on Broadcommon Road is a Grade II* listed 17th century house built for the Barker family and later the property of the Countess of Buchan. Barkers almshouses on Church Hill were erected and founded in 1664 by William Barker of Hurst Lodge. Local government St Nicholas Hurst is a civil parish with an elected parish council. It falls within the area of the unitary authority of Wokingham Borough. Both the parish council and the unitary authority are responsible for different aspects of local government. Education St Nicholas' Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled primary school in the village which educates children ages 5–11. The school was first built in 1843. The primary school shares a breakfast club with St. Nicholas Pre-school playgroup, a registered charity and member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, which is open to all students and children of the playgroup. Dolphin School is a coeducational, independent preparatory day school and nursery school for children between the ages of 3 and 13. References External links Hurst Parish Council Hurst Village Society Hurst Local History Hurst Show and Country Fayre Hurst War Memorial Villages in Berkshire Borough of Wokingham