Denchworth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denchworth is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire). It is located just north of Wantage in the Vale of the White Horse.
The parish is bounded by the Land Brook in the west and the Childrey Brook in the east. The railway line from Reading to Swindon runs through the parish just south of the village, but there is no station.
[edit] History
Denchworth is mentioned in the Domesday book as being given to Henry de Ferrers:
"The same Henry de Ferrers holds Denchworth and Reiner holds of him. Aethelric held it TRE[2]. Then assessed at 7 hides now at five and a half hides. There is land for five ploughs. In demesne is one plough and five villans and five cottars with one plough and 30 acres of meadow and there is a church. TRE it was worth 70 shillings and afterwards 60 shillings. Now 4 pounds."[3]
Denchworth was the home of the ancient and widespread Berkshire families of Fettiplace and Hyde. The Hydes have many old memorial brasses in the church. One has the foundation plaque for Bisham Priory on the back. There are also stained glass windows by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and it once had a large library of early printed books as well as relics such as a 'mermaid's rib'.
[edit] References
- ^ Line drawing from Historic Byways and Highways of Old England Andrew Williams 1900
- ^ TRE in Latin is Tempore Regis Edwardi. This means in the time of Edward the Confessor before the Battle of Hastings.
- ^ Domesday Book: A Complete Transliteration. London: Penguin, 2003. ISBN 0-14-143994-7 p.148
