Hurst Village Society

The Society is based in the rural village of Hurst in the Royal County of Berkshire, England. The primary concern of the Society is to protect the physical element and maintain the rural aspect of the area. It aims also to promote greater use of the village amenities and services and to encourage their expansion.

More about HVS

Local History

Explore Hurst and find out why we have road names such as Ward’s Cross, Dalby Close, and Martineau Lane. Which is the oldest part of Hurst, and how many pubs were there 100 years ago? Who lived in Hurst Lodge? Find out why the village is so spread out, with small ‘hamlets’ like Whistley and Bill Hill.

Records from Hurst Parish Registers have recently been added to the site. Births, deaths and marriages in the Parish from the late 1500s to the 19th century are detailed.

Browse the CD-ROM of Hurst

Find out more about the Hurst War Memorial.

Local Information

A wealth of local information can be found in this section. Contact details for businesses, clubs and societies. Maps, accommodation and transport details. Helplines and government information. It can all be found here.

Local Information Index

Hurst in Pictures

Are you a member of HVS?

If you join the HVS now we will be able to represent your views on planning issues in the parish. It costs only £5 per household, so why not fill in the membership form, and make your voice heard.

Hurst Village Society was formed 30 years ago to fight proposed gravel extraction and conversion of the pits into an activities centre and theme park stretching from Twyford to Sindlesham.

Since then HVS has successfully campaigned to keep Hurst as rural as possible, and that is one of the reasons why many people choose to live here.

We're not just about planning - we do have fun too! We organise social events, and run entertainments at other activities in the parish.

If you would like more information, please contact Wayne Smith on 0118 934 0840.

What's On in Hurst?

Do you want keep up to date with events and activities within the Village? If so then subscribe to our mailing list and have details delivered straight to your inbox.

View the latest listing

More Information

Planning

The Society endevours to review all Planning Applications submitted for Hurst and those in neighbouring Parishes which are likely to have an impact on Hurst. The Society makes its views known to the Planning Authority if it is of the view that an Application may have a detrimental effect upon the village.

More on planning

Environment

The Society keeps a close watch on the natural environment of the village. It has undertaken a number of projects to enhance and protect the flora and fauna in the Parish.

More on environment

Newsletter

The Society publishes a news letter at least three times a year, which is delivered free to all households in the village.

Newsletter archive

Parish Planning Guidance

A Design for Hurst, incorporating the Parish Design Statement has been published. This document sets out to define that which gives the village and its surrounding countryside its distinctive character. From that is drawn a series of Objectives, leading to specific Guidelines for the design of any future development within the Parish which will maintain and enhance that character.

The Parish Design Statement (chapters 11 & 12 of this document) was formally adopted by Wokingham District Council as a Supplementary Planning Document on 17th March 2005.

Read the document...

Hurst in Pictures

Local photographer Jeff Hopkins is creating a portfolio of pictures of the village. This collection will grow over the next few months and will provide a pictorial record of Hurst at the beginning of the third millennium.

View the archive

Top story from the most recent newsletter:

HVS Annual General Meeting

The Hurst Village Society Committee invites all Hurst residents, and anyone else associated with the village, to the HVS Annual General Meeting to be held in the Small Village Hall on Friday, 15th May 2009 at 8.00pm.

Read more...

Have your say. Let us know how you feel about local issues in the forum on the Hurst website www.WoodedHill.org.

Other news...