Chapel Row

Chapel Row
Hamlet
Former Chapel Row Post Office and Stores
Chapel Row Location within Berkshire
Population	627 (2019 estimate)
•  Density	0.4125
OS grid reference	SU572695
Civil parish	Bucklebury
Unitary authority	West Berkshire
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Newbury
Postcode district	RG7
Dialling code	0118
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Royal Berkshire
Ambulance	South Central
UK Parliament	Newbury
List of places UK England Berkshire 51°25′17″N1°10′47″W / 51.4215°N 1.1796°W / 51.4215; -1.1796 Coordinates: 51°25′17″N1°10′47″W / 51.4215°N 1.1796°W / 51.4215; -1.1796

Chapel Row is a hamlet in West Berkshire, England, and part of the civil parish of Bucklebury. In 2019 it had an estimated population of 627. ^[1]

History

The hamlet was first documented in 1617 as Chapel Rewe ^[2] and subsequently featured on Roque's Map of Berkshire in 1761. ^{[3] [4]}

There was a chapel in the area built sometime before the 12th century, which led to the naming of the hamlet. The chapel was in decay by the 12th century, but extant as ruins in the 18th century. It no longer exists. ^{[4] [5]}

Since the mid 17th century, an inn has stood near to the locality's green. ^[6] The site is now occupied by The Bladebone Inn.

Chapel Row Revels

In the 18th century, Chapel Row became known for its revels, which were held on the Monday following the feast of Saint Anne.^{[ citation needed ]} 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.^{[ citation needed ]} 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. ^[7]

Geography

The settlement is on a minor crossroads, on the C road topping the northern escarpment between Thatcham and Theale above the Kennet valley 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 the Princess of Wales before her marriage in April 2011. ^[8]

References

1. "Chapel Row". City Population De. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
2. Gelling, Margaret (1973). Cameron, K (ed.). The place-names of Berkshire (Pt 1). English Place-Name Society, Cambridge University Press. p. 156. ISBN   9780521085755.
3. John Rocque (1761). "Rocque's Map of Berkshire". rct.uk. RCIN 700042: Royal Collection Trust. p. 4. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
4. "Chapel Row - MWB16758". Heritage Gateway . Retrieved 2 June 2022.
5. Ditchfield, P H; Page, W, eds. (1923). A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3; Parishes: Bucklebury. Victoria County History, British History Online. pp. 291–296. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
6. Ingram, Christine; Ingram, Tony; Ridley, Pamela, eds. (1976). The History of Some Berkshire Inns and Their Signs. Reading: The Berkshire Federation of Women's Institute. pp. 23–24, 48–49.
7. Millson, Cecilia; Ford, David Nash. "Chapel Row Fayre - The History of the Fayre". chapelrowfayre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
8. "Royal wedding: Kate Middleton's home village of Bucklebury prepares for big day". The Telegraph. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.