Modern Times

History of Coley Park from 1810 onwards ...

The Monck Family
Owners of Coley Park estates 1810-1937

Authors note: The name Monck is documented as also being spelt as Monke or Moncke. On this website it is always referred to as Monck.

Coley Park estate was owned by the Monck family throughout the 19th century. Many of which served Reading as Members of Parliament, Town Councilors and Justices of the Peace.

John Berkeley Monck (1769-1834), was the eldest son of John Monck, of Bath. He was educated at Eton and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn on 27 March 1790. From 1796 he practiced as a barrister until the death of his father in 1809. John inherited a huge fortune from his father, and purchased the estate of Coley Park in 1810.

On 4 May 1810, John married Mary Stephens (born c1790) (daughter of William Stephens of Aldermarston) at Aldermarston. John was 41 and Mary was 20. They had four children; John Bligh (1811), Emelia (1816), Mariette (1821) and William Stanley Monck (1822).

Mariette Monck married Charles Hill of Wellingborough, Northants, in 1842.

MONCK Coat of Arms

At this time the Coley Park estate consisted of Coley House and grounds, Coley Park Farm, Little Coley Farm and lands including Kennet Moor, Restraws Meadow and Pigney Meadow. Until the early 19th century the estate included Whitley manor in the Reading parish of St Giles. In 1810, through the marriage of John Berkeley Monck and Mary Stephens of Aldermaston, Southcote Farm and lands were added. From 1812 the estate also included Aldworth manor, with property and lands in Aldworth and Streatley.

John later purchased further estates in the county of Berkshire.

John, Member of Parliament for the Borough of Reading from 1820 to 1830, took a prominent part in the life of Reading, especially in the Parliamentary Reform movement, and has represented Reading in three parliaments. The Reform Bill, for the reform of parliament had caused a great deal of public agitation. The all-invading taxation, wasteful and at times corrupt administration, and traditional ascendancy in politics of the upper classes, were among the many grievances which had led to nationwide discontent.

The Reform Bill when introduced into parliament in 1831 roused the interest of the whole country. The Reform Bill being eventually passed by the House of Lords in June 1832. In Reading the celebrations were held on Wednesday July 18 1832, when a cannon was fired at dawn, drums beat, church bells rang, and people decorated their houses with laurel boughs. In London Street, as in every other main street in Reading, long tables were set up and loaded with food. At 3pm, 7000 people sat down to dine, with the vast banquet being presided over by none other than John Berkeley Monck.

John was widely respected in Reading and Berkshire. He was also a magistrate and the Grand Master of the lodge of Masons. In 1832 he was chairman at the banquet held in Reading to celebrate the passing of the Great Reform Bill.

John died on the 13 December 1834 and was buried at St. Mary's Church in Reading. The estate passing to his eldest son, John Bligh Monck.

John Bligh Monck (8 August 1811-1903), inherited the estates from his father in early 1835.

He married Margaret Elizabeth Yates (daughter of Rev. Wildman Yates - Vicar of St. Mary's, Reading) on June 22, 1841. They had seven children: William Berkeley (1842), Charlotte Margaret Emilia (Emily) (1843), Mary Louisa (1844), John Stanley (1845), Charles Henry Bligh (1846), Frances Elizabeth (1847) and George Gustavus (1849).

By 1835, Little Coley Farm was no longer in existence. The estate now consisted of Southcote Estate, Great Coley Farm and lands, named lands formally part of Little Coley Farm, Coley Mansion (erected by John McConnell), site of the old mansion (Vachell House), Pigney Meadow (20 acres), pasture land at Bower Farm, Streatley (62 acres), the manor and lordship of Aldworth, with Dunworth Farm and lands, Aldworth, Bower farmhouse and lands, Aldworth, cottage on the east side of Aldworth Street, Aldworth, Bell public house, Aldworth.

John made some alterations to Coley House around 1840, which included a new balustrade marble staircase - perhaps ready for his new bride the following year (Unfortunately the staircase was badly damaged by fire in the 1990's by vandals who broke into the house when in a derelict state).

John became a Sheriff of Reading in 1845.

Around 1860, the Rifle Range would have been commissioned in the fields behind Coley Park Farm and utilised by the Reading Volunteer Corps (see inset panel above).

According to the census of 1861, John Stanley Monck age 16, his aunt Emelia age 45, and his grandmother Mary age 74 were living at The Rectory in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire. George Monck age 11, scholar, was residing with his uncle John W. Moore at The Rectory in Hordley, Shropshire.

John died in 1903. The estate passed to his eldest son, William Berkeley Monck.

John Stanley Monck, the second son of John Bligh Monck. was born in Coley Park on February 28 1845. He is recorded as playing first class cricket for Canterbury (New Zealand) during the 1873-1874 season. He died on September 3 1929 in Sumner, Christchurch-Canterbury, New Zealand. Thanks to 'Gillian Figures' for this update.

