrable, and that's before the nettles have grown up.
Access land south of the road
This is an odd square for Geographs, with 2/3 of it taken up by the heavy duty security of the Aldermaston nuke labs. I'm not sure how secret it all is or what the rules are about taking pictures of these places and posting them on the internet. I just notice none of us Geographers have tried to find out, so I'm not going to be the first to get arrested. So....safe photo opportunities are on the south side of the road. This is a small patch of heath marked as access land, although it doesn't look as if anybody does. It's fairly impenetrable, and that's before the nettles have grown up.
Not Much of a Path This is the public footpath shown on the map heading over a patch of access land towards Upper Moor's Gully. It appears to be virtually disused. There is a lane a short distance away which has been blocked at the top end and reduced to a cycleway. This would be the easy route for walkers now, and the footpath is pretty much redundant.
Not Much of a Path
This is the public footpath shown on the map heading over a patch of access land towards Upper Moor's Gully. It appears to be virtually disused. There is a lane a short distance away which has been blocked at the top end and reduced to a cycleway. This would be the easy route for walkers now, and the footpath is pretty much redundant.
Old Trailer among the Bluebells I wonder when this was abandoned here, and why. Woodland scene in the splendidly named Aqua Vitae Copse, according to the map.
Old Trailer among the Bluebells
I wonder when this was abandoned here, and why. Woodland scene in the splendidly named Aqua Vitae Copse, according to the map.
Starting to look like Summer, Kennet Valley The last few warm days have brought nearly all the trees into leaf. This is by a not very much used footpath over the fields near Aldermaston Church.
Starting to look like Summer, Kennet Valley
The last few warm days have brought nearly all the trees into leaf. This is by a not very much used footpath over the fields near Aldermaston Church.
Pond near Upper Church Farm An unremarkable small pond in a rather damaged looking bit of woodland.
Pond near Upper Church Farm
An unremarkable small pond in a rather damaged looking bit of woodland.
Low Security Fencing Compared with the miles of heavy duty metalwork surrounding the Aldermaston atomic weapons place just down the road, this is kind of low key. I think there's a quarry somewhere beyond the trees.
Low Security Fencing
Compared with the miles of heavy duty metalwork surrounding the Aldermaston atomic weapons place just down the road, this is kind of low key. I think there's a quarry somewhere beyond the trees.
Fencepost in Black Pightle Remains of an old fence in a wood called Black Pightle. Pightle is an old word that still crops up in place names round here. Definition "pightle (plural pightles) (archaic, dialectal) A small piece of enclosed land, often by a hedge. Some authorities also indicate that a pightle tends to be associated with a house or messuage." (Wiktionary) OK, now look up "messuage" etc. etc.... My auto-correct throws up "pigtail" which isn't much use.
Fencepost in Black Pightle
Remains of an old fence in a wood called Black Pightle. Pightle is an old word that still crops up in place names round here. Definition "pightle (plural pightles) (archaic, dialectal) A small piece of enclosed land, often by a hedge. Some authorities also indicate that a pightle tends to be associated with a house or messuage." (Wiktionary) OK, now look up "messuage" etc. etc.... My auto-correct throws up "pigtail" which isn't much use.
Fisherman's Lane Just a farm track now, but it has acquired a proper name so it might be quite an old thoroughfare.
Fisherman's Lane
Just a farm track now, but it has acquired a proper name so it might be quite an old thoroughfare.
Fisherman's Lane
Fisherman's Lane
Aldermaston Village Centre, taken from the south end of the village.
Aldermaston
Village Centre, taken from the south end of the village.
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Aldermaston is located at Grid Ref: SU5964 (Lat: 51.376842, Lng: -1.141847)

Unitary Authority: West Berkshire

Police Authority: Thames Valley

What 3 Words

///jots.spiking.loafing. Near Tadley, Hampshire

Nearby Locations

Aldermaston Harbourhill Copse

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.376842,-1.141847
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Alderley Edge Cheshire
Alderminster Warwickshire

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