Motoring in South-West Berkshire
To people who live in London, Berkshire consists mainly of those placeS on the Thames to which they go in summer. It may possibly include Newbury race-course and Reading, but to real Berkshire people the county proper does not begin until Reading has been passed going west.
Its peculiarly English scenery is wonderfully varied, green beyond belief in the water meadows between the Kennet and the Enborne, grey and rather dreary up on the high downlands of Wantage and Ilsley, while round Mortimer and Aldermaston ft is more reminiscent of the lowlands of Scotland with its pine trees and heather.
Taking the pleasant market town of Newbury, with its com- fortable hotels, as a starting-place, many delightful drives can be made from this centre. The archaeologist can visit the Roman encampments and barrows of Coombe and Faccombe, or, going further south and east, the Seven Barrows and tumuli of Highclere (though these last are just in Hampshire).
The lover of old churches should not miss the tiny parish church of Avington, which lies just off the Bath Road between Newbury and Hungerford. Going on west, the charming old town of Hungerford is reached, where many old customs still remain, notably that of the Hoektide. Although, strictly speaking, in Wiltshire, it is a pity to miss seeing the wonderful old Elizabethan manor of " Littlecote," which lies about two miles from Hungerford.
As the roads are not to be recommended between the beautiful little village of Chilton Foliat, which is near Little- cote, it is better to turn back to Hungerford before taking the road to Lambourne. From Lambourne to Wantage the road lies over the top of the downs, from which good. views can be got in clear weather. From Wantagc to Abingdon is about ten miles, whence the return journey may be made through Steventon, E. Ilsley, Chievely and so back to Newbury.
With slightly less goOd roads but delightful scenery, a drive- can be made to Inkpen Beacon, the highest point of the South. Berkshire downs. Here is a gibbet on which two unfortu- nates were hanged in 17 . A little west of this point the three counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire meet. Leaving Newbury on the south side of the town and passing through Enborne, Inkpen Beacon lies beyond West Woodhay. The surface of the ascent is fairly good, and at its worst only one in eight, so that no motorist need fear it. The descent to Inkpen village is about the same gradient. If a charming little old-world village appeals to the driver he should turn west towards Ham and Shalbourne, eventually making the Bath Road again at Hungerford.
If the motorist hails from London and is proceeding back there after a short stay at Newbury, he should take the road to Reading which passes Mortimer and Aldermaston.
Newbury itself is worthy of attention. There are small side streets which have altered little during the last three hundred years, and many of the old houses, which date from the time
when Newbury achieved fame as a cloth-weaving district, still remain. From here John Winchcombe led an army of his own workers to fight at far-distant Flodden Field.
Donnington Castle, near which the first Battle of Newbury was fought in 1644, is still standing ; older and even better preserved are the alnishouses, some 'of them dating from the • reign of King John.
In mentioning the people who know Berkshire I forgot the dry fly purists. The Kennet and Enborne are their happy hunting-ground, and all through the May fly season the whole district bristles with these enthusiasts and their impedimenta.
-I'he non-fishing motorist would do well to defer his visit at this season, for every available room is sure to be occupied and the conversation is so. exclusively " fishy " that people with other interests find themselves. very much in the minority.
HONOR GOODHART,
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