Kintbury

Kintbury is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England, between the towns of Newbury and Hungerford.

Kintbury

St. Mary's Church and Houses in Kintbury view from the canal.
Kintbury
Location within Berkshire
Area34.92 km2 (13.48 sq mi)
Population2,534 (2011 census)[1]
• Density73/km2 (190/sq mi)
OS grid referenceSU3867
Civil parish
  • Kintbury
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHungerford
Postcode districtRG17
Dialling code01488
PoliceThames Valley
FireRoyal Berkshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament

The village has a convenient railway to London and Reading, proximity to other transport and local cultural destinations, including Roman and Norman sites, and forms part of a very large Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Wessex Downs which extends from the River Thames at Streatley to West Wiltshire.

Amenities

The key amenities in the village include the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary, Church of England primary school, post office, corner shop, and a butcher's. A Roman Catholic youth retreat and work centre, St Cassian's Centre, is south-west of the village centre, between Inglewood and Titcomb. There are three pubs in the village; The Blue Ball, The Dundas Arms[2] and The Prince Of Wales. The village also boasts various sports facilities including tennis, bowls and football clubs, as well as an indoor sports centre.

The village has an area of Site of Special Scientific Interest on its south eastern border called Catmore and Winterly Copses.[3] The Village has a Local nature reserve called Kintbury Newt Ponds.[4]

Dundas Arms on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Transport

Kintbury railway station in the village is served by local services from Reading and Newbury to Great Bedwyn. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the village at Kintbury Lock.[5] A horse drawn widebeam canal boat runs public trips from Kintbury, either towards Newbury or towards Hungerford.

History
Will of Wulfgar, AD 931–939, granting land in Inkpen to the "holy place" (halgan stowe) at Kintbury (Cynetanbyrig)[6][7]

Kintbury was spelt Cynetanbyrig in the 10th century and Kenetebury in the 13th century. After Saint Birinus converted the people of Berkshire to Christianity in the mid 7th century, minsters soon became established in the county from which priests were sent out into the countryside. One such was founded at Kintbury, possibly it was the 'holy place' mentioned in the will of the Saxon thegn, Wulfgar, in 935. Although this is often considered to have been a monastery, Kintbury Abbey. From the second spelling and contemporary spelling of the River Kennet the origin of the name is clear - a bury or borough being a defended settlement.

Sport and leisure

The village holds an annual "Ray Boxshall Orienteering Fun Day". An orienteering event named after Ray Boxshall who was heavily involved in running the event in the years before he died. Kintbury has two amateur drama societies - The Kintbury Players (who generally perform comedic plays), and St Mary's Drama Group who perform an annual pantomime in the Easter half term holiday.

Kintbury has a Sports and Leisure centre - the Kintbury Jubilee Centre, run by the community for the community. With fitness classes, clubs, and hall available to hire.

Kintbury is also home to North Berks Football League club Kintbury Rangers F.C., who play at the Recreation Ground. Notable former players include Southampton F.C striker Charlie Austin and former Everton player Brett Angell.

Demography
2011 Published Statistics: Population, home ownership and extracts from Physical Environment, surveyed in 2005[1]
Output areaHomes owned outrightOwned with a loanSocially rentedPrivately rentedOtherkm² roadskm² waterkm² domestic gardensUsual residentskm²
Civil parish322381168142340.4070.4280.764253434.92

Notable residents

References
  1. Key Statistics: Dwellings; Quick Statistics: Population Density; Physical Environment: Land Use Survey 2005
  2. Dundas Arms
  3. Magic Map Application
  4. Kintbury Newt Ponds | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
  5. Image of Kintbury Lock .Geograph.org Retrieved 2014-12-8
  6. Charter S 1533 at the Electronic Sawyer
  7. Benjamin Thorpe (1865). Diplomatarium Anglicum Aevi Saxonici. p. 496. google books preview
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