Reading – Coley Park

Chris French

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This walk through apparently unprepossessing urban streets aims to explore the history of the area. It takes in the 17th Century manor of Coley, a 19th Century brickworks and a WW1 Royal Flying Corps airfield. On the return leg we go along the Kennet and Avon Canal, past the sites of the CWS jam factory and the GWR goodsyard and end up at the medieval Reading Gaol. There are a few gentle hills or slopes during the walk and a kissing-gate, but no stiles.

A real mine of information on Coley Park has been compiled by Kevin Rosier on the website http://www.coleypark.com/ Research which provided this route and historical background for the walk was carried out primarily by Dennis Johnson, a member of the U3A Thames Valley Network 'Historic Pathways' group. Other walks we have created include my Broadmoor and Steventon / Milton walks.

England - South England - Berkshire - Town or city

Features

Church, Food Shop, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, Pub

6/14/2019 - Gavin Bradshaw

Way point 12 mentions a 'Loch Fyne Restaurant'. This looks like it has long since closed and the building (pictured for way point 13) does look a bit different now the umbrellas have gone and the trees have grown more. So if you're looking for the building in the picture, it's quite easy to miss at first, (or second as well in my case), especially if you are looking for a restaurant. I took a new picture of the building, but not sure where to send it or upload it to. Gavin