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Binfield Heath lies in the parish of Shiplake and has no official separate
status, but those who live there argue hotly that it is a village in its own
right. Certainly there is a strong community spirit and a number of residents
have roots there that go back many years. The village has in fact more of a core
than nearby Dunsden, as most of the houses are near the two village shops and
recreation ground. At the centre of the crossroads, where the road from Dunsden
meets the Sonning Common/Shiplake road, stands a fine chestnut tree, which is a
well known rendezvous. A smithy stood beside this tree, which must have given
rise to many references to the old song. The building still stands but caters
for motor cars and has not quite the same charm. It is not difficult, however,
if you half-close your eyes and pretend the cars are gone, to imagine you can
hear the clatter of hooves and the hiss of steam.
The residence of prime importance in the village is Holmwood. For many years
this was owned by the Makower family. Their tradition of involvement in local
affairs has been carried on by the present owners, Mr and Mrs B. Talfourd-Cook.
Many fund-raising events for charity are held at Holmwood and, unlike the case
with many ‘big houses’, nearly every villager has set foot in the grounds at one
time or another.
One of the major events of the year is the Binfield Heath and District Flower
Show which is open to residents of the parishes of Dunsden, Harpsden and
Shiplake. The show celebrated its ruby anniversary in 1988 and is held at
Holmwood on the last Saturday in August. Another item in the calendar is the
Great Wheelbarrow Race. This was instituted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
the founding of the British Legion but then became an annual summer event. The
purpose is to raise funds for the British Legion but enormous fun is had by all.
In olden days there were several ponds in the area, some of which have since
been filled in. One was immediately in front of the New Inn, near the
blacksmith’s, one by the Bottle and Glass, and another by the White Hart. These
ponds were essential both to water the farm horses and to provide water for the
traction engines which at harvest time used to go from farm to farm, followed by
a crowd of children and dogs ready to catch the rats and mice that ran out of
the diminishing corn as it was cut. There was also a bakehouse adjacent to the
New Inn but this was enclosed and renovated to form a private dwelling.
The brickworks in Kiln Lane provided work for many years and the old road
serving the works and some of the houses built for workers are still in use. A
few of the houses at the end of Kiln Lane are built of wood and these were
donated by Sweden at the end of the Second World War to help the acute housing
shortage. These traditional Swedish buildings blend well with the surrounding
wooded area.
An unusual covered well stands near Holmwood. Unfortunately the original was
completely demolished a few years ago in a motoring accident, but it has been
rebuilt exactly as before. In appearance it is a dome on top of a cylinder,
built in brick. Various legends surround it, one connected with a ghostly coach
and horses which are said to gallop by at dead of night.
It may seem surprising that no church exists at Binfield Heath. Shiplake church
is some way distant but that is where parishioners were expected to attend, and
a local resident remembers going to church by horse and cart in her childhood.
There has been since 1835, however, a Congregational chapel on the corner of
Gravel Road and Dunsden Road, a fine site which must have seemed temptingly
convenient to local Anglican residents. It is built in an attractive mock-Gothic
style and has a pleasantly simple interior.
Very little new building has taken place in recent times, the exception being
Heathfield Close, a small development of modern houses opposite the New Inn.
Many of the older houses are tucked away and a casual visitor might comment
‘There’s not much going on in Binfield Heath’. But he would he wrong!
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