Wokingham – willowdot21

Gloria is from The Aquaroom which is in New England, where she helps Jennie Fitzkee of A Teacher’s Reflections.

Jennie and I came up with the idea that the children in the Aquaroom might like to find out about England..well my part of England. So we hit upon the idea of Gloria coming to stay so I could show her around. The Aquaroomers could follow my blog … And I would fill her Journal with stories and photos, for those who are there in Jennie’s class now and also future Aquaroomers. Jennie and I thought this was a great idea. So did Gloria. Below is a post aimed at The Aquaroomers I hope you and they like it!

Day 11 Gloria visits Wokingham.

Earl and Gloria were sitting with Olivia who was resting after her morning walk. Earl ask Gloria if she had anything planned for the day. Olivia looked up and said “I do, I am going to have a sleep before my next walk! ” Earl and Gloria laughed! they thought that was funny.

So Olivia went to sleep and Earl and Gloria sat by the window and chatted. Gloria was thinking…that usually made Earl nervous when he could see she was thinking. Then Gloria’s eyes lit up and she said. “I remember Earl , willow is going to take me to town today.” Earl looked surprised . “willow and hubby took you to London already. ” ” Yes I know said Gloria but London is a city isn’t it Earl?” “Yes it is” said Earl “but we often call London, London Town.” “I see” said Gloria, ” well today willow said she was taking me to Wokingham Town.”

So later on Gloria was all ready in the rucksack. Hubby gave them a lift up town because it was so cold and he was going shopping to get Olivia some more carrots. …Never run out of carrots if your Labrador likes them!

Hubby dropped willow and Gloria off in Rose Street, so willow and Gloria set off towards the Church. On the way Gloria said she wanted to play hide and seek. willow said yes why not, along as Gloria didn’t really hide .. because willow didn’t want to loose her.

Below is the is the Parish Church All Saints. Can you spot Gloria.

All Saints Church in Wokingham is the town’s oldest building, with a history dating back to its original dedication between 1189 and 1193. Rebuilt in the 15th century, the church is known for its distinctive tower and significant Victorian restoration.

We popped across the road to the house on Tudor Corner . This is a very old house . Can you spot Gloria?

Then we went round the corner into Rose Street to look at the Georgian and Tudor mix of houses there. Can you spot Gloria.

Rose Street, is a historic street believed to be part of the town’s original medieval development, with early records referring to it as “La Rothe”. It is known for its enclosed, narrow character and features several listed, timber-framed buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Here is a really Tudor house still standing and still lived in.

In Rose Street Number 31 once housed the Maiden School. The school was established in 1795 following a charitable donation from Martha Palmer’s will. A few doors along at number 21 was the home of the National School. National Schools were founded in 1825 by the Church of England to provide rudimentary education to the poor. The two schools were amalgamated into one a few years later.

Oh! Where is Gloria Now ?

Rose Street has thirty-two listed buildings; the oldest is probably number 16-18, the WADE charity shop, which dates from the early fifteenth century. This was the time of the Black Death, the Battle of Crecy, Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ and Edward III as King.

Here we are still in Rose 🌹 Street where is that Gloria.

Alongside the schools, Rose Street has also been home to numerous pubs. Today there is the Fifty-six which was previously the Metropolitan. But earlier there were others including the Eagle at number 9, and the curiously named the Poor Man’s Friend…. You can see the sign for the Fifty Six in the right hand photo.

This is another Church in Rose Street it’s also is a community centre for the old, the young and the in-between. But Gloria is no where to be seen!

Gloria was excited to see the Town Hall but where is she?

The original building on the site was a medieval guildhall completed in 1612. After significant industrial growth in the middle of the 19th century, as the silk industry and then the brick-making industry developed, civic leaders decided to replace the very dilapidated guildhall with a new structure.

The new building, which was designed by William Ford Poulton and William Henry Woodman in the Gothic style and built with red bricks from local sources, was officially opened by Lord Braybrooke on 6 June 1860.

In 1219, Wokingham received a charter to hold a weekly market. These early markets were likely held in Rose Street before moving to Market Place several centuries later.

all extra information, in small print is from Wikipedia