Winkfield is a large and ancient ecclesiastical and civil parish in East Berkshire, in part bordering West Surrey.
- Hundred: Ripplesmere
- Poor Law Union: Easthampstead
- Registration District: Windsor (1837 – 1967); Easthampstead (1968 – present)
- Present-day local authority: Bracknell Forest
- Grid Reference: SU904724 (Winkfield Church)
- Adjoining parishes: Ash (Surrey), Bray, Clewer, Easthampstead, New Windsor, Old Windsor, Sandhurst, Sunninghill, Warfield, Windlesham (Surrey)
- Size: formerly over 10,000 acres before mid 19th century changes
- Population: 2,185 (1851 census); 15,271 (2001 census)
History
Originally eight miles across, Winkfield remains one of Berkshire’s (and the UK’s) largest parishes. It still contains some widely scattered hamlets, including Brock Hill, Chavey Down, Maiden’s Green, North Street, The Plain, Winkfield Row and Winkfield Street to the north-west of the church. It formerly embraced large sections of the present-day parishes of Ascot Heath, Bracknell, and Cranbourne.
From the 11th century until the Dissolution the manor of Winkfield belonged to the abbey of Abingdon and there are recorded instances of the Winkfield tenants refusing to render their customary dues to the abbey. Over the next 300 years there was a succession of landholders, including George III who retained it as his private estate.
While the northern part of the parish retains its rural character, the southern part is very heavily developed as new house building has intensified in East Berkshire.
Church
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, dates from the 13th century with numerous subsequent additions.
Surviving parish records are held by Berkshire Record Office:
- Baptisms: 1564 to 1988
- Marriages: 1564 to 1987
- Burials: 1564 to 1961
- Banns: 1754 to 1789 and 1823 to 1979
The society’s Berkshire Marriages covers the period 1564 to 1837 and the Berkshire Burialscovers the periods 1620-1666 and 1720 to 1961.
Buildings of interest
A messuage known as the Old Court House or King’s tenement, is now the ‘White Hart’ public-house.
There are many 16th century and earlier houses in Winkfield including Kilbees Farm, Foliejohn Cottage, Abbey Farm House, the Old Forge and the Pump Room on Winkfield Plain, built over a mineral spring and a former place for ‘taking the waters’.
Links and other useful sources
Details of Winkfield men who fell in the First World War and Second World War can be found on http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Berkshire/Winkfield.html
Winkfield Chronicles: A New History of Winkfield, Winkfield History Group Project, 2000
War Memorial
by Chad Hanna
Winkfield War Memorial, with the Church of St Mary in the background, commemorates those who died in both World Wars.
OS ref SU904724
