Burghfield Bridge
Encyclopedia
Burghfield Bridge is a bridge and a hamlet in the Parish
of Burghfield
, which stands to the south of it in the English
county of Berkshire
.
The settlement is situated between the village of Burghfield and the Reading
suburb
of Southcote
.
(now part of the Kennet and Avon Canal
). The river was first crossed in the area in the thirteenth century by the Lord of the Manor
, Matthew. 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.
Burghfield Bridge is involved in the local legend of the Cunning Man. Various stories exist regarding the legend, citing the Cunning Man as a wizard from nearby Tadley
, who was able to heal both ailments and broken relationships. Another explanation is that a local building (now the Peter Pan Café) was built by a cunning man using bricks placed on their sides - so to use less building materials.
The story lends its name to the local pub
/restaurant
, part of the Mitchells and Butlers "Vintage Inns" brand.
In the early Part of World War II, several anti-invasion measures were installed across the borough, including a fortified house at Burghfield Bridge. Iverne House is situated 100m to the south of the Bridge and was originally a stables. This was converted into a two storey shell-proof infantry strongpoint around 1941/42. There are gun ports clearly visible from the main Burghfield/Reading Road. The building was converted to a private dwelling in 1994
Burghfield Bridge is the location of Keynote Studios, a recording facility
that has recently recorded the follow-up to The Race
's 2006 album "Be Your Alibi
".
There is a dis-used water mill, Burghfield Mill, located alongside the River Kennet and to the West of Burghfield Bridge, now converted to residential apartments. Burghfield Lock lies nearby on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
In 2006, the Reading Chronicle
named the hamlet as one of the most desirable (and thus most expensive) places to live in the Reading area.
on the M4 motorway
, although the nearest access point to the road (junction 11) is located 2.5 miles (4 km) to the south-east. The nearest railway stations to the hamlet are Theale railway station
and Reading West railway station
. Both stations are located a little more than 2 miles (3.2 km) away.
Nearby towns: Reading
Nearby villages: Burghfield
, Burghfield Common, Pingewood
, Southcote
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Burghfield
Burghfield
Burghfield is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England, close to the boundary with Reading.-Location:Burghfield is about southwest of Reading...
, which stands to the south of it 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 settlement is situated between the village of Burghfield and the Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Southcote
Southcote
Southcote may be several places in England:*Southcote, Bedfordshire, a hamlet of Linslade*Southcote, Berkshire, a suburb of Reading*Southcote , a Canadian band*Southcote Baronets*George Southcote...
.
History
The hamlet is so-called due to the bridge crossing the River KennetRiver Kennet
The Kennet is a river in the south of England, and a tributary of the River Thames. The lower reaches of the river are navigable to river craft and are known as the Kennet Navigation, which, together with the Avon Navigation, the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames, links the cities of Bristol...
(now part of the Kennet and Avon Canal
Kennet and Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is commonly used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section...
). The river was first crossed in the area in the thirteenth century by the Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
, Matthew. 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.
Burghfield Bridge is involved in the local legend of the Cunning Man. Various stories exist regarding the legend, citing the Cunning Man as a wizard from nearby Tadley
Tadley
Tadley is a town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire.During the 1950s and 1960s, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment , now known as AWE, became the area's largest employer, and a large number of houses were built during this period to accommodate AWRE workers...
, who was able to heal both ailments and broken relationships. Another explanation is that a local building (now the Peter Pan Café) was built by a cunning man using bricks placed on their sides - so to use less building materials.
The story lends its name to the local pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
/restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, part of the Mitchells and Butlers "Vintage Inns" brand.
In the early Part of World War II, several anti-invasion measures were installed across the borough, including a fortified house at Burghfield Bridge. Iverne House is situated 100m to the south of the Bridge and was originally a stables. This was converted into a two storey shell-proof infantry strongpoint around 1941/42. There are gun ports clearly visible from the main Burghfield/Reading Road. The building was converted to a private dwelling in 1994
Burghfield Bridge is the location of Keynote Studios, a recording facility
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
that has recently recorded the follow-up to The Race
The Race (band)
The Race is an indie rock band formed in 2004 in Reading, UK. Likened to bands such as U2 and Arcade Fire by music magazines the NME, Drowned In Sound and The Fly. Buchanan's vocals have a strong, Cure-like quality, the band released their first long-playing album in 2006 through Shifty Disco...
's 2006 album "Be Your Alibi
Be Your Alibi
Be Your Alibi is the debut studio album by indie rock band The Race.-Track listing:#Find Out#Go Figure#Comfort, Comfort#When It Falls#Tom Song#Research#Raising Children#So Young And Beautiful#Smile#Amersham Road#Hope Song...
".
There is a dis-used water mill, Burghfield Mill, located alongside the River Kennet and to the West of Burghfield Bridge, now converted to residential apartments. Burghfield Lock lies nearby on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
In 2006, the Reading Chronicle
Reading Chronicle
The Reading Chronicle is an English local weekly newspaper covering Reading in Berkshire and surrounding areas, starting off as the Berkshire Chronicle.-Editions:...
named the hamlet as one of the most desirable (and thus most expensive) places to live in the Reading area.
Transport
Burghfield Bridge is served by Reading Buses routes 143, 148 and 149. The hamlet is located near to Reading servicesReading services
Reading services comprises a pair of adjacent motorway service areas on the M4 motorway to the south of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The two areas are on opposite sides of the motorway, with Reading West services serving westbound traffic and Reading East services serving...
on the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
, although the nearest access point to the road (junction 11) is located 2.5 miles (4 km) to the south-east. The nearest railway stations to the hamlet are Theale railway station
Theale railway station
Theale railway station is a railway station in the village of Theale, Berkshire England. The station is served First Great Western local services between and , a semi-fast service between and and a limited semi-fast FGW service between London Paddington and , , and .The railway station was...
and Reading West railway station
Reading West railway station
Reading West is a railway station in Reading in England. It is in West Reading, west of the town centre, about from the main retail and commercial areas. The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western.-History:...
. Both stations are located a little more than 2 miles (3.2 km) away.
Nearby towns: Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
Nearby villages: Burghfield
Burghfield
Burghfield is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England, close to the boundary with Reading.-Location:Burghfield is about southwest of Reading...
, Burghfield Common, Pingewood
Pingewood
Pingewood is a hamlet in the civil parish of Burghfield, to the south of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It lies to the Southwest of Burghfield Bridge...
, Southcote
Southcote
Southcote may be several places in England:*Southcote, Bedfordshire, a hamlet of Linslade*Southcote, Berkshire, a suburb of Reading*Southcote , a Canadian band*Southcote Baronets*George Southcote...