English Heritage sites near Hampstead Marshall Parish
DONNINGTON CASTLE
4 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
The striking twin-towered 14th-century gatehouse of this castle, later the focus of a Civil War siege and battle, survives amid impressive earthworks.
CHISBURY CHAPEL
8 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
This pretty thatched and flintwalled 13th century chapel survived after the Reformation in 1547 by being used as a barn as part of Chisbury Farm.
LUDGERSHALL CASTLE AND CROSS
13 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
The ruins and earthworks of a royal castle dating mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries, frequently used as a hunting lodge. The remains of the medieval cross stand in the centre of the village.
SILCHESTER ROMAN CITY WALLS AND AMPHITHEATRE
14 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
Originally a tribal centre of the Iron Age Atrebates, Silchester became the large and important Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum.
UFFINGTON CASTLE - WHITE HORSE AND DRAGON HILL
15 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
Three atmospheric sites lie along the Ridgeway. Uffington 'Castle' is a large Iron Age hillfort, Dragon Hill a natural mound associated in legend with St George.
WAYLAND'S SMITHY
15 miles from Hampstead Marshall Parish
A fine and atmospheric Neolithic chambered long barrow 2km (11/4 miles) along the Ridgeway from the Uffington White Horse: it was once believed to be the habitation of the Saxon smith-god Wayland.
Churches in Hampstead Marshall Parish
St Mary, Hamstead Marshall
Park Lane
Hamstead Marshall
Newbury
01488 646385
http://www.walburybeaconbenefice.org.uk
CHURCHES IN THE UNITED BENEFICE OF WEST WOODHAY WITH ENBORNE, HAMSTEAD MARSHALL, INKPEN, COMBE, AND KINTBURY WITH AVINGTON
http://www.walburybeaconbenefice.org.uk/
(The West Berks Cluster)
The United Benefice was formed in 1981, the Rector being the Revd Richard Jeans. In 1994 the living of the Benefice of Kintbury with Avington, was suspended and in 2006, the two parishes were added to the United Benefice of West Woodhay and formed the West Berks Cluster under the Team Rector, the Revd Julie Ramsbottom.
We are all rural parishes facing the pressures that all rural parishes endure. However, the Christian faith is strong and our churches stand as visible expressions of our faith.
Each church is set in beautiful surroundings, is a place of prayer and spiritual refreshment and holder of many valuable historical memories and monuments.
ST MARY, HAMSTEAD MARS HALL
Once a field church served by Kintbury, the oldest surviving part is the late Norman doorway in the south porch. Becoming an independent parish in 1241, the church was little altered until a radical reconstruction in 1622. A red brick tower was added. The two-decker pulpit, rector's stall, font cover and the oldest chalice were given by Dorothy Parry. The Jacobean style communion rail was added in 1700 and the wooden reredos in the 18th century.
In 1893, the fabric was in need of much restoration. The Jacobean pews were restored, the roof and fabric repaired, revealing some long lost features. These included an early English chancel arch, the remains of a squint, and the tomb of Sir Balthasar Gerbier (architect of the 'palace' once adjacent to the church). There are two bells dated 1592 and 1756. The parish has a fascinating history and several kings have prayed in this church.
The Millennium Window contains many symbols of the parish.
Pubs in Hampstead Marshall Parish
White Hart Inn
Hamstead Marshall, RG20 0HW
(01488) 657545
saviourwhitehart.co.uk