Chaddleworth
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Chaddleworth is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire.
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[edit] Geography
The village of Chaddleworth lies below the southern slopes of the Berkshire Downs, just east of the A338, which runs between Hungerford and Wantage to form the western parish boundary. The south-east corner of the village is called Nodmore and the hamlet of Southend sits only a mile to the north-east. In the north of the parish is Woolley and in the south is Poughley, both barely hamlets now. Woolley Down rises above the former. The parish mostly consists of farmland, with some scattered woodland such as Nine Acre Wood, Spray Wood, Down Copse, Rooksnest Copse and Bassdown Copse. The West Berkshire Golf Course, on Buckham Hill, and the northern edge of RAF Welford are in Poughley.
[edit] Character and amenities
Chaddleworth is a pretty village with a number of thatched cottages. It has a primary school, a pub and a population of about 500. The parish church sits in the western portion of the village adjoining the manor, Chaddleworth House. A second manor is centred on Woolley Park within its own deer park. Woolley is the site of a deserted medieval village. The house was the home of the Tipping family for many generations - including two High Sheriffs of Berkshire - and now of their descendents, the Wroughtons. The current owner is the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mr. Philip Wroughton. Poughley has the remains of a medieval priory.
[edit] Local government
Chaddleworth is located in the West Berkshire district.
[edit] Traditional legal practices
Chaddleworth historically adhered to an unusual legal practice. The rights to copyhold land inheritance from a husband were forfeited if his widow remarried. However, the steward of the manor was obliged to reinstate the rights if she rode into the manor court, backwards on a black ram, whilst at the same time reciting a particular set of bizarre lines ending in a request for their restoration. [1]
[edit] References
