Marlston

Village in England

Bucklebury

Unitary authority

West Berkshire

Berkshire

Region

South East

CountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townTHATCHAMPostcode districtRG18Dialling code01635PoliceThames ValleyFire Royal Berkshire Ambulance South Central UK Parliament

Newbury

List of places: UK; England; Berkshire

51°26′34″N 1°14′09″W / 51.442913°N 1.235777°W / 51.442913; -1.235777

Marlston is a village in the English ceremonial county of Berkshire. For administrative purposes, it lies within the civil parish of Bucklebury and the unitary authority of West Berkshire.

Etymology

The place-name Marlston is first attested as Marteleston in 1242, and means "Martel's town or manor". Galfridus Martel held the manor in 1242; Martel is a French nickname meaning "hammer", from the Old French martel (modern French marteau).^[1]

Geography

The settlement lies south of the M4 motorway, and is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north-east of Thatcham. It is 0.5 mi (0.80 km) west of the River Pang on a minor road, midway between Hermitage and Bucklebury.

History

The parish church of St Mary dates back to the 12th century, the north door is dated to circa 1170. The church was restored in 1855 by William Butterfield. It is a Grade II* listed building.^[2]

Marlston House was built between 1895 and 1899 in the Elizabethan style, replacing an Elizabethan era house on the same site. It was built for George Palmer, who was one of the founders of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory, mayor of the nearby town of Reading, and Member of Parliament for Reading. After George Palmer died in 1897, the house was occupied by his son, George William Palmer, who was also mayor of, and Member of Parliament for, Reading. Since 1945, it is the home of the Brockhurst and Marlston House School.^[3] The building is Grade II* listed.^[4]

The Marlston estate is owned by the Astor family.^[5]

Notable residents

Douglas Bader, World War II RAF flying ace, and his wife, settled in the village after the war.

References

^ Eilert Ekwall, Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, pp. 315 and 241.
^ Historic England (7 December 1971). "Church of St Mary (Grade II*) (1212896)". National Heritage List for England.
^ "Marlston History & genealogy resource". Forebears. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
^ Historic England (29 November 1983). "Marlston House and surrounding terrace (Grade II*) (1212898)". National Heritage List for England.
^ "The thirty landowners who own half a county". Who owns England?.