Farnborough, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Farnborough is a small village
and civil parish in West Berkshire
, amongst the Berkshire Downs
north of Newbury
, in the English
county of Berkshire
.
The village is about 5 miles (8 km) south of the Oxfordshire
town of Wantage
.
and Peter Ditchfield
described the village as consisting of "a few brick cottages which are of little interest".
The village is situated on a former pack-horse route between Hungerford
and Oxford
(via Abingdon
). In the 18th century the route was diverted; a continuation of the route is evident near East Hendred
.
, is situated to the south of the village. The building features a chancel, nave, and tower to the west. The majority of the building is of 12th century origin, except the tower (15th century) and the modern porch. Restoration
work was carried out to the church in 1883 and 1885, which involved reroofing, new windows, a widening of the chancel arch, and the addition of buttresses to the nave.
Within the graveyard are the remains of a medieval cross.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in West Berkshire
West Berkshire
West Berkshire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England, governed by a unitary authority . Its administrative capital is Newbury, located almost equidistantly between Bristol and London.-Geography:...
, amongst the Berkshire Downs
Berkshire Downs
The Berkshire Downs are a range of chalk downland hills in southern England, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
north of Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
The village is about 5 miles (8 km) south of the Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
town of Wantage
Wantage
Wantage is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. The town is on Letcombe Brook, about south-west of Abingdon and a similar distance west of Didcot....
.
History
In 1924, William PageWilliam Henry Page
William Henry Page was a prolific and pioneering historian and editor. For the last three decades of his life was general editor of the Victoria County History.-Life:...
and Peter Ditchfield
Peter Ditchfield
Rev. Peter Hempson Ditchfield, FSA was a Church of England priest, an historian and a prolific author. He is notable for having co-edited three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History which were published between 1907 and 1924.-Life:...
described the village as consisting of "a few brick cottages which are of little interest".
Toponymy
A number of alternative toponyms have been used for Farnborough, including Feornberge (9th century); Fearnbornthaen, Fearbeorh, and Feornbeorh (10th century); Fermberge and Fernbeorngan (11th century); Fernbergam (12th century); and Fearnberughe, Ferenburgh and Farnberg (13th century).Geography
The highest point of the parish is at 720 feet (219.5 m), and is on the hill on which the village is situated. The land slopes downwards to the east, west and south; the parish's lowest point is to the east of the village and is at 511 feet (155.8 m).The village is situated on a former pack-horse route between Hungerford
Hungerford
Hungerford is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 9 miles west of Newbury. It covers an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 5,559 .- Geography :...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
(via Abingdon
Abingdon
Abingdon may refer to the following places:In Australia :* Abingdon, Queensland, a place in Northern QueenslandIn Britain:*Abingdon, Oxfordshire**Abingdon School**Abingdon Abbey**Abingdon Lock**Abingdon Bridge**Abingdon Air & Country Show...
). In the 18th century the route was diverted; a continuation of the route is evident near East Hendred
East Hendred
East Hendred is a village and civil parish in the English county of Oxfordshire, about east of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse and a similar distance west of Didcot. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire....
.
Parish church
The parish church, which is dedicated to All SaintsAll Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, is situated to the south of the village. The building features a chancel, nave, and tower to the west. The majority of the building is of 12th century origin, except the tower (15th century) and the modern porch. Restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
work was carried out to the church in 1883 and 1885, which involved reroofing, new windows, a widening of the chancel arch, and the addition of buttresses to the nave.
Within the graveyard are the remains of a medieval cross.
Famous people
- John BetjemanJohn BetjemanSir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
lived at Farnborough Rectory and he has a memorial window in the churchChurch of England parish churchA parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
.