Bucklebury

"BUCKLEBURY, a parish in the hundred of Reading, in the county of Berks, 7 miles to the N.E. of Newbury. Reading is its post town. It is situated on a small stream, a feeder of the Thames, into which it falls at Pangbourne. The parish contains the hamlets of Marlstone and Hawkridge. Bucklebury Common is an extensive tract of very elevated and pleasantly undulating ground, commanding fine prospects over the rich surrounding country. The view extends, in clear weather, to Windsor Castle. The village is seated in the diocese of Oxford, of the value of £453, in the patronage of W. H. H. Hartley, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. It is an ancient edifice in the Norman style, with a tower and spire, and contains an old font and a monument to Lady Frances Winchcombe. In the churchyard is a yew tree of immense size. There is a chapel belonging to the Independents, and a free school for boys and girls, founded and endowed by Winchcombe Hartley, which has an income of about £35 per annum. Bucklebury shares with Thatcham the benefits of Lady Winchcombe's endowed school at the latter place for educating and clothing 40 boys. There are some other charities of small amount. Bucklebury House, now the seat of the Hartleys, who hold the manor, was erected by John Winchcombe in the 16th century. He was the son of John Winchcombe, who became famous as Jack of Newbury in the reign of Henry VIII. The manor belonged to the Winchcombes, and passed from them by marriage, to the Hartleys."

"HAWKRIDGE, a tything in the parish of Bucklebury, county Berks, 6 miles N.E. of Newbury."

"MARLSTONE, a tything and chapelry in the parish of Bucklebury, hundred of Reading, county Berks, 4 miles N.E. of Newbury. The village is inconsiderable, and chiefly agricultural. The chapel-of-ease is an ancient edifice. The principal residence is Marlstone House."

From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868), transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003.

Other descriptions can be found from other periods in various trade directories covering Berkshire from the early 19th century onward, from Berkshire FHS,s and from A Vision of Britain Through Time.