Berinsfield

History

Palaeolithic and Roman artefacts were found during 20th century excavations to build the village. The Roman road between Dorchester-on-Thames and Alchester runs through the centre of Berinsfield. An Anglo-Saxon cemetery was also found at Berinsfield.

The village occupies the site of RAF Mount Farm, a satellite of RAF Benson, initially used to train bomber pilots. It was later taken over by the United States Army Air Forces, who used it as a reconnaissance base. From here stars including Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour and Glenn Miller took off to entertain the troops in Europe. Miller performed for the US service personnel at the base in December 1944. From there he went to RAF Twinwood, boarded a Noorduyn Norseman single-engined aircraft, took off for Paris - and was never heard of again. His plane is believed to have ditched in the Channel - although 20 years ago there was a belief he may have crash-landed in the dense Chiltern woodlands. Searches found no trace of the aircraft.

In 1957 the Air Ministry sold the airfield for civilian use. Bullingdon Rural District Council decided to build a new village - the first in England for 200 years - to be named after Birinus or Berin, a local saint. The word 'field' was added because the Americans called their base an airfield.

The first residents moved in 50 years ago. Many new residents at that time lived in the old air force huts, before brick-built houses were constructed on the site.

Berinsfield is the first English village to be built on virgin land for over two hundred years. It was built by the architect and town planner William Holford in 1960. The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary and Saint Berin was designed by Rev. Harold Best, vicar of Dorchester, and built in 1962.

Amenities

Berinsfield has a public house, The Village Inn, which is a free house and anyone is welcome.The village has a primary school, a public library, The Abbey Sports Centre, and a row of shops including a post office. Berinsfield Football Club previously played in the Reading Football League but have since transferred to the North Berks Football League as a result of their position in Oxfordshire. There is a Berinsfield Amateur Boxing Club. Berinsfield has a Women's Institute. Berinsfield also has a youth club, Campus Youth Centre, for 10- to 21-year-olds.

Due to county council cutbacks, Berinsfield is unique in being one of the largest villages in Oxfordshire to only have one regular bus service serving Oxford and Reading only.