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Sulhamstead
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sulhamstead | |
  Sulhamstead shown within Berkshire |
|
| Population | 1,248 (Parish, 2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Sulhamstead |
| Unitary authority | West Berkshire |
| Ceremonial county | Berkshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | READING |
| Postcode district | RG23 |
| Dialling code | 0118 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | Wokingham |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England • Berkshire | |
Sulhamstead is a village, electoral district (ward) and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It lies off the A4 national route between Reading and Thatcham, some 77 km (48 miles) west of central London.
Contents |
It is located at grid reference SU632687, in the district of West Berkshire. Prior to 1782, the area consisted of two ecclesiastical parishes, Sulhamstead Abbots and Sulhamstead Bannister, based on the ancient manors. There are three centres of population in Sulhamstead. The greatest number of houses stand on Sulhamstead Hill which runs from the top of the hill by Ufton Church down to the water meadows by the Kennet and the Bath Road (A4). The other two centres are Sulhamstead Abbots and Sulhamstead Bannister with other residences scattered about the parish. Sulhamstead Abbots Church, to the south, is now the parish church. Sulhamstead Bannister consists of a number of detached regions, one near Grazeley. The core of its village was around the old demolished church, where the inventor Samuel Morland's father was once the vicar.
Currently, Sulhamstead is partly in the Newbury constituency for House of Commons general elections, however the Boundary Commission has recommended that it be moved completely into the Wokingham constituency to bring the size of the electorate of Newbury closer to the national average.
When pronouncing or writing the name, there is no 'p' in the centre of the name. It is pronounced 'Sulham-stead'.
Sulhamstead House, commonly known as the White House, was the manor house of Sulhamstead Abbots. It was built by Daniel May, son of the Basingstoke brewer, Charles May, in 1744. His sister's descendants, the Thoyts family, resided there for many years. The house was largely rebuilt in 1800 for William Thoyts, the High Sheriff of Berkshire. It was the childhood home of his great granddaughter, the famous Berkshire historian and palaeography expert, Emma Elizabeth Thoyts (1860-1949).[1] In 1949, the house became the headquarters of the Berkshire Constabulary. Since the merger of the local county forces to form the Thames Valley Police, it has functioned as that force's training centre and houses the Thames Valley Police Museum. It is a Grade II listed building.[2]
The church of St Mary (formerly St Bartholomew) dates from the 13th century and is Grade I listed.[3]
Sulhamstead is the location of Folly Farm, a 17th century farm house transformed, in 1906, by Edwin Lutyens into a fine country house for H H Cochrane. It was extended, again by Lutyens, for Zachery Merton, six years later. The whole building is considered the high point of his architectural career. Lutyens also collaborated with Gertrude Jekyll in one of their most complex garden designs, said to be the finest example for that period of an English country garden.
The village hall for Sulhamstead and Ufton is situated halfway down Sulhamstead Hill. It was built in 1927 and has been recently refurbished.
Close to the village is Tyle Mill and Tyle Mill Lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal, where there is a wharf, lock and swing bridge. The world-renowned singer and musician Kate Bush resides close to the mill.
- ^ Ford, David Nash. Sulhamstead House. May Family History. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
- ^ Thames Valley Police Training College (Sulhamstead House). Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
- ^ Church Of St. Mary. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
 Sulhamstead Tyle Mill swing bridge road traffic |
 Sulhamstead Tyle Mill swing bridge opening |
 Sulhamstead Tyle Mill swing bridge canal traffic |
- Royal Berkshire History: Sulhamstead
- May Family History: Sulhamstead House
- Thames Valley Police: Sulhamstead House
- Royal Berkshire History: Folly Farm