Kintbury

Kintbury
Dundas Arms on the Kennet and Avon Canal
Kintbury  Kintbury shown within Berkshire
Area	34.92 km2 (13.48 sq mi)
Population	2,534 (2011 census)
– density	73/km2 (190/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SU3867
Civil parish	Kintbury
Unitary authority	West Berkshire
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Hungerford
Postcode district	RG17
Dialling code	01488
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Royal Berkshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Newbury
List of places UK England Berkshire

Kintbury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England, between the towns of Newbury and Hungerford. Kintbury was named by the Sunday Times in 2007 as one of the 'top ten most sought-after villages in England'.

The village has a convenient railway to London 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.

Amenities

The key amenities in the village include the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary, Church of England primary school, post office, corner shop, and a butcher's. 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 three pubs in the village; The Blue Ball, The Dundas Arms and The Prince Of Wales. The village also boasts various sports facilities including tennis, bowls and football clubs, as well as an indoor sports centre.

Transport

Kintbury railway station in the village is served by local services from Reading and Newbury to Great Bedwyn. The Kennet and Avon Canal, drawing on most of the water in the River Kennet at this point in most seasons, runs through the village at Kintbury Lock. A horse drawn widebeam narrowboat runs public trips from Kintbury, either towards Newbury or towards Hungerford.

History

Kintbury was spelt Cynetanbyrig in the 10th century and Kenetebury in the 13th century. After Saint Birinus converted the people of Berkshire to Christianity in the mid 7th century, minsters soon became established in the county from which priests were sent out into the countryside. One such was founded at Kintbury, possibly it was the 'holy place' mentioned in the will of the Saxon thegn, Wulfgar, in 935. Although this is often considered to have been a monastery, Kintbury Abbey. From the second spelling and contemporary spelling of the River Kennet the origin of the name is clear - a bury or borough being a defended settlement.

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 drama societies - The Kintbury Players (who generally perform comedic plays), and also St Mary's Drama Group who perform an annual pantomime in the Easter half term holiday.

Kintbury is also home to North Berks Football League club Kintbury Rangers F.C., who play at the Recreation Ground. Notable former players include Queen's Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin and former Everton player Brett Angell.

Demography

2011 Published Statistics: Population, home ownership and extracts from Physical Environment, surveyed in 2005

Output area	Homes owned outright	Owned with a loan	Socially rented	Privately rented	Other	km² roads	km² water	km² domestic gardens	Usual residents	km²
Civil parish	322	381	168	142	34	0.407	0.428	0.764	2534	34.92

Notable residents

• Robert Harris

• Chapman Pincher

• Roger Mortimer (horse racing journalist) spent his final years living in Kintbury.

• Anthony Howard (journalist) attended school there.

External links

• Facebook.com/KintburyVillage
• Kintbury village website
• Kintbury Players
• Kintbury website for local news
• Kintbury in the Domesday Book
• Royal Berkshire History: Kintbury