Englefield, Berkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Englefield |
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| Village and civil parish | |
 St Mark's Church |
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 Englefield
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| Area | 9.25 km2 (3.57 sq mi) |
| Population | 286 (2011 census) |
| • Density | 31/km2 (80/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU6272 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | READING |
| Postcode district | RG7 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Englefield is a small village in England, located in the county of Berkshire. It is mostly found within the private, walled estate of Englefield House. The village is part of the West Berkshire area, not far from the larger town of Reading.
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The Story Behind the Name Englefield
The name 'Englefield' is very old! It was first written down in 871 as Engla feld. Later, in 1086, it appeared as Englefel. The name suggests that people called the Angles settled here, even though the area was mainly Saxon territory.
The Battle of Englefield
A Big Win for the Saxons
In the year 870, Englefield was the site of an important battle. This fight was between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. The Anglo-Saxons were led by Æthelwulf, who was the Ealdorman (a kind of leader) of Berkshire.
The Saxons won a great victory against the Danes. This battle was the first in a series of fights that happened during the winter of 870–871. Some people think the village might have been named after this battle, with "Englefield" meaning "English field."
Englefield House
A Historic Home
Englefield House has a long history. It was once the home of the Englefield family. They supposedly lived there from the time of King Edgar. The current building was built during the Elizabethan era.
Over time, the house became the property of the Benyon family. Today, it is part of the largest privately owned estate in West Berkshire.
Life in Englefield Village
A Model Village
In the late 1800s, a man named Richard Fellowes Benyon rebuilt many of the villagers' homes. He wanted to create a "model estate village." He also added helpful things for the villagers, like a swimming pool, a soup kitchen, and a new school.
Today, the estate is owned by a family company called the Englefield Estate. It covers about 14,000 acres (about 57 square kilometers). The village works closely with nearby towns like Theale and Tilehurst, as well as Reading, for many of its services and activities.
How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2011 census, about 286 people live in the civil parish of Englefield.
