Englefield

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Englefield
Berkshire
St Mark's Church Englefield 2.JPG
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, in the midst of the county, west of Theale, and south of the M4 motorway. 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

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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about Englefield)

References