Easthampstead

Easthampstead
Berkshire
St Michael and St Mary Magdalene
Location
Grid reference:	SU866680
Location:	51°24’16"N, -0°45’23"W
Data
Post town:	Bracknell
Postcode:	RG12
Dialling code:	01344
Local Government
Council:	Bracknell Forest
Parliamentary constituency:	Bracknell

Easthampstead is a village in Berkshire which has become today a southern suburb of the town of Bracknell. Nevertheless, the old village can still be easily identified around the Church of St Michael and St Mary Magdalene. This beautiful building houses some of the finest stained glass works of Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

History

In Easthampstead there is evidence of local Bronze Age existence in the form of a large round barrow on the top of Bill Hill. The hill itself is also surrounded by an ancient ditch, which has largely been filled in. Bill Hill now forms part of a park next to Downshire Way and it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Easthampsted is mentioned as an entry in the Domesday Book as Ripplesmere.. It was a small village of 14 villagers and 8 ploughlands, and had a value of £5 in 1066. By 1070 it was only worth £2.5.

Originally Easthampstead was an important parish in Windsor Forest, its manor house at Easthampstead Park being a popular hunting lodge with the Royal Family. Another large and important house in the old parish is South Hill Park, one time home of Prime Minister George Canning. Still older is Caesar's Camp; not in fact Caesar's but the only Iron Age hill fort in eastern Berkshire.

Sport and leisure

Easthampstead also sports some of Bracknell's more interesting features such as the Bracknell Sports and Leisure centre. The centre is an important part of Bracknell bringing people from around the county into the area to support local services and infrastructure.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Easthampstead)