William Berkeley Monck (1842-1905), inherited the estates (including Aldworth and Southcote estates) in 1903.

William Berkeley Monck married Althea Paulina Louisa Fanshawe (born 1850), of Warsaw, in 1872. They had at least four children: Louisa E. (1875), Margaret A. (1877), George Stanley Stevens (1880) and John B. Monck (1884).

William had played an active role in the affairs of Reading Town. He was Mayor for Reading in 1887 and again in 1897. He was an active member of the Thames Conservancy Board and also Chairman of the Education Committee. His profession was Barrister in Law.

Unfortunately William died suddenly in 1905 due to a shooting accident, and was succeeded by his son, George Stanley Stevens Monck in 1906. (Not sure if the shooting accident was related to the nearby rifle range. Ed.) A Coroner's Inquisition into the death of William Berkeley Monck, was carried out by Reading Court on 8 Sep 1905.

Berkeley Avenue in 2004
Berkeley Avenue was presumably named after William Berkeley Monck.

George Stanley Stevens Monck (1880 -

Inherited the estates (including Aldworth and Southcote estates) in 1905, with the deeds of the Coley, Southcote and Aldworth estates, passing over to him in 1907.

In 1914 George Monck granted permission for the removal of tablets and benches from the Lady Chapel, at the request of St Mary's Parish, Reading.

Following his father's death (in 1905), the family eventually decided to move away, with the contents of Coley House sold and the house let. However the estates remained with the Monck family until it was broken up and put up for auction in 1937. It is believed George Monck moved to the 'Fishery' at Maidenhead, then later to Seaford in Sussex.

John Bucknell and Family
Owners of Coley Park estates 1937-1955
Coley Park Farm was still owned and run by the Bucknell family until the 1980's

The combined estates were later purchased in 1937 by John Bucknell of Coley Park Farm for £4,875 consisting of Coley Park Estate; of about 520 acres with a mansion, gardens, park, three dairy farms (Coley Park Farm, Southcote Farm and Southcote Manor Farm), Kennett Moor (20 acres) and also Second Goslings Moor - both part or formerly part of Little Coley Farm; several closes of meadow, formerly part of Pigney Meadow, with right of access by horse training path, cottage to north side and adjoining Holy Brook, right of way across Meadow over Old Orchard and a small piece of land near Kennett Wharf in the parish of St Mary.

Also including; land on the west of a new road known as Brook Street West, land on the east side of Brook Street, 2 messuages known as Holy Brook View, Brook Street, 31 Lower Brook Street, also indemnity relating to Rusthall, Bath Road, building land at the junction of Bath Road and Southcote Lane, Wilton House and sanatorium (part of school at Wilton House), Parkside Road; premises formerly known as 'The Rosary', later as Silvester's preparatory school, with pasture, sheds and pavilion, Berkeley Avenue; the Upcross Hotel on Berkeley Avenue.

Some of the land was then sold to the Reading Corporation in 1952 for the construction of housing in Southcote, namely Southcote Lane and Aldworth Close.

According to records of Blandy and Blandy, Solicitors, of Reading, John Bucknell's wife Annie Bucknell, died in 1945. (I am trying to establish if this was the wife of John (Johnny) Bucknell who would have been John Bucknell's father and owned Coley Park Farm since the early 1900s).

John Bucknell died in May 1954 and on February 18, 1955, his wife Margaret Jane Bucknell sold the remaining land on the estates to various purchasers for a freehold price of £6271. It totaled an area of 12.5 acres and was a mixture of allotment gardens (near Bath Road) and gravel pits near Presentation College on Southcote Lane.

The area of land consisting of the now Wensley and Lesford Roads was purchased in October 1956 by the Reading Corporation for a future council housing estate. the cost was £4,700 and consisted of 9.4 acres.

Reading Corporation (Reading Borough Council)
Purchasers of Coley Park land for housing estate in 1956

By 1957 construction was starting on the new roads and houses on Coley Park estate. By 1958 the new residents were arriving and the estate was taking shape. Some of the first residents of Coley Park estate were relocated and re-housed from inner areas of Reading that were being demolished for the redevelopment of central Reading.

Construction started around 1959 to build three 15-storey flats (apartments) on vacant land on Wensley Road in Coley Park.

Coley Park c1997

A row of five new shops (locally known as the 'top shops') were completed in 1961, located on vacant land on Wensley Road, near Carsdale Close. A telephone box and post box were placed on the verge in front of the shops. Public toilets were positioned at the rear of the shops.

The 'Top Shops' at Coley Park
Click image for alternate view

In the early 1960's new streets were built on the farm land adjacent and to the left of the entrance to the Coley Park Farm. The extension to St. Saviours Road was built and now connects here to Wensley Road and a new street, Tintern Crescent, was built. Previously the land was used to grow vegetables and had pig compounds. Opposite here on Wensley Road, to the right of the roundabout were constructed a number of small flats/apartments.

