Woodley has a rich and varied history, having grown from its original form as a ‘clearing in the woods’, as its name is derived from, to a thriving town.
You can read a brief summary of the history of Woodley here.
World War I - War Memorial Heritage Trail
Town Councils and churches within Wokingham Borough came together to create a Heritage Way Memorial Trail in commemoration of the centenary of WWI.
You can read more information here.
The u3a History of Woodley Project
The u3a is a nationwide network of learning groups aimed at encouraging older people to share their knowledge, skills and interests in a friendly environment.
Three local u3a groups, Woodley & District u3a, Reading u3a, and Wokingham u3a, joined forces and undertook a History of Woodley project, aiming to chart the history of the town across a number of topics. Below, you will find links to pages which provide the information they collated during the project. The information produced on those pages is copyright of the Woodley & District u3a, Reading u3a and Wokingham u3a, and permission for photographs, and any accuracies or inaccuracies, falls under their responsibility.
For further information about Woodley and District u3a, please click HERE. The Woodley and District u3a hold meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at 14.00 at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, RG5 4UX.
A History of Woodley Book
Based on the work by the Woodley & District U3A, and other local U3A groups to compile and document the history of Woodley, Ann Smith has edited all of it together into a 350 page book, packed with information, residents recounts, historical photographs and more.
Copies of this book can be purchased at the Woodley Town Council offices, in The Oakwood Centre, for £10 per copy (cash only accepted).
