Pangbourne

Pangbourne

Pangbourne is an ancient settlement, mentioned in the Domesday Book. Today it is a bustling village which acts as a hub for many of the smaller, more rural villages and hamlets.

It lies on the Berkshire-Oxfordshire border on the south bank of the river Thames, seven miles from Reading, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Easy access to the M4 and to London and Oxford on the railway make it a popular village for people of all ages.

The historic centre of the village is a conservation area with a number of listed buildings. It contains a variety of shops, a library, health centre and several public houses and restaurants. A large number of community groups and societies meet regularly in the village.

There has been a church building in Pangbourne since the 1200s. On the present location a church is recorded as having been built c1650 and the present St James the Less building dates from 1866.

Pangbourne has enjoyed a literary history: Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a boat ended their journey along the Thames at The Swan Inn. Kenneth Graham, a former resident, is said to have been inspired by Pangbourne River Meadows for his Wind in the Willows.

The residents of Pangbourne recently produced a highly commended Village Plan which shapes the future of the village and is updated on a regular basis.

http://www.pangbourne-on-thames.com