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Sindlesham

Often called 'Sinsham' in centuries past, this area is best known for its three-storeyed mill, now a hotel, night-club and leisure complex. The old church here was originally a chapel-of-ease. It was built by Robert of Sindlesham, in 1220, because he didn't think much of the muddy trip he had to take to the mother-church at Sonning. The Vicar of Sonning, however, protested for he lost all the revenue from his Sindlesham parishioners. The matter was eventually settled when Robert agreed that the chapel should only be used for himself, his family and servants. The peasants would have to walk to Sonning. This building has, however, long disappeared and Sindlesham has since been served by St. Catherine's at Bearwood. A new chapel was built near the Georgian Sindlesham House in 1964.

An old story tells how 'Devil's Island,' in the Loddon near Sindlesham Farm, got its name. The place was once joined to mainland an cultivated by a local farmer. However, one day he was busy haymaking when his wagon and horses completely disappeared. They had been drawn into the river by the Old Nick himself!

Bearwood House stands at Sindlesham. This vast Victorian Jacobean-revival  mansion was built as the family home of John Walter III, proprietor of the Times newspaper at the height of its reputation, in 1864. The architect was Robert Kerr. Since 1921 it has been a school, originally for boys wishing to enter the Merchant Navy. The estate was original purchased by John Walter II, the paper's founder, around 1830. He built the church of St. Catherine on the edge of the village. It was named after his daughter.