Chieveley

Chieveley
Villageandcivil parish
St Mary's Church
Chieveley Location withinBerkshire
Area	20.86 km2(8.05 sq mi)
Population	2,890 (2011 census)
•Density	139/km2(360/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SU474738
Civil parish	Chieveley
Unitary authority	West Berkshire
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Newbury
Postcode district	RG20
Dialling code	01635
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Royal Berkshire
Ambulance	South Central
UK Parliament	Newbury
Website	MyChieveley.co.uk

Chieveley/ˈtʃiːvli/is a village and largecivil parishcentred 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north ofNewburyinBerkshire,close to theM4 motorwayandA34 road.Chieveley servicesare within theparish.

Geography

Harvested haymeadowon Grange Farm, Chieveley

A map of 1877 gave the areaas 5,328 acres (21.56 km²). The landscape is of gently rolling chalk hills. The land is predominantly arable with some dairy, sheep and pigs. There is a healthy quantity of woodland and abundant wildlife. There is a network of green lanes and footpaths that afford good walking. The northern end of Chieveley village is known as Downend. As well as Chieveley, thecivil parishalso consists of the village ofCurridgeand thehamletsofOareand Snelsmore Common. The original parish also includedLeckhampsteadandWinterbourneas well.

The structure has been much affected by roads. The M4 motorway, opened in 1971, passes east–west through the middle of the parish and has done much to cut Curridge and Oare off from Chieveley. The A34, a major trunk road, running north–south, quarters the parish. Its path has moved several times, the most recent development being a change to Junction 13 that opened in Autumn 2004.Chieveley servicesis at junction 13 of the M4, where these two roads meet. The landscape is dominated by farming. There are currently three working farms in the parish. Other industries include agarden centre,land-fill site,hotels,a baker and some small businesses.

History

A silver penny ofEdward the Confessor,found in Chieveley in 2010 and dated toc. 1062– c. 1065

There is archeological evidence that indicates early settlement in the area. Theparishhas anIron Agehillfortin Snelsmore, calledBussock Camp.This is in private grounds, but is visible in May when they are opened to the public to view thebluebells.The nameChieveleyis said to be derived from "Field of Chives". TheWomen's Institute's Berkshire Book assures the reader thatchiveswere noted in the area as far back as 951. This is the same year thatKing Eadredgave the village to his bailiff, Wulf. TheDomesday Bookof 1086 says this of Chieveley:

In Rowbury Hundred Theabbeyitself holds Chieveley. It has always held it. TRE (in the reign ofEdward the Confessor) it was assessed at 27hides;now at 7½ hides with land for 20ploughs.Indemesneare 3 ploughs; and 28 villains and 10bordarswith 18 ploughs. There are 3 slaves, and 4 acres (16,000 m²) of meadow, [and] woodland for 60pigs.Of this land William holds of theabbot5 hides, and Godfrey 1½ hides, and there is 1 plough, with 3 villains and 2 bordars having 1 plough, and 3 acres (12,000 m²) of meadow. The whole, TRE and afterwards, was worth 12l;now the abbot's portion is worth 10l; that of his men 50s. shillings

This text is a structured shorthand tax assessment and identifies 39 men, many of whom would have had their own households, and threeserfs,a form of slavery done away with early in thefeudal system,generally in the era ofMagna Carta.In August 1207,King Johnseems to have had a good few days' hunting inWest Berkshire.He is reported inCurridgeon the 3rd and Chieveley on the 5th.Chieveley once had its ownmaypole,on the site now occupied by Maypole Cottage (on the corner of the High Street and Church Lane).

St Mary's Church

It is likely that there was aSaxonchurch before it was replaced by theNormans.The present church is a Grade II*listed buildingand visible parts date from the 13th century. Thechanceland lower stage of thebell towerdate from then with the upper part of the tower from the following century. The 15th century saw the insertion of a window in the south-west of the chancel and thefontis of this period. The church was heavily restored in the 19th century including rendering andbuttressesoutside.Chieveleyparish registersstart on 10 April 1560.There are still several families in the area who were recorded in those annals. The firstvicarof Chieveley was Elias, appointed in 1154.

The church is equipped with eight bells (tenor 11 long cwt 0 qr 3 lb (1,235 lb or 560 kg) in F) hung for English stylechange ringing.Two of the bells pre-date theCommonwealthperiod, the number 6 (7 long cwt 0 qr 24 lb (808 lb or 367 kg) in A) of 1584 (founder Joseph Carter) and the number 4 (5 long cwt 1 qr 21 lb (609 lb or 276 kg) in C) of 1633 (founder Ellis I Knight). In addition there is a Sanctus bell.

Transport

Chieveley is served by bus services 6, 6A and 107 fromNewbury.

Demography

2011 Published Statistics: Population, home ownership and extracts from Physical Environment, surveyed in 2005

Output area	Homes owned outright	Owned with a loan	Socially rented	Privately rented	Other	km2roads	km2water	km2domestic gardens	Usual residents	km2
Civil parish	341	326	53	189	21	0.594	0.019	0.783	2890	20.86

Notable residents

• Robert Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley(1926–2016),Senior Law Lord(1996–1998),Lord of Appeal in Ordinary(1986–1998), who lived inChieveley House
• The mother ofLord Chief Justice Holt.

References

• Much of the text for this page was originally taken, with permission, fromMyChieveley.co.uk.

External links

• British History Online:Chieveley Parish

Media related toChieveleyat Wikimedia Commons