East Garston is a village and civil parish on the River Lambourn, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north of Hungerford in West Berkshire. The river flows through the village, dividing many houses from the main road, so that each has a bridge over the river to the front door.
| East Garston | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Junction of Front Street, Back Street and Roger's Lane | |
  East Garston Location within Berkshire | |
| Area | 8.05 km2 (3.11 sq mi) |
| Population | 459 (2011 census)[1] |
| • Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU3676 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Hungerford |
| Postcode district | RG17 |
| Dialling code | 01488 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | The Berkshire Village of East Garston |
Toponymy
editEast Garston was known by its earlier Saxon name Argeston until the end of the 19th century, and locals called the village Argeston into the early 20th century.[2] The origin of the name is uncertain. It may have meant the "ton" of Esgar: a ton being a principal house for a lord, with surrounding dwellings for tenants.[2]
Government
editThe civil parish of East Garston comprises the village of East Garston, together with a considerable area of rural downland to the north and south. The parish has approximately 226 dwellings. In 2011 the population was 449,[1] in an area of 4,500 acres (18 km2).[3][4] The parish has boundaries with the Berkshire parishes of Fawley, Great Shefford, Hungerford and Lambourn, and with the Oxfordshire parish of Letcombe Bassett.[4]
Notable people
edit- Charles Thomas Wooldridge, murderer and dedicatee of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde, was born in the village.[5]
Amenities
editThe Church of England parish church of All Saints is a flint built church dating back to the 12th century. Situated on the northwestern edge of the village, it is Grade II* listed.[6] The East Garston Bellringers was re-formed in 1998.
The village has a village hall, social club and cricket club, and is the home of the Garston Gallopers, a mixed Morris dancing side. The Gallopers' colours are purple and green, the "village" colours from the school uniform and the racing colours of a prominent racehorse trainer from the village.[citation needed].
Demography
edit| Output area | Homes owned outright | Owned with a loan | Socially rented | Privately rented | Other | km2 roads | km2 water | km2 domestic gardens | Usual residents | km2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil parish | 51 | 47 | 48 | 33 | 4 | 0.08 | 0.0001 | 0.13 | 459 | 8.05 |
Gallery of images
edit-
Bridges over the River Lambourn
-
River Lambourn
-
East Garston Down
References
edit- ^ a b c "Key Statistics: Dwellings; Quick Statistics: Population Density; Physical Environment: Land Use Survey 2005". Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ a b S, L (1909). Untravelled Berkshire. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. p. 58.
- ^ East Garston.info (2007). "Welcome to the village of East Garston". Retrieved 10 January 2007.
- ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
- ^ 'A Key to "In Memoriam by Oscar Wilde" – notes made by Mary Grave bound into her sister Eleanor Grave's 1899 copy of The Ballad of Reading Gaol held at the British Library – researched by Glenn Christodoulou
- ^ Historic England (6 February 1982). "Church of All Saints (Grade II*) (1321874)". National Heritage List for England.