Wokingham

Wokingham, originally meaning 'Wocca's people's home,' derives its name from a Saxon chieftain named Wocca, who likely also had lands in Wokefield, Berkshire, and Woking, Surrey. By the Victorian era, the name had evolved to Oakingham, which is reflected in the town's heraldic emblem featuring an acorn and oak leaves, a design introduced in the 19th century. Situated at the northern extremity of the Bagshot Formation atop London clay, Wokingham's origins hint at its prehistoric beginnings as a marine estuary. Historically, Wokingham was the site for Windsor Forest's courts and gained the privilege to host a market in 1219. The town's expansion during this time can be largely credited to the Bishop of Salisbury, who organized the layout of roads and plots, offering them for rent. By 1258, records indicate that he secured the rights to conduct three annual town fairs.