Overview of our area

Our Parish runs along the border with Berkshire formed by the River Enborne it encompasses the village of Woolton Hill and the surrounding hamlets of Ball Hill, East End, Heath End and North End. 

We are lucky enough to have a good level of amenities including excellent schools, a doctors surgery, fine public houses/restaurants and a wonderful village shop and post office. 

This forms an extremely attractive “package” to both incomers and people within the Parish looking to move/upsize and downsize. 

Our housing stock is wonderfully varied from compact farmhouses and character semi’s to modern detached properties and character homes of every hue and type from thatched cottages to mansions.  Our area is unique in having that fine balance between urban environment and countryside and is a wonderful place to live (and work).  

Peter Brunsden

see Brunsden Associates link below

A personal story......

Although we only moved to East Woodhay in 2000 I had always felt a close affinity with the East Woodhay/Woolton Hill area. 

I was born and raised at Wash Common which in the 1960’s still felt very much like the village it had once been. 

View from Wayfarers Walk across to the area

As children had complete freedom to roam the local countryside on foot and bicycle and took full advantage of the opportunities this presented to us. 

In the school holidays myself and local mates would set off on our bikes with a few homemade sandwiches, an apple and a diluted bottle of “squash” to keep us going (no mobile phones!)  

Almost invariably we would wind our way out to Ball Hill, Heath End, East End and back through Woolton Hill. 

In those days most of the hamlets there had a small shop so these provided ideal refuelling stops. 

The beautiful woods and wide vistas towards Coombe Gibbet were the backdrop to theses adventures and we would often stop around the grounds of the mansion at Stargrove in East End hoping to catch a glimpse of Mick Jagger or one of his famous friends.  Little did we realise that he was already a tax exile in France.  We were intrigued to see a number of “Tepees” and various tents in the grounds whose inhabitants were apparently part of Mr J’s Hippy” entourage. 

I have heard many interesting stories of their doings and the escapade which Jagger & Co, Led Zeppelin, The Who and others got up to in those halcyon days.

Peter Brunsden

see Brunsden Associates link below

How lucky we are.....

The Parish of East Woodhay – How lucky are we if we already live in this area. 

It still surprises me how many people there are who live in the Newbury area yet have never visited here and have little knowledge of the villages and hamlets on their South Western doorstep. 

For an Estate Agent it is quite easy to “sell” the area to people from outside the region. 

We British are No 1 at having a good moan so it is not always easy to appreciate what we all have here.  The pleasing reaction of newcomers to the area who discover this gem underlines this. 

We have Newbury on our doorstop for facilities but few of the problems associated with life in any modern English town.  Great schools, reasonable local facilities, a low crime rate and all this set amongst some truly beautiful countryside. 

To tread the nearby chalk hills on a sunny day is one of life’s true pleasures. 

Our community is large enough to have some basic facilities and also to retain that element of “neighbourliness” which so many places have sadly lost. 

People shape the landscape and environment and it is our duty – all of us – to work hard to maintain what we enjoy here for the generations to come. 

Peter Brunsden

see Brunsden Associates link below