The village of Silchester is situated in the North of Hampshire, adjacent to the Berkshire border. It is bounded immediately by the villages/towns of Tadley, Pamber Heath, Mortimer West End, Little London, Bramley, Mortimer and Aldermaston. The nearest major towns are Basingstoke, Reading and Newbury. When trying to find us, we assume you are approaching from one of these major towns.
Here is a general map of the area, encompassing all three of these towns (Silchester is in the dead centre).
At Pamber End (landmark: Queen's College Arms on your left), turn right (signposted Bramley) and then take the first left turn (signposted Little London).
Follow this road up through Little London (landmark: The Plough on your left), down into the forest, over the stream and then up into Silchester. On the way into Silchester, after a little twisty sequence of bends over the stream, you will see the Romans Hotel on your left, followed immediately by the Calleva Arms public house. Here, on your right, you will see a telephone kiosk situated on the corner of a small car park. This is the car park for Silchester Village Hall.
Map extract showing this route (follow the blue dots); please compare this with the main map given above.
When back "on the level" in Mortimer, (landmark: Horse & Groom pub on your left) turn left into West End Road and follow this road out of Mortimer (passing the Turner's Arms on your right). The road winds downhill and then steeply back uphill into Mortimer West End, where you must take the first left turning. The road goes back down into the valley (landmark: Red Lion pub on your left) and then rises up to the edge of Silchester. At the top, the road swings sharply to the right and then a junction is found on the left. Beware - there are two roads leading from this turning: take the "straight" one (not the leftward road), down which you should be able to see the Calleva Arms in the distance. Just before drawing level with the Calleva Arms, you will see a small car park (with a telephone kiosk on one corner); enter at the end by the telephone kiosk (immediately opposite a road junction on the right). This is Silchester Village Hall.
Map extract showing this route (follow the blue dots); please compare this with the main map given above.
Turn left(-ish) here to follow the A340 up the hill, out of Aldermaston, to Tadley. As the road levels out at the top of the hill, you will notice a heavily-fenced compound on its left (this is the A.W.E.). The road finishes at a roundabout, where you must take the first exit (still the A340, signposted Basingstoke). Following this along (with the A.W.E. fences still on your left), you will then encounter a junction complex (landmarks: a petrol station and the Falcon public house on your left), where you must use the right-hand lane in order to bear right (follow signs for A340 and Basingstoke). At the Give Way immediately after that turn, take the road ahead (do not continue round to the right). A few hundred yards along this road you will encounter a staggered crossroads with traffic lights. Turn left here (signposted Pamber Heath and Silchester).
Follow this road out of Tadley (landmark: Treacle Mine pub/hotel on your right), through Pamber Heath (landmark: Pelican pub on your right) and on to Silchester. This road, generally straight so far, then veers to the right and into the heart of the village; you will see the village green on your left and the Calleva Arms on your right when the road terminates at a T-junction. Immediately ahead of you is an an unmetalled road and, to its left, a telephone kiosk on the corner of a small car park; this is Silchester Village Hall.
Map extract showing this route (follow the blue dots); please compare this with the main map given above.
[Webmaster's note: If anyone notices any blatant errors in these directions, please contact me immediately so I can put them right]
