Project Purley

The Local History Society for Purley on Thames

N0003 6/12/2018

Articles on Purley History

On this page we give you links to other articles and some collections of articles which throw light onto various aspects of Purley History. For convenience we group them under a number of Headings:-

Early and Mediaeval Purley

The spread of settlements A view as to how the area bounded by the Thames, Kennet and Pang expanded from an original Saxon settlement in Reading.

Feet of Fines - Summarising some dubious land transactions between 1312 and 1485

Murder most foul The murder of William Langspey 1489

Purley in Norman Times


Purley through the Ages report of a talk given to Project Purley by Jean Debney

Purley Before the First World War

Rides and Rambles around Reading Viator, writing around 1865, describes a ride around Purley and Pangbourne.

The Rector's daughter Rose Matthews recalls life in Purley 1902-1914

A Boy when the Century was born F Matthews recalls life in Purley 1902-1914

Twentieth Century

A Something and a Nothing A 1960s newspaper article about Purley and the Pocock sisters

Our very own Shanty Town A 1970s newspaper article about the River Estate

Growing pains of a split level village -Don Desborough interviewed several people from Purley for the Reading Chronicle in 1991.

The Second World War (1938-1946) - How Purley coped with the Second World War

My Purley Grandparents Tom Farmer recalls visits made to his grandparents 1900-1930

Memories of Purley in the 1940s John Parrott recalls when he was evacuated to Purley

Memories of Purley School 1942-1945 Ian Nash recalls attending Purley C of E School

Oral History - Joe and Elsie Kirton

Oral History - David and Rose Martin

Purley School Mrs McLoughlin recalls her time as a teacher at Purley C of E School. 1958-1973

Richard Walmesley recalls Happenings and people on the old River Estate

Memories -Andy Findlay recalls the 1950s and 1960s in Purley.

Potterings and Ponderings - Fred Rawlins ponders over life in Purley. 1920s to 1940s

Memories - Frances Butler recalls the 1950s and 1960s in Purley.

The Second World War

Gallantry will not be forgotten The Story of Edmund Goddard and the X-craft attacks on the Tirpitz

German POWs in Purley Friendships made when German POWs were working in Purley

Pill Boxes Purley's Pill Box and the Thames Defence line

Ted Williams as a POW Ted Williams recounts a memorable return to Holland and tells his story as a POW

The Start of the War Bill Fisher recalls happenings in Purley

From VE Day to VJ Day - David Betts reflects on some of the activities to commemorate the 6oth anniversary of the end of the war

And some series of Articles

From My History Notebook - A series of articles by Jean Debney published in Purley Parish News.

History on our Doorstep - A series of articles by John Chapman and others and published in Purley Parish News.

A bit of a tell - A series of articles by Rita Denman for Purley Parish News.

Life in Purley, Sulham and Tidmarsh in the 1930s - A series of articles written by Bill Fisher

District Notes Articles written for Purley Parish News by District Councillors

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