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The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.



HER Number MWB3694
Record Type Monument
Name SHALFORD FARM - Preceptory

Grid Reference SU 568 648
Map Sheet SU56SE
Parish Brimpton, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Reputed site of a house of the Knights Hospitallers, founded before 1198 although Shalford Farm House dates from 1562 and is much altered

Other Statuses and Cross-References

  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01774.01.000
  • National Monuments Record No.: SU 56 SE 8
    SU 5688 6487

Monument Type(s):

Full Description

SITE OF HOUSE OF KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS FOUNDED 1198, INDEPENDENT 1276. PRESENT HOUSE DATES TO 1562, BUT PRESENT BUILDING MUCH ALTERED AND NOTHING REMAINS IDENTIFIABLE AS EARLIER THAN 16TH CENTURY.

The First Edition Ordnance Survey mapping <1> marks Shalford Farm as a former Hospitallers' preceptory. Knowles and Hadcock noted that this was founded before 1198 and remained independent until after 1276 when it was annexed to Greenham <2><3>. It was suppressed in 1540.

Shalford Farm House was described as dating from 1562 although the Ordnance Survey Field Investigator in the 1980s considered that 'nothing remains that is identifiable as 16th century or earlier' <6>. However this proved to be an inaccurate assessment, as some archaeological investigations at the timber framed building included roof timbers being tree-ring dated to 1430 <8>.

Sources and further reading

---Brimpton Parish Research Association. 1999. The Brimpton Story - History of a West Berkshire Parish. P28-32, Illust. [Monograph / SWB12971]
<01>Landmark. 1872-85. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 1, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 1:2500. Marked 'Shalford Farm on the Site of a house of the Knights Hospitallers'. [Map / SWB14341]
<02>Knowles, D and Hadcock, R N. 1953. Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales. P241. [Monograph / SWB11245]
<03>Hadcock, R N. 1956. NEWBURY RURAL DISTRICT GUIDE. P28. [Monograph / SWB7001]
<05>Page and Ditchfield (eds). 1924. Victoria County History (VCH) Berks IV 1924. Vol 4. p51-55. [Monograph / SWB10281]
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4 (Accessed 24/09/2015)
<06>Ordnance Survey. 1960s-70s. Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments. F1 GHP 25-APR-63. [Personal observation / SWB14640]
<07>Money, W. 1859-1878. 1859-1878 COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS. Acc No 6599, 19/11/1877. [Unpublished document / SWB12926]
<08>Caiger-Smith, S. 8/2/2002. Letter from owner of Shalford Farmhouse to West Berkshire Heritage Service. [Unpublished document / SWB14470]
<09>Dils, J and Yates, M (ed). 2012. An Historical Atlas of Berkshire (2nd Edition). p46-47 Religious houses of medieval Berkshire. [Monograph / SWB148708]

Related Monuments

MWB17502Shalford Farm & Shalford Dairy (Monument)
MWB3692SHALFORD DMV (Monument)
MWB15833Greenham Preceptory - unknown exact location (Place)
MWB19288Shalford Farmhouse, Shalford Hill, Aldermaston (Building)
MWB6253Shalford or Brimpton Mill (Monument)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

EWB806Shalford Farmhouse - TV Archaeology Programme Excavation