OS grid reference SU572695 Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 0118 Post town Newbury | Unitary authority Country England Postcode district RG7 Ceremonial county Berkshire UK parliament constituency Berkshire | |
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Chapel Row is a small settled locality in West Berkshire, and part of the civil parish of Bucklebury (where according to the grid ref the 2011 Census population was mostly included ), England. The settlement is on a minor crossroads, on the C road topping the northern escarpment between Thatcham and Theale above the Kennet valley below and is centred 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east north-east of Newbury.
Contents
Map of Chapel Row, Reading, UK
History
Since the mid 17th century, an inn has stood near to the locality's green. The site is now occupied by The Bladebone Inn.
In the 18th century, Chapel Row became known for its revels, which were held on the Monday following the feast of Saint Anne. The revels featured events such as backswording (described by Joseph Addison in The Spectator as "a ring of cudgel players who broke one another's heads in order to make some impression on their mistresses' hearts"). The sport was not featured in a number of later fayres as at least one contender was reported to have been killed. An 1812 Reading Mercury article on the fayre focusses primarily on agriculture, stating that the event was an opportunity to trade cattle and employ farmhands.
Geography
The settlement is on a minor crossroads, on the C road topping the northern escarpment between Thatcham and Theale above the Kennet valley below and is centred 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east north-east of Newbury. Woodland with public access as common land and under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 occupies the land immediatedly west and south-west of the clustered centre, Bucklebury Common..
Notable people
Chapel Row was the home of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge before her marriage in April 2011.