Welford, Berkshire
| Welford | |
|---|---|
 St. Gregory's parish church and the rear of Welford Park House |
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 Welford
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| Welford shown within Berkshire | |
| Area | 20.39 km2 (7.87 sq mi) |
| Population | 513 (2011 census) |
| • Density | 25/km2 (65/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU4073 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Welford is a rural village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England occupying both sides of the valley of the River Lambourn north-west of the town of Newbury and south of the Oxfordshire town of Wantage. It forms a strip parish which tapers in the south where it contains the hamlet, Halfway. It has Welford Park which has annual snowdrop displays, the M4 motorway and RAF Welford.
The history of the manor is long, held by Abingdon Abbey for centuries until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Overlordship was for some decades after in the hands of the Crown, and was attached to the manor of Benham Lovell, while the overlordship of the vill of Easton, Welford was attached to the manor of East Greenwich. Its history included a share held by Sir Thomas Knyvet(t) and within 20 years sale to Francis Jones (Lord Mayor) in the 1600s who was not related. It descended in the same family to the Mason, Archer and Houblon branches.
The main vestige is the wholly rebuilt manor house at Welford Park, which can be visited for its woodlands and early spring displays of snowdrops, is in the village.
It was described in a most detailed county history and geography of 1924 as a "large modern red brick building, surrounded by a deer park of 200 acres (0.8 km2). It is the property of the lord of the manor, Col. G. B. Archer-Houblon, but...the residence of Major R. P. Cobbold."
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Wikipedia