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a trip around our village II

 

   

langley hall

Langley Hall was a mansion built in the 1600’s. During the 18th Century work was carried out to give it an imposing façade but, this is now hidden behind iron gates.

 

Langley Hall and it's surroundings which was once the location of the old village pond where today there is a roundabout

 

By the 1900’s it was used as a private preparatory boys school and known as Langley Place.

In 1915 it was taken over as an actors’ orphanage under the direction of Noel Coward. After World War 1, the ‘bijou theatre’ and new classrooms were added. In the late 1920’s E J Nettlefold donated funds to build a sanatorium, chemistry lab and cricket pavilion.

During World War 2 the buildings were used as RAF Group HQ of Bomber Command and one can see evidence today of the large underground operations room, behind the hall.

In 1955 Langley Hall housed the Ministry of Transport Road Research Dept for an experiment in road safety tests.  Before Bucks County Council purchased it in 1970, the place was abandoned and derelict for several years.

With new ownership a college, residential home and day centre were constructed.

In 1973 part of the site was sold and unfortunately the following year it was gutted by fire. In 1978 it was brought by Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society  and redeveloped to become known as Langley Hall Conference Centre. 1988 saw the site become Langley College and then the property of E Berks College in 1992.

   

langley memorial

Langley Memorial Ground was one of the original clearings (Horsemoor Green) that grew into Langley village. It is at the corner of Langley Road and Langley High Street and also the site of the relocated memorial and home to fun fairs.

The First World War Memorial in Langley was placed at the centre of the village, in the form of a stone cross so that it could be easily seen from many  perspectives. Over the years with the increase of traffic it was isolated on a traffic island, suffering the effects of pollution and looking degraded and unkempt. War Memorials Trust contributed £150 towards the cost of moving the memorial to Langley Memorial Park,  restoring it to its former glory and adding a further 25 names from victims of World War II.

 

The Langley Memorial is a reminder of all the local people who gave their lives in the First World War.

 

The base of the Langley Memorial is a reminder of all the local people who gave their lives in the First World War.

The base inscription reads 'This memorial was erected and the adjoining field acquired in memory of Langley men who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919. Their names liveth for ever more.' The smaller column on top is dedicated 'To those who gave their lives in the Second World War 1939-1945'.

   

langley station

Langley train station formed part of the Great Western Railway that linked London Paddington to Maidenhead. It was built in 1838 but did not open until 1846.

 

The view shows the gothic architecture of the Station ticket office

 

The view shows the gothic architecture of the Station ticket office. The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western from London Paddington to Reading station. It is on the original line of the Great Western Railway.

 

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