Englefield

Between Theale and Bradfield, Englefield is a self contained estate village in the Victorian manner with its own school, shops, club and `model' houses built along the road to the church and great house.
The place, however, is far older than Victorian times for the Angles and Danes fought here in 871.

The Englefield family had the estate until the 16th century after which it had many owners until the Benyons acquired it - and still are owners. Englefield House, the family seat, is a grand stone structure of the Elizabethan period. It was built at the end of the l6th century, was extended and lavishly ornamented in 1806 and then restored in 1886 after a fire.

In the grounds is St. Mark's Church, a typical Victorian estate church built in 1857 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, although it incorporates much of its former 13th century predecessor. Of special interest is the Englefield Chapel which contains family tombs and memorials, one of the finest being the colourful memorials, dated 1605, to John Englefield who is shown with his wife and their children.