SHRIVENHAM, a parish (formerly a market-town) in
the hundred of SHRIVENHAM, county of BERKS, 5 miles
(S. W. by S.) from Great Farringdon, containing, with the
chapelries of Longcot and Watchfield, the hamlet of Fernham,
and the tythings of Beckett and Bourton, 1879 inhabitants.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of
Berks, and diocese of Salisbury, rated in the king's books
at £ 20, and in the patronage of the Crown. The church,
dedicated to St. Andrew, is a large structure, principally
in the Norman style, with a tower rising from the centre.
A chantry was founded here, in 1336, by John de Burghton
and Agnes his wife. William de Valence obtained a
charter, in 1257, for a weekly market on Thursday, and
an annual fair on the festival of St. Mary Magdalene,
which were confirmed by another charter in 1383, but
both have been long disused. The Wilts and Berks
canal passes through the parish. Thomas Stratton, in
1703, gave a rent-charge of £4, for which sum ten boys
are educated in a school-house purchased by the parish,
with aid from private subscriptions. In 1788, the materials
of an old chapel at Watchfield were sold, and
the produce vested in the purchase of £260. 4. 1. three
per cents., the dividends arising from which are applied
for teaching six poor children, and six others are instructed
by a schoolmistress, for the annual proceeds of
£100, left by Richard Smith, in 1818. Here are eight
almshouses, founded in 1642, by Sir Henry Martin, with
an endowment of about £40 per annum.