The wood called Bishop's Bearwood was always claimed by the Bishops of Salisbury as their personal hunting chase, where they rode with their guests when staying at Sonning Palace. However, from 1300, there was a long running dispute over ownership with the King. The old park was eventually purchased by John Walter II, proprietor of the Times Newspaper, around 1830. Walter built himself an elegant house there, as well as St Catherine's Church for his estate workers in 1846. The church's dedication commemorates Walter's daughter who tragically drowned in the lake and there is a sad memorial to his grandson who did the same. It was this boy's father, John Walter III, who built the present magnificent Jacobean-revival Bearwood House at the height of his publishing reputation in 1864. The architect was Robert Kerr. Since 1921 it has been a school, originally for boys wishing to enter the Merchant Navy and now part of the Reddam House group.

Read more history of Sindlesham and other nearby settlements, like Newland, Winnersh, Lower Earley, Woosehill & Limmerhill, in David Nash Ford's book, 'Mid-Berkshire Town and Village Histories'. Click to Order direct from the Author.

 

NEW BOOK Whether you are from Mid-Berkshire or just visiting, this book is the place to find out all about the history of some 113 different towns, suburbs, villages and hamlets in the Boroughs of Reading and of Wokingham and the eastern portion of the District of West Berkshire. From Streatley to Padworth and Ruscombe to Finchampstead, join David Nash Ford from berkshirehistory.com in his second volume examining the structures, people and events that have shaped each place. Some of these histories were first published in part here on this website, but they have all been considerably expanded and are joined by many new histories of places often missed by historians, including those which only joined Berkshire in 1911 or later. Click for full details and purchase options.