Emmer Green

Emmer Green
Oxfordshire
The Milestone Way shopping precinct in Emmer Green
Location
Grid reference:	SU722769
Location:	51°28’59"N, 0°57’43"W
Data
Post town:	Reading
Postcode:	RG4
Dialling code:	0118
Local Government
Council:	Reading
Parliamentary constituency:	Reading East

Emmer Green is a village in Oxfordshire which has in effect become an outer suburb of 'Greater Reading'. It stands immediately north of Caversham, the Oxfordshire town at the head of the bridge to Reading.

History

Emmer Green has five former mansions. Two are now converted for residential use; Rosehill House and Notley Place. Rosehill House, standing in 14 acres of ground, was once part of Caversham Manor, the first building being erected in 1791. Martin John Sutton, of Sutton's Seeds, lived there, the house then being called Kidmore Grange. In 1923 it was bought for the Oratory Preparatory School; then from the outbreak of the last war until 1958 it accommodated part of The Salvation Army's Headquarters as staff were evacuated from central London. The house has since been converted into flats and a housing estate built on the grounds.

The third, Caversham Park, is owned by the BBC, while Grove House has become Highdown School. Caversham Place was designed by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis for Major-General Sir Cecil Pereira, whose brother The Rev Edward Thomas Pereira was headmaster and benefactor of The Oratory School.

Geography

Emmer Green is bordered by the extensive nature reserve at Clayfield Copse and Blackhouse Woods and also by the tip of the South Downs at Bugs Bottom (also known as Hemdean Bottom). There is a cycle path to Wallingford and access to Balmore Park which overlooks Caversham, with views as far as the Madjeski Stadium wind turbine.

Chalk mining

There is at least one disused Chalk mine in Emmer Green, referred to as Emmer Green (Hanover) Chalk Mine, with the principal access located at the junction of Peppard Road & Kiln Lane (OS Grid Ref: SU722769). Other, undiscovered, abandoned mines may exist in the area as few records were kept of mine locations.

St Barnabas Church, Emmer Green

Churches

• Church of England:
  • St. Barnabas
• The Chapel On The Hill

The present St Barnabas building was consecrated on 29 June 1929 and the previous nineteenth century church is still in use as a Village Hall.

Sport

• Football: Caversham AFC
• Golf: Reading Golf Club, on Kidmore End Road
• Rugby: Abbey Rugby Football Club
• Tennis: Tennis Club

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Emmer Green)

• Emmer Green Chalk Mine – Subterranea Britannica