BASSILDON, a parish in the hundred of MORETON,
county of BERKS, 7' miles (N. W. by w.) from
Reading, containing, exclusively of the chapelry of Ashamstead,
686 inhabitants. The living is a discharged
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Berks, and diocese
of Salisbury, rated in the king's books at £7. 14. 41
and in the alternate patronage of the Rev. R. B. Fisher
and J. Hopkins, Esq. The church is dedicated to St.
Bartholomew. In Domesday-book mention is made
of two churches here. The river Thames separates the
parish from Oxfordshire. In the reign of Edward II.5
a weekly market, and a fair on St. Barnabas' day, were
granted. A school was endowed with a cottage and a
rent-charge of £4 by William Allen, in 1720, for the
instruction of ten poor children.