The Parish of Winkfield

First reference of the parish dates from 942AD, when the village was owned by a nun named Saethryth; it was also referred to in the Doomsday book. The name comes from Wineca's Field, Wineca being a man's name meaning Little Friend...

Winkfield Parish once covered a large area of both Bracknell and Ascot and was considered to be one of the largest parishes in the country. As different parishes became established from 1851, the boundaries gradually changed, until 1948 when Bracknell was designated as a new town. Today various settlements are included in the Parish; Maidens Green, Cranbourne, Chavey Down, Martins Heron, Winkfield Row, North Street, Woodside and part of Forest Park.

There are a number of large houses in the parish. One of the best known is the third manor in Winkfield, at Foliejon. This moated manor, once called Bellestre, was the early 14th century Berkshire home of John De Drokensford, the Bishop of Bath & Wells.

In the late eighteenth century, Winkfield parish had its own spa; the Pump House stands at the end of Winkfield Lane. The upper storey of the porch, opening out onto the full-height The Pump Room, was designed to accommodate a small orchestra!

In 1709 the Earl of Ranelagh founded one of the earliest schools in Berkshire; Ranelagh School for the poor was located at Cranbourne Hall. In 1878 the building was sold and a new school built on Lovel Road, proceeds from the sale were used to build the present Ranelagh School in Bracknell, opened in 1908. The 17th century Winkfield Place, at Winkfield Lane was home to the Edwards family who were closely involved with the running of the Ranelagh School.

The The Church of St. Mary's is an important building in the parish dating from the 13th century, in 1998 it celebrated its 700th anniversary. There is evidence of the Norman period and speculation that the site may have once had a Saxon Church. The present church contains a Norman Piscina (a drain for rinsing sacred vessels) and many historic memorials and brasses. On the North wall there is a tablet dated 1685 in memory of Thomas Wise, master mason to Charles II. The wooden pillars down the central nave of the church are also notable, one is carved with '1592 ER' and a Tudor rose. The latest pillar was erected in 1908 by consent of King Edward VII.

The forecourt in front of St. Mary's Church was the site of tithe barns, demolished in 1854. These were used to store the produce paid as a tax to the parish priest by the local occupants of the land.

Sir Henry Keppel the distinguished Admiral was buried in the churchyard in 1904. Representatives of the King and German Emperor attended his funeral and his body was borne on a gun carriage from Ascot Station with Admirals acting as pall bearers.

The The Old Forge at Winkfield was owned by the renowned Druce family. In 1698 Henry Druce made a clock in his forge and offered it to the church asking an annual fee of 40s to wind it. When the church refused he mounted the clock in the forge, where it remains today.

The White Hart Inn opposite St. Mary's Church was a coaching inn situated on the main coaching route through Windsor Forest. It was also used as a Court House and the famous Judge Jeffreys is said to have presided there.

Information edited from that provided by The Winkfield History Project Group and David Nash Ford
www.berkshirehistory.com