BURGHFIELD, a parish in the hundred of THEALE,
county of BERKS, 4 miles (S. W.) from Reading, containing
881 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the
archdeaconry of Berks, and diocese of Salisbury, rated
in the king's books at £ 14.19. 2., and in the patronage
of the Earl of Shrewsbury. The church is dedicated to
St. Mary. The navigable river Kennet passes through
the parish, and is crossed by a bridge of great antiquity.
In an unsuccessful attempt to obtain coal at Hose Hill,
in this parish, a few years ago, a bed of cockle-shells,
firmly concreted with .sand, was discovered about twelve
feet beneath the surface.