Mapledurham House and Watermill |
||||||||||
|
Mapledurham, "the maple tree enclosure", appears in Doomsday as two manors, Mapledurham Gurney belonging to William de Warenne, while Milo Crispin, Lord of the honour of Wallingford, owned the smaller Mapledurham Chazey. Mapledurham is a village with a special charm of its own, set in the valley of the River Thames, below the Goring Gap. It boasts cottages, a church, almshouses and a watermill with the old brick and flint walls. This is backed by the Elizabethan mansion and the still-older manor house of Mapledurham Gurney. Together they retain an ancient village layout which is rare today.
Mapledurham House, still the home of the descendants of the original family, is an Elizabethan Manor House situated beside the Thames and sheltered
by the Chiltern Hills. Visitors can enjoy the collection of portraits, furniture, the great oak staircases and original plaster ceilings.There has a been a mill on this site since Saxon times and the present building dates from the 15th century, making it the only surviving working watermill on the Thames. Seeing the traditional machinery in action is one of the highlights of a visit to Mapledurham. The wholemeal flour ground here (and its by-products of bran and semolina) can be purchased in both the Mill Shop and the Gift Shop, along with other mementoes.
Picnic tables are set out on the delightful Mill Island or you can picnic from your car along the bank of the River Thames in the country park. Cream Teas are available in the tearooms in the 14th century Old Manor, and can be enjoyed at the tables set on the lawns sloping down to the inside of the Manor Stables.
General Information:
| More Pictures | |
 |
|
|
Opening Times
|
|
(2010 times)
Easter to the end of September:Only on Saturdays and Bank Holidays and for previously arranged group visits mid week. Also Sundays in October |
|
Admission Charges
|
|
(2010 prices)
Please phone for details.
|
|
Directions
|
|
By Road: There is no public transport to Mapledurham village itself so a car is essential. Reading railway station is about five miles away and provides services to most areas. London is only a half hour journey by rail and an easy drive via the M4. By Boat: Guests may arrive by boat from nearby Caversham. Boats leave Caversham at 2.00pm. on open days and then leave Mapledurham at 5.00pm. to arrive back in Caversham at approximately 5.40pm. |
| Show map of Mapledurham House and Watermill... |
|
Mapledurham House and Watermill Postcode for SatNav: RG4 7TR |
|
Nearby Attractions
|
|
Basildon Park
(4 Miles)*
This beautiful Palladian mansion was built in 1776-83. The interior is notable for its original delicate plasterwork and elegant staircase, as well as the unusual Octagon Room. |
|
Beale Park
(4 Miles)*
Beale Park nestles on the banks of the River Thames offering visitors the chance to see a unique collection of rare and endangered birds and animals. |
|
Greys Court
(5 Miles)*
Greys Court is a picturesque and intriguing house, originally 14th-century, with a beautiful courtyard and a tower surviving from 1347. It was later involved with Jacobean court intrigue. |
| more attractions in Reading and things to do in Reading ... |
| more things to do in Berkshire and days out in Berkshire... |
|
Nearby Hotels
|
|
Nearby Self Catering
|
|
National Trust | Estate Agents |
Copyright © 1999-2012 Excelsior Information Systems Limited.
All rights reserved.
Press Room Terms of Use Privacy Link to Us Index Site Map
