Compton, Berkshire

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Compton
Berkshire

St Mary's and St Nicholas Church
Location
Grid reference: SU5279
Location: 51°30’54"N, 1°15’11"W
Data
Population: 1,521  (2001)
Post town: Newbury
Postcode: RG20
Dialling code: 01635
Local Government
Council: West Berkshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
Newbury
Website: Compton Parish Council

Compton is a village in Berkshire in the valley of the River Pang amongst the Berkshire Downs. It stands 6½ miles south of Didcot. It lies within, and lends its name to, the Compton Hundred of the county. The village had a population of 1,521 at the 2001 census. The Pang flows through the village as a winterbourne, a stream that only flows after periods of high rainfall.

Parish church

The parish church is St Mary and St Nicholas. Its bell tower was built in the 13th century[1] and has Perpendicular Gothic features[1] that were added in the 15th century.[2] In 1850 the nave and chancel were modernised[2] or rebuilt[1] and in 1905 the Gothic Revival architect John Oldrid Scott added the north aisle.[1]

Former railway

In 1881 the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway was completed through the parish and Compton railway station was opened. British Railways withdrew passenger services from the line and closed Compton station in 1962. BR had closed Compton goods yard by 1966. Through freight traffic was withdrawn in 1967 and the line was closed and dismantled.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Compton, Berkshire)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Pevsner, 1966, page 120
  2. 2.0 2.1 Page & Ditchfield, 1924, pages 15-21

Books

  • Page, William; Ditchfield, P.H., eds (1924). Victoria County History: A History of the County of Berkshire, Volume 4. pp. 15–21. 
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus (1966). The Buildings of England: Berkshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 120–121.