Englefield
| Englefield | |
| Berkshire | |
|---|---|
 St Mark's Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU6272 |
| Location: | 51°26’35"N, 1°6’0"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | West Berkshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Reading West |
Englefield is a village in Berkshire, at the very edge of the county, near the border with Surrey, across which lies Englefield Green. The village is mostly within the bounds of the private walled estate of Englefield House.
Battle of Englefield
In 870, the village was the site of the Battle of Englefield. This was fought between the English under Æthelwulf, Ealdorman of Berkshire, and the Danes, and resulted in a resounding victory for the English. The battle was the first of a series in the winter of 870-1. The village is thought to be named after the battle: Englefield meaning either "English field" or "warning beacon field".
Englefield House
Englefield House was the home of the Englefield family, supposedly from the time of King Edgar and certainly until the Elizabethan era when the present building was erected. The house eventually passed to the Benyon family.
Village
In the late 19th century, Richard Fellowes Benyon rebuilt the villagers' houses as a model estate village and provided them with such amenities as a swimming pool, soup kitchen and a new school. Today the estate, owned by a family company, the Englefield Estate, covers some 20,000 acres.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Englefield) |