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Sonning

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"SONNING, a parish partly in the hundreds of Sonning and Charlton, county Berks, and partly in that of Binfield, county Oxford, 3 miles N.E. of Reading, its post town, and 2 N.W. of Twyford railway station. The village, which is large, is situated on the Great Western railway, at the bridge over the river Thames, which separates it from the county of Oxford. The parish includes the hamlets of Early, Woodley, and Eye. The living is a vicarage* with the curacy of All Saints annexed, in the diocese of Oxford, value £451, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, has a square flint tower containing eight bells. The interior of the church contains monuments of great antiquity, with five brasses, the earliest bearing date 1434. There is also the district church of St. Peter's, the living of which is a perpetual curacy* value £100. This church was erected in 1844 by subscription, and endowed by the late Viscountess Sidmouth. The parochial charities produce about £185 per annum, of which £30 are the endowment of Sir T. Riche's school, and £54 arise from church lands. There is a National school for girls. Holme Park House, Earley Court, and Balmirshe Court are the principal residences."

"EARLY, a liberty in the parish of Sonning, hundred of Charlton, county Berks, 2 miles S. of Sonning, and 2 E. of Reading. It is situated on the river Loddon. The village is considerable. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Oxford, value £100, in the gift of the Vicar of Sonning. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, was built some few years back. There is also a school, and several good residences."

"WOODLEY AND SANDFORD, a liberty in the parish and hundred of Sonning, county Berks, 3 miles N.E. of Reading. The village is situated near the bank of the Thames, and the line of the Great Western railway.

From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland(1868). Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003.

Other descriptions can be found from other periods in various trade directories covering Berkshire from the early 19th century onwards from Berkshire FHS (members only) and from A Vision of Britain Through Time.

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Archives & Libraries

In addition to those listed on the Berkshire home page, see the Research Wiki from Family Search (the Church of Latter-day Saints (Genealogical Society of Utah))

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Church History

Further information about some of the churches can be found below:

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Description & Travel

You can see pictures of Sonning which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Historical Geography

  • Sonning was partly in the hundreds of Sonning and Charlton (Berkshire) and partly in that of Binfield (Oxfordshire)
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History

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SU763762 (Lat/Lon: 51.479621, -0.902677), Sonning which are provided by:

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

Sonning was in the Wokingham Union.  For more information, see Poorhouses.