Tadley

Tadley
Hampshire
Shops on Mulfords Hill
Location
Grid reference:	SU601616
Location:	51°21’2"N, 1°8’15"W
Data
Population:	11,651  (2001)
Post town:	Tadley
Postcode:	RG26
Dialling code:	0118
Local Government
Council:	Basingstoke and Deane
Parliamentary constituency:	North West Hampshire
Website:	Tadley Town Council

Tadley is a town in Hampshire, once a modest village but much developed since the 1950s and 1960s, partly to accommodate incoming employees in the new industries which grew here and partly for London overspill, such as overwhelmed nearby Basingstoke.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE), now known as AWE, became the area's largest employer, and a large number of houses were built during this period to accommodate AWRE workers. Though the establishment was located in the parish of Aldermaston, most of these houses were built in Tadley.

Lie of the land

Tadley lies next to the northern border of Hampshire, where it meets Berkshire.

Tadley is six miles north of Basingstoke, and has shared some of the latter’s absorption of incoming population, and ten miles southwest Reading in Berkshire.

History

St. Peter's church

The origin of the name is uncertain. In old maps and books Tadley can be found spelled as Taddanleage, Tederlei, Titherley, Tudurley, Tadel and Taddeley. As with many other rural British communities, it is assumed that the village began as a clearing in the dense forest which at one time covered the greater part of Britain. In Old English, Taddan leag means "Toad clearing", though most sources say that the name is from a man named Tadda, and thus "Tadda's woodland clearing".

In 909, Edward the Elder granted the 'Manor of Overton' to Frithstan, Bishop of Winchester. In the confirmation of this a wood at Tadley is mentioned. The village is mentioned frequently in documents relating to the grant. There was an independent estate in the parish called the 'Manor of Tadley' but later was known as the 'Manor of Withford or Wyford'. In 1166 this property was held by William Hotot. He was succeeded by his son, Robert Hotot in 1205. The first reference to a church at Tadley is in 1286 when Andrew Hotot is recorded as owning the Manor and Church. It could be assumed that a settlement and therefore a church existed at an earlier date in view of the documented references to owners of land at Tadley from 909.

Although the exact location is unknown, it is believed that originally Tadley was a rural agricultural village located near to St. Peter's church. This village flourished until the 17th century. At that time, 12 cottages were pulled down by Henry Ludlow and the villagers scattered. They resettled on the fringe of Pamber Forest and woodland crafts became the main employment.

Burrell's Farm, a cottage on Main Road, is reputed to have been built in the 15th century and is thought to be the oldest building in Tadley. A congregational chapel was founded in Tadley in 1662; this may be identified with a chapel which was converted into the first village school in 1820.

By the 18th century, the centre of the village had moved a couple of miles to the northeast, St Peter's had become isolated from its congregation and in 1888 a new church, St Saviour's, was built by The Green. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were many Gypsies or didicoy in Tadley who had given up their travelling life to marry into non-Gypsy families and become property owners.

Until the 1950s, the parish was still heathland and common land covered in gorse and blackberries, with a few scattered settlements. Bricks used to be made at Tadley Common and the manufacture of besom brooms was, and still is, another local industry. Tadley considers itself the home of besom broom making; the brooms that are used on the Queen's premises are manufactured in Tadley. Relics of these industries can be seen in the names of houses in the village such as Kiln House and Broom Cottage.

With the advent of Second World War an airfield, RAF Aldermaston, was built on the grounds of Aldermaston Court which was located on the northern edge of the village. Numerous barracks, administration buildings and maintenance facilities were located throughout Tadley. Local streets such as Hangar Road bear witness to its former usage.

In recent years Tadley has become a new township, with residential estates covering the former heathlands. Development has occurred on either side of the Hampshire/Berkshire border following the growth of the Atomic Weapons Establishment on the old Aldermaston airfield in the 1950s and the designation of Basingstoke as a London overspill town in the 1970s.

Since the opening of AWE in the 1950s many anti-nuclear demonstrations have taken place around the base.

Economy

The growth in shopping facilities has been slower than the growth in the population. Though there are shops in small groups throughout the town, there is only one significantly-sized shop, a supermarket. For more extensive choice, it is necessary to go to one of the larger nearby towns, Basingstoke, Reading, or Newbury.

The main shopping areas in Tadley are on Mulfords Hill and Bishopswood Road, though there are isolated shops in other parts of the town and parish.

Culture and community

Tadley Library

A local legend dating from the late 19th century claims that the men of Tadley had treacle mines, one of a number of villages about the country which have this peculiar tale attached to them, and until well into the 20th century the locals were referred to as "Tadley Treacle Miners".

Tadley holds an annual "Treacle Fair" in honour of this legend in early June. It is organised by the Loddon Valley Lions Club, a member of Lions Club International. There is apub to named “the Treacle Mine”.

Further reading

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Tadley)

• Tadley and District History Society