Local History
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Theale History
Theale today is a thriving and dynamic village community which owes its prosperity to its location close to the M4 corridor and the hi-tec industries of ‘silicon valley’. Despite its proximity to Reading, it has maintained a distinct identity and sense of community. Unlike many villages, it continues to support a primary school, secondary school, post office and an impressive array of public houses. The wide range of shops and businesses in the High Street and its bustling life during the working day bear witness to its active commercial life, but it has also retained some residential character. The modern landscaped Arlington Business Park on the S.E. outskirts testifies to its success in attracting a wide range of big name companies to the area. Theale has generally been an adaptable community evolving to meet changing economic circumstances whilst holding on firmly to its architectural heritage and semi-rural character.
There has been a settlement at Theale since the Bronze Age and its growth was related to the importance of the gravel terraces which provided a dry site for habitation and firm trackways above the floodplain of the River Kennet. Its Saxon name derives from a causeway built to bridge the gap in the gravel and carry a track across wet land. Gravel extraction for road maintenance was an important industry from the Middle Ages onwards and there is ample evidence of this activity around Theale today. For much of its history, Theale depended for its prosperity on farming, passing traffic, and craft industries geared to serve their demands,
In the early 19th century following the Napoleonic Wars there was a period of social unrest culminating in the Swing Riots of 1830: a protest against low agricultural wages, irregular employment and payment of tithes. Being a poor county Berkshire experienced much local rioting, rick burning and machine smashing. Theale did not riot but a rioter from West Woodhay was arrested here.
Situated five miles west of Reading on the main road to the thriving port of Bristol and the fashionable spa town of Bath, Theale became a major halt for the change of horses and a comfort stop for passengers. Inns multiplied and by c.1840 there were 11 in Church Street and High Street alone. Theale’s shops could provide for the needs of travellers and local craftsmen could supply everything this growing industry needed. Blacksmiths, harness makers, saddlers, basket makers, wheelwrights, rope makers, soap makers all plied their trade here. A barber-surgeon and a vet also practised in the village at this time to tend to the needs of human and animal travellers. Some of its pubs retain their coaching yards and stable buildings and a pump at the west end of the village reminds us of the need to water the road in summer to keep down the offensive mixture of dust and horse dung. Theale was a service station long before the advent of the motorways.
The completion if the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1810 provided a London-Bristol waterway and Theale became an important link in this chain too. A quay existed south of the village where goods such as coal, iron, stone and rags [for paper] were unloaded and local products such as timber, grain and peat were dispatched. Little remains of this now but the canal still provides important recreational facilities and rural walks. The building of the Great Western Railway from Paddington to Bristol brought a visit to Theale by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but the advent of the railway in 1841 heralded the decline of long distance horse traffic and the canal, both vital to the past prosperity of Theale.
Theale went into decline for much of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Older residents who were children here in the 1920s and 1930s describe a quiet rural community geared to the rhythms of the farming year and the countryside. Theale owed its resurgence yet again to road traffic in the late 20th century. The building of the M4 and Theale’s position at Junction 12 necessitated a village bypass opened in 1971. The motorway gave easy access to London, Heathrow and all parts of the UK and increased Theale’s desirability as a place for industry, residence and commuters. A 1930s population of 900+ has expanded to 4000+ and new housing developments necessary to accommodate this has dramatically changed the face of the original linear village. Houses now stand on the water meadows painted by Constable and only the gravel pits remain to remind us of Theale’s watery past. The village owes its development and survival to its ability to utilise its location and natural resources and its capacity to respond to changing economic trends. Adaptability is the key to Theale’s success and it has weathered its changing fortunes without losing its essential character.
Taken from the trail leaflet A Walk Around Theale
More information on the Theale Local History Group
- July 31: Open Day at the 5-a-Day Market Garden, Englefield
August: Summer sessions for families at the 5-a-Day Market Garden, Englefield
Theale Under 5's: CLICK
Iam looking for any information on the Howes family in the first half of the 19th century.I only know one of the daughters was born in Theale in in 1841.Her name was Julia and she became a Ship Stewardess.
Thankyou Kathleen McI vor.
Kathleen McIvor
In reply to your request ofr information on Julia Howes, born 1841 in Theale.
I checked the Berkshire Family History Society (BFHS) transcription of the Parish Registers of Holy Trinity Church, Theale (Baptisms 1832-1947; Marriages 1834-1864; Burials 1832-1932 & Banns 1924-1968) and there was no Julia Howes or Howse. The transcription of St Michaels, Tilehurst include a number of Howes and Howse entries, but no Julia. I have not tried the non-conformist registers.
In the Theale register I found one entry for Howse with the baptism of Frederick son of George and Mary Ann Howse in 1836. George was a coachman so I suspect that he worked for the Benyons at Englefield Estate and it maybe that other children were baptised at St Mark’s Church, Englefield. Unfortunately the baptismal records St Mark’s Church, Englefield have not yet been transcribed.
In our on-going project, “History of Theale”, I can find no reference to Howes, but a Leonard Howse moved to Theale in the mid 1930s. He had the chemist shop, and was the billeting officer for evacuees and in the home guard during WWII. What a pity he is a century later than the family you are looking for!
