Local Info - Finchampstead

Finchampstead's Anglo-Saxon name is said to have orginated from the large variety of finches that still populate the area. It is referred to by the younger generation as 'Finch'. Apparently, St. Oswald visited the village in the 7th century and named the local holy well, which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to have flowed with blood in times of National crisis!

There is a lot more history in Finchampstead:

Warren Wood, between Nine Mile Ride and Warren Lane, contains a scheduled ancient monument, a round burial mound, which is the largest bell barrow in Berkshire, dating between 2000 and 1300 BC.

St. James' Church stands on the top of a prominent hill and has an old Roman earthwork surrounding it. It was probably the site of a pagan temple. The Roman road from London to Silchester, called the 'Devil’s Highway', ran through the middle of the parish and a Roman milestone survives at Banisters.

It was also the hunting place of Royalty and an old tale tells how King Henry VIII brought his son, Prince Arthur, out onto the Ridges to see his bride, Catherine of Aragonfor the first time.

Most of the parish's housing is at California. This area was named after the local brickworks, rather than the state in the US! Gorse Ride, also in California, has the only Swedish-style dwellings in the UK.

For further information about Finchampstead go to stjames.finchampstead.co.uk