Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading

In the late 1950's in light of the huge changes occurring in the English countryside the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading University decided to do a complete survey of a rural community. The purpose of this survey was to record all facets of life in this community and show how it had developed over the years. The neighbouring villages of Ardington and Lockinge, near Wantage were chosen. They were selected because they were relatively close to Reading, had not yet been greatly effected by surburban development and had a population (around 600) and area (5547acres) which made a survey feasible with the resources available.