10 Tilehurst things to love about

Famed for its tile production and palatial parks, Tilehurst is very much part of Reading, but still has a village feel, as Claire Pitcher finds out

1 Changing landscape

‘The wooded hill where tiles are made’ is the meaning of Tygel-Hurst, as Tilehurst was once known in Saxon times. But is that really true? A little rummage through the history books and you soon discover that the tile industry didn’t really get underway in this area until the middle of the 17th century. During this time, Tilehurst used to encompass a huge area with many manors, the main manor house being in Calcot Park. It wasn’t until 1911 that the village became a part of the Borough of Reading. Following the Second World War there was a housing boom that turned Tilehurst into a large-scale residential area. Look past the 1950s and ’60s housing developments and you will still find a smattering of thatched cottages in among them.

2 Water, water everywhere

How many commuters drive west along the M4 towards Reading and wonder what on earth this large white tower is for? It has been supplying water to the area since it was installed by Reading Borough Council in 1932. It is often referred to as Park Lane Water Tower and supplements the water from the Bath Road Reservoir. It stands at 40 metres and has 169 steps to the top. There are some amazing panoramic views, taking in Didcot Power Station and Windsor Castle. It can hold 900,000 litres of water in two four-and-a-half metre tanks. That’s enough wet stuff to fill up about 5,000 bathtubs. More water might be needed however, as Reading’s Local Plan includes thousands of new homes for the area.

3 Top for tiles