So then I looked in the census records (taken end March/early April every 10 years) for the Howse family that was in Theale. I used the indexes in http://www.ancestry.co.uk and http://www.findmypast.co.uk
In 1841 I could not find the father George Howse coachman under Howse or Howes. However 3 Kings Yard in Hanover Square London there is a George Howes, born approx 1801, male servant, with wife Mary and children George (12), Alfred (10) both born in foreign parts, and Frederick (4) and Julia (3) neither born in Middlesex. (Ref HO 107, piece 733, Folio 6/4, page 3). I could not find George Howse or Howes in subsequent censuses.
In the 1851 census I found Frederick Howes born in Theale, a servant, living at Easthampstead Estate (near Windsor) for the Marquis of Downshire. There were no other Howes or Howse in the household so I couldn’t find his parents or his sister Julia. This is probably the Frederick Howse baptised in Theale. In the 1871 census, Frederick Howes born in Theale aged 32 (about 1839), coachman, was living with Eliza his wife and 4 children was living in Marylebone. In 1901 Frederick and Eliza were still living in Marylebone.
There is a Julia Howes in the 1851 census. She was born in Berkshire, aged 12 (so born about 1839, which would agree with the 1841 census) living with her mother Mary Ann Howes, laundress, aged 47, born in Suffolk. There were living in Marylebone, London in the household of John Jeffreys, greengrocer, with a coachman and other servants. Mary Ann is described as married (ie not widowed), but there was no husband present.
In 1861 there were several Julia Howes or Howse but none with the approximate age and birth place and parent names. This does not exclude them as she moved from Berkshire very young and people sometimes wrote down where they remembered as a child rather than correct birth place. I then searched for Mary Ann Howes or Howse born c1804 in Suffolk, there were several but none with family members that would tie in with your family. A few lived alone and so could be the Mary Ann mother of Julia in 1851.
I tried the Berkshire Family History website. In the Birth Briefs section (a Birth Brief lists up to 4 generations of ancestors), 7 members have Howes and 5 members have Howse among their ancestors but none which immediately tie up with the Theale family. In the Members Interests section (members advertise what names they are researching) 1 Howes in Newport Pagnall 1780–1900 and 1 Howse in Cumnor pre 1900.
I also visited the Berkshire Family History Society’s Research Centre to check through the other records they hold. But found no reference to Julia.
To sum up, it seems possible (but no proved) that Julia was the daughter of George and Mary Ann and had the siblings that I found in the 1841 census. Have you tried contacting the company Julia worked for as a Ship Stewardess? The 19th century does seem early to have employed a woman in this capacity.
Daphne Spurling
for Theale Local History Group
For Kathleen McIvor
I looked again at the Civil Registration of births and found the probable reference for Julia. I suggest you order the birth certificate for Julia Hows, registered Newbury, July-Sept quarter 1838, reference 6/201. If born in Theale I would not expect her birth to be registered in Newbury, but it looks the most likely.
Daphne Spurling
for Theale Local History Group
Hi Daphne, I have just reply about Julia Howes.
im interested in the same person.
I have come up with mostly the same information
you have found out in census information.
Julia was the sister Of Eliza Howes.
I would like to contact Kathleen McIvor, is is possible you could let me have her email or pass
my on to her.
I believe the Howes name was changed from Halse.
A dutch german is always thought to be a connection with the name
Thanks for any help
Paula
Paula
Sorry I do not have her details and can only hope that she will sometime read these letters. I suggest that you contact the webmaster of this site and ask him if he will put you in direct touch with Kathleen.
All the best
Daphne
Thankyou Daphne
Paula
I’ve mailed Kathleen McIvor to tell her about the replies, and to put her in touch with Paula.
Thanks for the interest, everyone. I’m sure she will be delighted by the response.
Andy
Kathleen and Paula
Could you please contact me at ThealeHistory@aol.com as I have some more information on the Howes/Howse family.
Daphne Spurling
Theale Local History Group
In Theale’s Medical Centre waiting room, are a collection of pictures and photographs. One in particular is most interesting, it is an aerial view of Theale (from a balloon I’d think) looking west along the Great West Road/Bath road taken at the turn of the last century I’d say, as it is before either petrol station arrived, niether had either chapel and `The Angel Inn’ at Theale is still standing. I have been given a copy of this photo, iy looks as though is has been printed on a fairly good quality computer printer, but is nowhere the quality of the original, which would have been iether a half plate or even a full plate camera. I’d love to see the original print as this would reveal much more detail of the village buildings and the two or three vehicles in evidence. I could not find our the scource of this print. There are other pictures too, some were on display in the butchers shop window after they finnished shooting `The Borrowers’ a few years back, I have been unable to scource these either. The Francis Frithe Collection has some nice prints from the late fifties and mid sixties, but nothing earlier. I would like to aquire some of the earlier stuff to frame and display.
regards
Martin
Martin
We asked at our recent Theale Local History Group meeting but no one knew the answer to your early aerial view of Theale. I presume you have asked where the Medical Centre obtained it. Otherwise we suggest you contact David Cliffe of the Local Studies Centre at Reading Library or the Museum of English Rural Life.
You have probably seen “Theale in Old Photographs” which is nearly sold out but still some available at the Library.
Daphne Spurling
For Theale Local History Group
ThealeHistory@aol.com
Many old photos of the Village were kept by the old Landlord of The Red Lion. He had an extensive collection and occasionally lent them out for projects. I have no idea where he is now but it may be that someone in the Village knows as I would not be surprised to learn that it was his photos that were copied for the Surgery.