Talk:Sonning Common
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Information about Sc being the centre of the Wine Industry seems to be unfounded and certainly isn't refrenced. Tone needs clearing up, isn't neutral. And I'm sure we could add a nice pocture, and add The Village Parish's own hompepage at the top of the links. I'll fix al of the above, it if I have the time, and I am not treading on anybody's toes. Please let me know if I am.
Bob4jane 22:12, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Revamped entry
Ok, so the current entry was just too full of POV and unnecessary info. Take a look below for my planned revamp. I've done some research into the village's origins, will link to sources later. If I don't get any objections within a week i'll change the article.
[edit] Sonning Common
Introduction Sonning Common is a large rural village in South Oxfordshire. It lies along the Chiltern Hills between Reading and Henley.
Geography Sonning Common is located in Southern Oxforshire, close to the border between Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It is situated on the Chiltern hills, north of Reading and south west of Henley, sharing borders with Nettlebed, Kidmore End, Gallowstree Common and Rotherfield Peppard (known locally as Peppard).
History The area of Sonning Common was originally a part of the Sonning parish, which was established in the 7th century by the Saxon Chief Sunna. The name Sonning literally means "(place of) Sunna's people". The land was later made a part of the 'Binfield hundreds' (hundreds meaning an area of land capable of supporting 100 families) which is recorded in the Doomsday book.
While early settlers to the area used the land mainly to graze sheep, it remained mostly open and overgrown wasteland even up until the early 1800s.The village was first recognised by the national census in 1871, although records in the national archives mention the village in 1865.
In 1908 the village hall was built in Wood Lane in the centre of the village, a painting of which can be found hanging on a wall inside. Shortly five years later, in 1913, Sonning Common school was built. The 1921 census lists 983 residents compared with the 4500+ today.
Amenities & areas of interest Despite rapid growth since the 1950s, Sonning Common has retained its rural aesthetics and is still surrounded by farmland and woodland which are popular with local walkers. The village contains two schools, Sonning Common Primary school and Chiltern Edge secondary school, and a Health centre.
Trivia Sonning Common was featured in the Channel 4 programme 'Bring back...the Xmas No.1' presented by Justin Lee Collins. The film-makers interviewed Sonning Common resident and former Boney M singer Liz Mitchell.
The local duck pond contains a small wooden duck-housing called 'Duckingham Palace'
The 'Walking for Health' campaign which is supported by the British Heart Foundation, was started by Dr William Bird while he was a GP at Sonning Common Health Centre.