The Roundhead Public House

'The Roundhead' Public House was built in 1965 at number 50 Wensley Road, on the corner of Carsdale Close. In May 2007, after a 6 week makeover, the pub was transformed back into a traditional family pub with a new decor and revamped bar menu.

Take a peek inside (this was prior to the renovations in May 2007)

Prior to the renovation in 2007

'The Roundhead' Pub in 2009

Coley Park Baptist Church

Many early residents of Coley Park who had move from the inner Reading areas, had attended the Carey Baptist Church and theCentral Evangelical Church and so to continue evangelistic work among these families, the churches began to bring the children from the Coley Park estate to their Sunday Schools.

The Carey Baptist Church was convinced that a Church was needed on the Coley Park estate and meetings with local residents backed this up. In 1964 about ½ acre of land was secured and by 1965 the Church was officially opened by the Pastor of Carey, the Rev Harold Owen, as the Coley Park Free Church. I remember it was a packed congregation that day!

The original Coley Park Free Church
©2007 Adam Dunne

The new Church flourished and later became independent. However, after almost 30 years, the Church was unexpectedly closed in August 1993. After some legal issues and public meetings, the Church was reopened with weekly prayer meetings in the following November. In 2009 the church was renovated and included a new annexe to the front.

The new addition to the Coley Park Baptist Church in 2009

Coley Park Schools

Soon after the Church was completed, plans were made for a primary school to be built adjacent to the Church. Coley Park Primary School was completed in 1967.

For early residents at Coley Park estate the nearest primary schools were Coley Primary (on Wolseley Street) and Katesgrove Primary (on Dorothy Street), which were both located on the other side of the 'busy' Berkeley Avenue. The new Coley Park Primary School took the pressure off the other schools.

Coley Park Schools and Church 2005

St.Mary & All Saints Primary School
©Adam Dunne

St. Mary and All Saints Primary school started major extensions and refurbishments in 2004 and the £3.5 million building project was completed in July 2005. This was not a universally popular development  in the area, but parental attitudes are now largely positive. This larger than average school serves an area of mixed owner-occupier and social housing.

The official opening of the 'enlarged' school was on Tuesday 18th October 2005. The new school can hold up to 420 pupils aged five to 11, plus 39 nursery places.

Old Coley Park Primary is now a carpark
©Adam Dunne

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF)

After the Second World War, the Ministry of Agriculture occupied Coley House and a block of modern offices were built nearby. In 1968 a new building was built to accommodate the expanding department. It was located a few hundred metres to the northwest of Coley House. If you look at the older Aerial image above - you can see the building located in the top left. This building was demolished in 2000 for new housing (see the Coley House page for further information on the MAFF).

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Today MAFF is known as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). In 2006 the DEFRA building (located behind the Capio Hospital building) at Coley Park was completely re-roofed, with the original flat roof removed and a new gable roof installed. The work being carried out by Maguire Brothers of Surrey.

The main D.E.F.R.A. building at Coley Park
- with new gable roof since 2006

New Housing... the 1970's

During the 1970's the vacant land on the west side of the Wensley Road Flats was used to build new housing and utilise an area that had laid waste for almost twenty years. It just meant that a new area had to be found to build the huge bonfire for November 5th (Guy Fawkes Night).

More New Streets... the 1990's

In the late 1990's the old MAFF building (built 1968) was demolished and two new streets, Rembrandt Way and Swallows Croft were constructed behind and to the west of Coley House. The North Lodge was also bulldozed to make way for a few more houses and is now North Lodge Mews.

Berkshire Independent Hopital (formally Capio Reading Hospital)

Berkshire Independent Hospital
at Swallows Croft, Coley Park

In 1993 Capio Reading Hospital was purpose built in Coley Park, located at Swallows Croft off Wensley Road. During the mid 1990's Coley House underwent extensive expansion and restoration, especially to the roof areas. After restoration the adjacent Capio Hospital moved its Outpatient Department into Coley House (see the Coley House page for more information).

In September 2007 the Swedish owned Capio Hospital chain, was purchased by Ramsay Health Care, Australia's biggest private hospital operator, for 190 million pounds, marking its first expansion into Europe. Capio Reading Hospital was renamed the Berkshire Independent Hospital.

The old mansion (Coley House) is currently occupied by
the Berkshire Independent Hospital's outpatient department

1990's - even more new streets (well sort of ...)

After the closure of Coley Park Farm as a working farm, and since the restoration of some original farm buildings plus the construction of some new buildings, the area has now become a very exclusive retreat. The lane has been named 'The Old Lane' and where the road forks at the farm, the left lane has been named 'Yew Lane' and the right lane towards the west bridge over the Holy Brook is called 'The Brookmill'.