Kintbury

Kintbury is a village and civil parish in the West Berkshire district, Berkshire, England, between the towns of Newbury and Hungerford. The village has a convenient railway to Paddington and Reading, proximity to other transport and local cultural destinations, including Roman and Norman sites, and forms part of a very large Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Wessex Downs which extends from the River Thames at Streatley to West Wiltshire. The parish includes the hamlets of Clapton, Elcot and Winding Wood.

Amenities

Amenities in the village have included the Church of England parish church, primary school, a post office, a corner shop, and a bakery. A Roman Catholic youth retreat and work centre, St Cassian's Centre, is south-west of the village centre, between Inglewood and Titcomb. There are two pubs in the village; The Blue Ball and The Dundas Arms. The village has sports facilities including tennis, bowls and football clubs, as well as an indoor leisure centre. The village has an area of Site of Special Scientific Interest on its south eastern border called Catmore and Winterly Copses. The Village has a Local nature reserve called Kintbury Newt Ponds.

Transport

Kintbury railway station in the village is served by local services from Reading and Newbury to Bedwyn. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the village at Kintbury Lock. A horse drawn widebeam canal boat runs public trips from Kintbury, either towards Newbury or towards Hungerford.

Sport and leisure

The village holds an annual "Ray Boxshall Orienteering Fun Day". An orienteering event named after Ray Boxshall who was heavily involved in running the event in the years before he died. Kintbury has two amateur dramatic societies - The Kintbury Players (who generally perform comedic plays), and St Mary's Drama Group who perform an annual pantomime in the Easter half term holiday. Kintbury has a Sports and Leisure centre - the Kintbury Jubilee Centre, run by the community for the community, with fitness classes, clubs, and a hall available to hire. Kintbury is also home to North Berks Football League club Kintbury Rangers F.C., who play at the Recreation Ground. Notable former players include Southampton F.C striker Charlie Austin and former Everton player Brett Angell.

Notable residents

• George Cherry (1822–1887), cricketer and barrister
• Robert Harris, author of well-known novels including Fatherland, Enigma and Pompeii
• Anthony Howard, political journalist, attended school there.
• Roger Mortimer (horse racing journalist) spent his final years living in Kintbury.
• Chapman Pincher lived there for many years.
• Sir Gordon Richards, 26 times champion jockey, spent his final years there and is buried there.
• William Winterbourne, hanged at Reading Gaol for his part in the Swing Riots of 1830, buried in the churchyard

Demography

References

External links

• Kintbury village website
• Kintbury Players
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre
• Kintbury in the Domesday Book