Aldermaston

Aldermaston is a civil parish in West Berkshire that sits within the Kennet Valley surrounded by meadows and woodlands. Traditional English buildings line its streets, constructed from locally sourced stone and other regional materials typical of the area.

The Domesday Book recorded the settlement in 1086 with a mill and fisheries under William the Conqueror following the Norman invasion. Water-powered mills and fishing rights shaped the village's economic foundation for centuries to come.

The parish church displays an alabaster monument from 1530 depicting Sir George Forster and his wife, along with notable hatchments of the Congreve family. These crafted works tell the story of local families who held influence in the area for generations.

The village sits at roughly equal distances from the larger towns of Reading, Newbury, and Basingstoke, making it a convenient central point. Visitors can easily travel to these nearby towns for shopping, services, or additional attractions in the wider area.

The village maintains one of England's eleven remaining candle auctions, where bidding continues until a pin drops through a burning tallow candle. This rare tradition has remained largely unchanged and offers visitors a glimpse into a medieval trading practice still in use today.