Monday 4 February 2019

Winterbrook



Winterbrook is a small settlement on the edge of Wallingford it appears on records back in the time of Henry III. Up until a few years ago it was part of the parish of Cholsey but after the Bypass was built and the need for housing was heightened, developers tried hard to build in the area between the road and the village. While in the parish of Cholsey they were fought off but my feeling is Wallingford & South Oxfordshire District Council saw a need for it becoming part of Wallingford. Despite the objections from Both Cholsey Parish Council and all the residents of Winterbrook the place was absorbed into Wallingford. Not long after planning permission was granted on the areas that had been fought off for so long. There was one place I wanted to see what had happened to it after seeing houses being built as we drove past in the car. so one day I parked my car off on a disused road on the edge of the place and took a little walk around. This  log is a little longer than I normally write for Our World Tuesday so I hope you do not mind






This is the side road that I parked along, many people do and walk into Wallingford. If you look in the distance to can make out the roundabout off the Bypass





And this is the old A329 that goes through Winterbrook to Wallingford









This looks down through Winterbrook past Agatha Christies House which is the one thing Wallingford cannot claim, she never lived in the Town even if you see snippets saying she did, she is also buried out at Cholsey Church another thing Wallingford cannot lay claim to.




Looking back towards the bypass, the road you see spitting off is the old road I parked along. it takes you to Cholsey or at least did. The little close you see over to the right was built a number of years ago on a paddock
 The place on the right is called the old Nags Head, when I was a kid it was a pub, I remember sitting in the porch with a soft drink while dad went and had a pint. It originally was a toll house because the A329 was a turnpike of toll road



Zooming in a bit here you can see the traffic backed up because of road works, they are building a pavement to allow pedestrians to walk safely from the new housing estate to the left of the yellow sign you see. The Van you see with the headlights shining is where Bradfords Brook is, that used to be the Wallingford Boundary
This is where I am going Winterbrook lane not far from Agatha Christies old place






She may well have walked along here at some time





Along here














And maybe looked at Horses or cattle in this field




Which now looks like this

As you go further of you come to this track and if you walk along you will come to Cholsey Church eventually. This is part of the Agatha Christie Trail, a walk that will take you from Wallingford Museum to where she is buried in Cholsey.
 I will be showing this at another time when I walk the whole thing
 This looks back to Winterbrook





This looks towards the new estate being built





This is the field beside it that is under threat, the hedge line you see marks where Bradfield Brook in, Wallingford is past that.

 
There used to be a bungalow here with a small garage were someone lived. The may have died of moved away as the place was empty for years then it was Demolished to  make it easier for planning. As it stands planning is on the offing and awaits a decision  but I have no doubt it will not be long
And if you look at how the houses are built here you can see where the road will join. No wonder I want to move away.
Taking Part in Our World Tuesday


7 comments:

  1. It looks like the new houses are all variations on the same design.

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  2. A few years from now you won't recognise the area it will be so full of new housing and congested roads.

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    1. The road are congested they get really bad in the morning and driveing into Wallingford it's dogeing in an out of the parked cars, I tend to Walk or take a bus now

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  3. Thanks for sharing photos from your neighborhood. Too bad progress always wants to tear down old, historic buildings.

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  4. I tried to comment yesterday but apparently Google is still messing with us regarding Blogger! (Did you get their message today regarding the changes happening with their platform?)

    We talked about Agatha C. some time back if you recall - she was born and grew up in Torquay, my home town - but yes, lived in your area later. Quite a character according to stories told - especially in adulthood!

    Yes, landscapes are changing everywhere and it hurts to see it. I'll be homier spring and knowI will as always see changes which hurt - I guess I want it all to be like it was when I was a child!

    Enjoy your week. Love the pub story - happy memories for you I'm sure.
    Mary in North Carolina

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    1. I never use Google + for reply's, tied it once then gave up. I have been in quite a few pub porches having a coke and packet of Chrisps (chips). I have not been to Torquay since I was a teenager , used to go there with mum & dad on holiday but then they spent their honeymoon there.

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  5. My husband is rereading Agatha Christie books just now. I've been hooked on a different author at the moment, but plan to take advantage of his having them on his Kindle once I burn out on John Lescroart.
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/02/time-for-tune-up.html

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