Earley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the parsing algorithm, see Earley parser.
| Earley | |
  Earley shown within Berkshire |
|
| Population | 32,036 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Wokingham |
| Ceremonial county | Berkshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | READING |
| Postcode district | RG6 |
| Dialling code | 0118 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wokingham |
| Reading East | |
| List of places: UK • England • Berkshire | |
Earley is a town in Berkshire, England with a population of around 30,000 people. It lies to the east of the large town of Reading, and runs directly into it. It is part of the Wokingham district. In some usages, the name is spelt Erleigh and even Erlegh. Earley itself consists of a number of subordinate areas, including Maiden Erlegh and Lower Earley.
Up to 1888, Earley extended westwards from the Three Tuns crossroads down the Wokingham Road and into Reading. To enable this section to be linked into the drainage system, Reading extended its boundaries to the Three Tuns crossroads and this part of Earley became part of Reading. At this time, the centre of Earley was the crossroads and Saint Peters church. Even today, some residents living over the border in Reading think of themselves as belong to Earley even though they pay their Council Taxes to Reading Borough Council.
Earley grew rapidly both before and after World War II, and became a town in 1974. From 1977, the Lower Earley private estate was constructed, almost doubling the town's population to the current level. Two new primary schools were built, together with a large supermarket complex which opened in 1979 and sports centre. In 1988 a second shopping area – Maiden Place – opened. An additional secondary school was planned roughly opposite the sports centre next to Rushey Way, possibly on the site next to the police station. However the school never materialised and the land was built on. There is very little land left in Lower Earley to build on with the consequence that neighbouring communities are suffering the brunt of the new housing developments. According to sources, Lower Earley was until recently the largest private housing development in Europe.
Nowadays, Lower Earley is often spoken of as a town in its own right even though it is just a development at the southern end of the town.
Earley has its own Town Council based at Radstock House. Amongst other functions, the Council runs Sol Joel Park leased from Reading Borough Council, 2 community centres and Maiden Erlegh Lake.
Earley falls within the following parliamentary constituencies: Wokingham and Reading East .
Earley is bordered by the following roads (although the exact location of its borders is not well defined): the A4 dual carriageway to the north, the B3270 Lower Earley Way to the east and south, and the B3350 Wilderness Road and A327 Shinfield Road to the west. North of the these is Woodley, west is Whitley Wood, east is Winnersh and south is Sindlesham. There are many signs to Lower Earley in the area but the visitor will struggle to find a boundary sign as it is not a legal entity in its own right.
Earley railway station is on the railway line from Reading to London Waterloo stations. However, Winnersh Triangle railway station is also near the suburb.
Earley is served by Reading Buses who provide a number of bus services to and from the centre of Reading. Wokingham can be reached by catching a bus on the Wokingham Road.
Earley is to the north of the M4 motorway which connects London with Bristol. To get to Earley from the M4, leave at Junction 10 if travelling westbound, and then follow the A329(M) to Winnersh. If travelling eastbound then leave at Junction 11 and take the B3270.
[edit] Education
The following schools all have children from Earley and Lower Earley within their designated area as defined by Wokingham District Council.
- Maiden Erlegh School
- The Emmbrook School
- The Piggott Church of England School
- Ryeish Green School
- The Forest School
- The Holt School
[edit] External links
| Settlements in Wokingham Borough |
|---|
| Towns: Earley | Wokingham | Woodley |
| Villages: Arborfield | Arborfield Cross | Arborfield Garrison | Barkham | Charvil | Cockpole Green | Crazies Hill | Farley Hill | Finchampstead | Gardeners Green | Grazeley | Hare Hatch | Holme Green | Hurst | Kiln Green | Ravenswood | Remenham | Riseley | Ruscombe | Ryeish Green | Shinfield | Sindlesham | Sonning | Spencers Wood | Swallowfield | Three Mile Cross | Twyford | Wargrave | Winnersh |
| Other civil parishes: Arborfield and Newland | St Nicholas Hurst | Wokingham Without |
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