Sulhamstead

An extensive parish, Sulhamstead runs from the Bath Road west of Theale across the Kennet valley, to include much wooded country on the south side as far south as Wokefield Common. As well as Sulhamstead itself, the parish includes Sulhamstead Abbots (once owned by monks of Reading Abbey) and Sulhamstead Bannister.
Of the three churches that once served this large area only St Mary's at Sulhamstead Abbots remains. It is a small flint built church, almost wholly of about 1200 and with a timber bell turret. It has a rather fine 15th century timber roof, a Norman tub font and an altar by Ninian Comper.

Sulhamstead House and its park overlook the Kennet valley. The house dates from the 18th and 19th centuries and is now used as a police training school.
Of greater architectural interest is Folly Farm, a house created by Lutyens out of an earlier timber framed cottage.

He carried out this exercise in two stages. In 1906 he converted the cottage into a house of the `William and Mary' style and then six years later, and for another owner, he added a large wing in his `Tudor Arts and Crafts' manner. The whole forms a most unusual architectural unit and the gardens were also laid out