Newbury Second World War Heritage Walking Trail

A short walking tour of historical points in Newbury with connections to the Second World War.

This walking trail starts from the West Berkshire Museum and ends at Newtown Road cemetery. It shows the location of significant sites in Newbury, and outlines their relevance to the Second World War. The trail can easily be split and the Museum to the Corn Exchange section is around 1.7 miles and the Railway station to Newtown Road cemetery around 0.5 of a mile.

The trail was Prepared by West Berkshire Museum and Greenham Common Control Tower.

The Walk

From the West Berkshire Museum in Wharf Street (1) take the bridge (2) over the canal into Victoria Park. Queen Victoria’s statue (3) is at the top of the Park in a roughly north easterly direction. Return to the canal, do not cross but instead turn right and take the towpath towards the town. Turn right at Northbrook Street and then turn left along Northcroft Lane (signed Northcroft Leisure Centre) for approximately half a mile. Turn left on the public footpath after the Cricket Club and before Northcroft Leisure Centre, then cross the River Kennet. The Type 22 pillbox (4) can be seen to the right of the Monkey Bridge before crossing the canal. Continue crossing the canal and then turn left.

Head towards the town, centre passing the 17th century Weavers Cottages and West Mills. The Newbury War Memorial (5) is on your right as you reach Bartholomew Street. Cross the road, continue straight on and turn right into the Market Place. The Corn Exchange (6) is on your left. Continue into Cheap Street noting the old Post Office building (7) on your left then continue until you reach the A339 dual carriageway and turn right.

Cross the railway and turn right into Station Road. An above ground brick built air raid shelter is located on the A339 side of the station building (8). Continue past the station. The original signal Box was located beyond the western end of the platform. St Nicolas School and playground are on your left. This was the original location of the Newbury Senior Council School (9). Continue along Station Road.

Turn left into Newtown Road and continue south past Fair Close Centre (10). Continue until St John’s Church (11), on your left, which was totally rebuilt after the 1943 bombing. Carefully cross St John’s Road and enter the Memorial Garden (12). Continue south on Newtown Road until you reach the entrance to the Newtown Road Cemetery (13). The cemetery is open daily between 10 am and 3 pm (please check, not open Christmas Day).

This is the end of the walking trail but some (more distant) additional locations are illustrated which may be of interest.