Burghfield

It has been suggested that Burghfield Hill be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

It has been suggested that Burghfield Bridge be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Coordinates: 51°24′40″N 1°02′33″W / 51.4112°N 1.0424°W / 51.4112; -1.0424

Burghfield
Burghfield  Burghfield shown within Berkshire
Population	5,894 (Civil Parish, 2001)
OS grid reference	SU666684
Parish	Burghfield
Unitary authority	West Berkshire
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	READING
Postcode district	RG7
Dialling code	0118
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Royal Berkshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Wokingham
List of places: UK • England • Berkshire

Burghfield is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It is situated in the district of West Berkshire, although it lies in the east of the district, close to Reading.

Geography

The parish of Burghfield consists of two separate villages – Burghfield Common and Burghfield Village – and several small hamlets, including Burghfield Bridge, Burghfield Hill, Pingewood and Sheffield Bottom.

The main settlements of Burghfield parish lie along Burghfield Road, the major road out of Reading. From north-east to south-west: Burghfield Bridge is the closest to Reading and lies by the crossing of the Reading Road over the River Kennet; this is followed by Burghfield Village, after the crossing of the Burghfield Road over the M4 motorway which runs through the north of the parish; Burghfield Hill is in the southern upland part of the parish, naturally enough, at the top of Burghfield Hill; and Burghfield Common – named after the parish common land on which it was built and with by far the largest population – lies, in quick succession, the furthest south-west. The south-eastern part of Burghfield Common is known as Great Auclum (see History below).

The parish is largely bounded by rivers and streams. The Clayhill Brook partially forms its western border with Sulhamstead. The Burghfield Brook forms its southern border with Wokefield and Grazeley. The eastern boundary is just east of the railway line, near Smallmead, running south from Reading. The northern boundary with Theale and the Southcote area of Reading is formed by the Holy Brook and the Draper's Osier Bed Stream. The River Kennet and Kennet and Avon Canal run through the very north of the parish and are, today, surrounded by vast gravel pits where there is much wildlife and where fishing, sailing and other water sports are popular pastimes. The stream The Teg gently winds its way through the heart of Burghfield Common. Its source is close to the local school and much interesting wildlife can be found long its length.

Apart from the gravel pits, the area is mostly farmland. There are, however, still patches of scattered woodland: Brick Kiln Copse, Jame's Copse, Pinge Wood, Amner's Wood, Clayhill Copse and Scratchface Copse.

Local government

In 2001, the population of Burghfield was recorded as 5,894. In 1961, it was only 2,323. Burghfield has a parish council served by 19 parish councillors, as well as being part of the unitary authority of West Berkshire. Burghfield also has its own 'Residents Association'.

Transport

Transport in the parish is relatively restricted in terms of heavy vehicular access and public transport. Public transport is provided by the number 2 and 3 buses after a re-number and re-brand and new identity as a vitality bus on the 20th of April 09. The service is provided by Reading Buses whose routes lie along the Burghfield Road, and via Mortimer railway station which lies to the South, and is connected to Burghfield Common by a minibus shuttle at peak times. Heavy vehicular access in the region is restricted by the multiple low and narrow bridges over the canal and railways which lie to the North and East.

There are moorings on the Kennet and Avon Canal on the offside bank downstream of Burghfield Island and at the layby on Burghfield Island (near Burghfield Bridge). The canal has a number of locks and a swing-bridge along the Burghfield stretch.

Services

There are now a number of services in Burghfield Common, including the CO-OP (c), a "Day-Today" convienience store, An Indian Restaurant/Takeaway, a Chinese Takeaway, and a Burger and Grill fast food joint. There is also a village hall, and a post office in the village.

Exchange

Burghfield Common has its own telephone/adsl exchange, serving 2,891 residential premises, and 91 commercial premises. The exchange also covers the nearby villages of Ufton Nervet, and Sulhamstead. As of yet, the exchange is not ADSL2+ enabled, and no cable services exist in the village.

History

There are several Bronze Age burial mounds in the parish. Excavations at one have shown that it was later used for burials when the Anglo-Saxons moved into the area. In Old English, they named the place 'Hill Field'. There were three manors: Burghfield Regis, Burghfield Abbas and Sheffield. The original Burghfield Bridge was built by the De Burghfield family, but they had arguments with King Edward I over who should repair it. There was a minor skirmish there after the First Battle of Newbury in 1643. The Williams family bought the manors after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the village was the childhood home of John Williams, Baron Williams of Thame, an important servant of several Tudor monarchs. In the 20th century, Great Auclum at Burghfield Common was the site of a famous speed hill climb track. It closed in 1974 and is now a housing estate.

St Mary's Church

The parish church of St Mary's (CofE), in Burghfield Village, contains the alabaster effigy of the important historic figure, Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, the father of Warwick the Kingmaker. He fought for the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses, and was executed after the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. He was buried first at Pontefract, but his son transferred his body to the family mausoleum at Bisham Priory and erected this effigy as part of his monument there. It is unclear why it was brought to Burghfield after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The effigy of a lady alongside him wears a headdress which is not thought to be of the right date to be his wife, but she may be one of the earlier Countesses of Salisbury buried at Bisham.

The church has six bells hung for change ringing:

Institutions

Charities

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has its headquarters at Burghfield Common.

Education

Education in the parish is provided by two primary schools – one in Burghfield Village called Burghfield St Marys and one in Burghfield Common called Garlands – and one secondary school – The Willink School (named after a prominent local family) – which provides for the secondary schooling of many of the surrounding villages.

Military establishments

• An Atomic Weapons Establishment is located in the parish. Known as AWE Burghfield, it is responsible for the final assembly of Trident mounted nuclear warheads, their in-service maintenance and their eventual decommissioning.
• There was a WRNS establishment at Burghfield, named HMS Dauntless, from 1947 to 1981.

Sport and leisure

• / Burghfield Art Group - Community group. All artists welcome. Meet & make art on Tuesdays 19:30-21:00 at The Parish Centre, RG30 3TG. Email burghfieldartgroup@yahoo.com or just turn up!
• Burghfield Sailing Club - one of the largest inland sailing clubs in the United Kingdom
• Burghfield Island Boat Club - boat owning members club
• Burghfield Aqua Sports Club - boat owning members club
• Burghfield Leisure Sports - @ Searles Lane Gravel Pits
• Burghfield Community Sports Association - providing the facilities for Squash, Football, Cricket and other sports
• Burghfield Football Club - promoting the playing of association football by boys and girls living in Burghfield and the surrounding area
• Willink Leisure Centre & Physicals Fitness Club - 25 m indoor swimming pool, outdoor sports area, sports hall & gymnasium
• Burghfield Common Library
• Burghfield Toy Library
• Burghfield Camera Club
• Burghfield Youth Club
• Burghfield Women's Institute - meets at Burghfield Village Hall
• Burghfield & District Horticultural Society
• Burghfield Scouts

External links

• Burghfield Parish Council
• Royal Berkshire History: Burghfield
• St Mary's Church
• Burghfield Football Club
• Burghfield Sailing Club
• Burghfield Residents Association
• AWE Burghfield Royal Ordnance Factory
• Burghfield & District Horticultural Society
• Burghfield Allotment Association
• Local information for the RG7 postcode