Sonning
Sonning is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England, on the River Thames, east of Reading. The village was described by Jerome K. Jerome in his book ‘Three Men in a Boat’ as "the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river". Sonning Eye forms the southernmost tip of Oxfordshire and lies opposite the village of Sonning, to which it is linked by crossing the 18th century brick-arched Sonning Bridge. Sonning village is a popular and attractive destination for people to enjoy activities including riverside walks, drinks at the historic Bull Inn or Coppa Club, theatre and dinner at The Mill, a round of golf at Sonning Golf Club, or tea and cake at Sonning Lock.
Schools
Sonning Church of England Primary school (Ofsted rated ‘Good’ Mar 2024) is supported by the Diocese of Oxford and the catchment area is Sonning and Charvil. Just outside the village, above Sonning Lock, is the independent secondary school, Reading Blue Coat School, in the 19th century manor house, Holme Park.
Sport & Leisure
Sonning Cricket Club plays on King George's Field. Sonning Hockey Club, Reading Hockey Club, Reading R.F.C and Berkshire Shire Hall R.F.C. are all on Sonning Lane. Sonning Hockey Club has squash and tennis courts. Redingensians R.F.C. is nearby, off the Old Bath Road. Sonning Golf Club is on the other side of the A4 road. Sonning Regatta restarted in 2000 and is held every two years just upstream from Sonning Lock. There is sailing and waterskiing on the Caversham Lakes across the river and the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake.
Notable Residents
Star-studded Sonning has homed many famous names over the years, from Prime Minister Theresa May (who was the MP for Maidenhead for 26 years until 2024) to the illusionist Uri Geller, who gifted a ‘bent fork’ sculpture to the riverside. Hollywood royalty George and Amal Clooney currently live in Mill House in Sonning Eye, purchasing the property back in 2014 at a cost of around £10 million.
Sources & Links:
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonning
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonning_Eye
Sonning Golf Club https://www.sonning-golf-club.co.uk/welcome
Sonning Church of England Primary School http://www.sonning.wokingham.sch.uk/
Coppa Club http://www.coppaclub.co.uk/sonning
The Bull Inn http://www.bullinnsonning.co.uk
Reading Blue Coat School http://www.rbcs.org.uk
The Mill at Sonning http://www.millatsonning.com
