The first mention of the village Tidmarsh in historical records is found in 1196, an old Roman road running north from Silchester to either Dorchester-on-Thames or a river-crossing at Pangbourne. Tidmarsh has two historic buildings. The most conspicuous is the Greyhound Inn and Restaurant, and the other is the 12th century church of St Laurence, an unexpected treasure. Its most notable feature being its superbly carved Norman doorway. There is a fine contemporary font to match which was found buried in the churchyard in Victorian times. The building is unusual in having one of the few apses in the county. Tidmarsh is situated on the A340 road between Theale and Pangbourne, it lies just north of the M4 motorway, and is one mile south of Pangbourne, 5 miles west of Reading and 40 miles west of London.

The devastating fire of 2005

Places of interest near Tidmarsh

• Moor Copse Nature Reserve, lies between Tidmarsh and the M4, on the east side of the A340. In December 2006, it doubled in size, to about 140 acres (1 Mile).
• Mapledurham House and Watermill, still the home of the descendants of the original family, is an Elizabethan Manor House situated beside the Thames and sheltered by the Chiltern Hills. Visitors can enjoy the collection of portraits, furniture, the great oak staircases and original plaster ceilings (2 Miles).
• Basildon Park is a beautiful Palladian mansion that was built in 1776-83. The interior is notable for its original delicate plasterwork and elegant staircase, as well as the unusual Octagon Room (3 Miles).
• Beale Park nestles on the banks of the River Thames offering visitors the chance to see a unique collection of rare and endangered birds and animals (3 Miles).
• Well Place Zoo was first opened in 1968. It is home to a large and varied collection of birds and animals from all over the world (6 Miles).
• Greys Court is a picturesque and intriguing house, originally 14th-century, with a beautiful courtyard and a tower surviving from 1347. It was later involved with Jacobean court intrigue (7 Miles).
• Wellington Country Park is set in 350 acres of peaceful woodlands within the Duke of Wellington's Estate, with a wealth of open space, birds and wildlife. A new Animal Farm opens in June 2007. There are plenty of picnic and barbeque areas, and cream teas, coffee and cake are available in the coffee shop (9 Miles).