Composition of Registrars' Sub-Districts
For the purposes of registering Births and Deaths, Berkshire was divided into a number of Registrars' Sub-Districts, which could cover anything from part of a large town, up to a group of several dozen rural parishes. The boundaries of these areas have changed frequently over the years since 1837, and as a result many birth and death records have been transferred between different register offices.
The list below attempts to indicate the places within each Sub-District existing prior to 1950, although because parish boundaries have themselves changed considerably, this should only be taken as an approximate guide. The lists of parishes for each sub-district are based on those for the 1851 census with further information from David Watkins and Jean and Cliff Debney.
Bucklebury Sub-District
Created 1837. In Bradfield Registration District 1837-1937, Wokingham Registration District 1937-1974
Ashampstead, Basildon - split into Upper & Lower Basildon after 1911, Bradfield, Bradfield Workhouse, Bucklebury, Frilsham, Goring (Oxfordshire), Stanford Dingley, Streatley, Wood Green and Yattendon
and gaining Beenham (or Beenham Vallence), Padworth and Ufton Nervet when Mortimer SD was divided in 1891.
Records now held at Reading.
Caversham Sub-District
Created 1886 as part of Henley Registration District. Transferred to Reading Registration District April 1914. Reading as a whole was re-organised in 1955.
List of parishes to follow
Reading holds all the Caversham registers. Births & Deaths 1837-1885 will be found with others in the Henley Registers.
Mortimer Sub-District
Created 1837 as part of Bradfield Registration District. Abolished 31 December 1890 when parishes were divided between Tilehurst and Bucklebury sub-districts.
Burghfield, Grazeley, Aldermaston, Mortimer West End (Hants), Stratfield Mortimer, Sulhamstead Abbots, Sulhamstead Bannister and Wokefield became part of Tilehurst SD
implying Beenham (or Beenham Vallence), Padworth and Ufton Nervet became part of Bucklebury SD.
Records now held at Reading.
Reading St Giles Sub-District
Created 1837. In Reading District.
Reading St Giles
Records now held at Reading.
Reading St Mary Sub-District
Created 1837. In Reading District.
Reading St Mary
Records now held at Reading.
Reading St Lawrence Sub-District
Created 1837 as part of Reading Registration District. Merged into Reading St Giles in April 1885.
Reading St Lawrence
Records now held at Reading.
Tilehurst Sub-District
Created 1837. In Bradfield Registration District 1837-1937, Wokingham Registration District 1937-1974.
Calcot, Englefield, Mapledurham (Oxfordshire), North Stoke, Pangbourne, Purley, Sulham, Theale, Tidmarsh, Tilehurst and Whitchurch (Oxfordshire). gaining Burghfield, Grazeley, Aldermaston, Mortimer West End (Hants), Stratfield Mortimer, Sulhamstead Abbots, Sulhamstead Bannister and Wokefield from Mortimer SD from 1891.
Records now held at Reading.
