Emmer Green | |
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The Milestone Way shopping parade with public greens in the background. |
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Homes on the slopes of the east of Emmer Green. |
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Emmer Green shown within Berkshire | |
Area | 2.86 km2 (1.10 sq mi) |
Population | 7,849 (2011 census) |
• Density | 2,744/km2 (7,110/sq mi) |
OS grid reference | SU722769 |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | READING |
Postcode district | RG4 |
Dialling code | 0118 |
Police | Thames Valley |
Fire | Royal Berkshire |
Ambulance | South Central |
EU Parliament | South East England |
UK Parliament | |
Emmer Green is the northernmost suburb of Reading in the English county of Berkshire within the Unitary Authority, centred 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town. Having most of its own commerce, sport and other amenities, Emmer Green has an arbitrary divide with larger Caversham and a border with Oxfordshire, the county in which both places formerly stood.
Caversham was the area's ancient parish until the concept was done away with on the partition of England into parished and non-parished areas in the 1860s. Emmer Green has five former mansions. Two are now converted for residential use; Rosehill House and Notley Place. Rosehill House, standing in 14 acres of ground, was once part of Caversham Manor, the first building being erected in 1791. Martin John Sutton, of Sutton's Seeds, lived there, the house then being called Kidmore Grange. In 1923 it was bought for the Oratory Preparatory School; then from the outbreak of the last war until 1958 it accommodated part of The Salvation Army's Headquarters as staff were evacuated from central London. The house has since been converted into flats and a housing estate built on the grounds. The third, Caversham Park, is owned by the BBC, while Grove House has become Highdown School. Caversham Place was designed by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis for Major-General Sir Cecil Pereira, whose brother The Rev Edward Thomas Pereira was headmaster and benefactor of The Oratory School.
Caversham forms a suburban conglomeration (continuous area of development) with Emmer Green. Emmer Green is bordered by the extensive nature reserve at Clayfield Copse and Blackhouse Woods and also by the tip of the Chiltern Hills at Bugs Bottom (also known as Hemdean Bottom). There is a cycle path to Wallingford and access to Balmore Park which overlooks Caversham, with views as far as the Madjeski Stadium wind turbine.