Population 179 (2011 census) Civil parish Stanford Dingley Area 4.82 km² Dialling code 0118 | OS grid reference SU575715 Ceremonial county Berkshire Local time Saturday 9:10 PM | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind NE at 19 km/h, 35% Humidity | ||
Stanford Dingley is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England, between Newbury, the nearest large town (West Berkshire's largest), and Theale, which has the nearest motorway junction.
Contents
- Map of Stanford Dingley UK
- Geography
- History
- Notable residents
- Public houses pubs
- Anglican community
- References
Map of Stanford Dingley, UK
Geography
Stanford Dingley fills part of both sides of the valley of the upper part of the River Pang, on the minor roads between the A4 Bath Road and the M4 motorway. The parish mostly consists of farmland, with some woodland in the upland regions. The southern parish boundary runs along the edge of the woodland on the northern slopes of Clay Hill. The official and actual northern boundary is the motorway which is buffered by the area's only area of woodlands, covering about a fifth of the total area. Bucklebury lies to the west and Bradfield to the east. The village spreads north-south along Cock Lane, that runs between Bradfield Southend and Yattendon. Slightly detached to the south is the hamlet of Jennetts Hill and to the north is 'The Buildings'. The pond complex around the 'Blue Pool', containing artesian aquifers, though generally thought of as part of Stanford Dingley is actually just across the parish boundary in Bradfield.
History
Stanford is from the Old English for "Stoney-Ford", perhaps indicating a Roman river-crossing of the Pang heading towards Dorchester-on-Thames.
Dingley was the name of the lords of the manor. One of their wives has a brass memorial in the 12th century Church of England parish church of Saint Denys. The church has remnants of the original Saxon church within its inner walls. The main door and nave wall paintings date from the 13th century and the white wooden bell tower was built in the 15th century. The churchyard is notable for a number of sweet chestnut trees.
Notable residents
Thomas Tesdale, the founding benefactor of Pembroke College, Oxford, was born in Stanford Dingley in 1547.
Public houses (pubs)
These are
The latter has a regular Burns Night celebration at which Pippa Middleton, from Chapel Row nearby on more than one occasion carried the haggis in accompanied by bagpipes.
Anglican community
Stanford Dingley continues to be an ecclesiastical parish in the Church of England, recorded as such since in the Domesday Book following the Norman Conquest. It shares in events and clergy with the benefice of Bucklebury, Bradfield and Stanford Dingley known more commonly among younger adult members of the church as 2BSD.