Sonning

The parish is bordered by the River Thames for a distance of about three miles and provides some very charming scenery. Where the river divides to provide the various channels that used to power the last working flour mill on the river (now a theatre), it is crossed to the Oxfordshire bank by Sonning Bridge, which dates back to the 18th century and is a listed structure.

Tourist attractions

Sonning rightly holds a high place amongst the picturesque Thames villages and Sonning Lock, with its colourful gardens, is acknowledged as one of the prettiest on the river. In spite of its great popularity, not only as a tourist destination but also as a place to live, what little modern development there has been is in harmony with the old world charm of the original village.

Tudor houses

There are delightful houses, some being of Tudor and 17th century origin, with half-timbered or mellowed brick elevations, weathered roofs and colour washed walls. The gardens form a lovely setting. Sonning Grove dates from the 17th century. Little Court is an attractive Queen Anne residence. The Bull Inn Hotel, which is owned by the church and preserves many interesting medieval features, was originally known as Church House and was a guest house for pilgrims visiting St Sarik’s Chapel next to St Andrew’s Church. The name of St Sarik has recently been revived in the name of the new church meeting room, which incorporates parts of an older building.

St Andrew’s Church itself dates back to Saxon times, and despite a major rebuild in the 19th century, many traces of the original structure remain. The nave arches are early English, and there is a finely-carved 14th century arch on the north side of the chancel. Within the tower, which is 500 years old, stands the imposing marble tomb of Sir Thomas Rich (1667). This church also contains a good array of brasses, the oldest of which depicts Laurence Fytton in Tudor armour. 

Within the parish lie the Reading Blue Coat School at Holme Park (once home of the Lord of the Manor), the Church of England Primary School, King George’s Recreation Ground and other sports facilities and the Reading University Farm - all of which help to preserve the rural atmosphere of Sonning, the centre of which is a designated conservation area containing many listed buildings.

There is more modern housing to the south and east of the conservation area and along the A4 and includes sheltered housing for the elderly. This sheltered housing is in addition to that provided by the Victorian almshouses, in the centre, next to the Pearson (community) Hall.

Thames Valley Business Park

It is also interesting to note that a large part of the modern Thames Valley Business Park lies within Sonning, including the HQs of Microsoft and Oracle. These, and the adjacent country park, are accessible by bike or on foot along the river towpath from Sonning Bridge.

View an interactive map of Sonning for more details.