Checkendon
Encyclopedia
Checkendon is a village and civil parish about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Henley-on-Thames
in South Oxfordshire
, England
.
of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
is a 12th century Norman
building. All but one of the windows were replaced later in the Middle Ages
with Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic ones, and the Perpendicular Gothic west tower is also a later addition.
The church has an early 13th century wall painting
of Christ in Majesty
above a procession of Apostle
s. The murals were faithfully repainted when they were rediscovered, but more recently this has been considered over-restoration.
The bell tower
has a ring
of eight bells. Four were cast by Lester and Pack in 1765, two were cast in 1879 by Mears and Stainbank
and two more cast by Mears and Stainbank were added in 1967. The building is Grade I listed.
Saints Peter & Paul parish is now a member of The Langtree Team Ministry: a Church of England benefice that includes also the parishes of Ipsden
, North Stoke
, Stoke Row, Whitchurch-on-Thames
and Woodcote
.
War artist Eric Kennington
(1888–1960) is buried here.
s: the 15th century Four Horseshoes within the village and the 17th century Highwayman to the south in the nearby hamlet of Exlade Street. There is also The Black Horse at Scots Common.
Checkendon has a Church of England
primary school.
Checkendon has an equestrian
centre. Checkendon Cricket Club plays in the Berkshire Cricket League First Division.
North of the village in the 19th century Wheelers Barn is Philip Koomen Furniture, producing modern bespoke wooden furniture.
The music studio in the manor house at nearby Hook End was used by David Gilmour
of the band Pink Floyd
to record parts of the band’s 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason
. The band’s inflatable pig, first used to promote their Animals album a decade earlier, was stored in one of the outbuildings. The studio is now owned by Mark White singer/songwriter with the band Godnose
.
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
in South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is a local government district in Oxfordshire, England. Its council is based in Crowmarsh Gifford, just outside Wallingford....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Parish church
The Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June...
is a 12th century Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building. All but one of the windows were replaced later in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
with Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic ones, and the Perpendicular Gothic west tower is also a later addition.
The church has an early 13th century wall painting
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
of Christ in Majesty
Christ in Majesty
Christ in Majesty, or Christ in Glory, in Latin Majestas Domini, is the Western Christian image of Christ seated on a throne as ruler of the world, always seen frontally in the centre of the composition, and often flanked by other sacred figures, whose membership changes over time and according to...
above a procession of Apostle
Apostle (Christian)
The term apostle is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος , meaning one who is sent away, from στέλλω + από . The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto + ex...
s. The murals were faithfully repainted when they were rediscovered, but more recently this has been considered over-restoration.
The bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
has a ring
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
of eight bells. Four were cast by Lester and Pack in 1765, two were cast in 1879 by Mears and Stainbank
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
and two more cast by Mears and Stainbank were added in 1967. The building is Grade I listed.
Saints Peter & Paul parish is now a member of The Langtree Team Ministry: a Church of England benefice that includes also the parishes of Ipsden
Ipsden
Ipsden is a village and civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire, about southeast of Wallingford.-Parish church:The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin was built late in the 12th century as a chapelry of North Stoke...
, North Stoke
North Stoke, Oxfordshire
North Stoke is a village beside the River Thames in the Crowmarsh civil parish in South Oxfordshire, south of the market town of Wallingford.-Parish church:...
, Stoke Row, Whitchurch-on-Thames
Whitchurch-on-Thames
Whitchurch-on-Thames is a village and civil parish on the Oxfordshire bank of the River Thames, about northwest of Reading, Berkshire. Opposite Whitchurch on the Berkshire bank is the village of Pangbourne.-History:...
and Woodcote
Woodcote
Woodcote is a village in the civil parish in South Oxfordshire, about southeast of Wallingford and about northwest of Reading, Berkshire. It is in the Chiltern Hills, and the highest part of the village is above sea level....
.
War artist Eric Kennington
Eric Kennington
Eric Henri Kennington RA was an English Sculptor, artist and illustrator, and an official war artist in both World Wars.-Early life:...
(1888–1960) is buried here.
Amenities
Checkendon has two gastropubGastropub
Gastropub or Gastrolounge refers to a bar and restaurant that serves high-end beer and food.The term gastropub, a portmanteau of gastronomy and pub, originated in England in the late 20th century. English pubs were drinking establishments and little emphasis was placed on the serving of food. If...
s: the 15th century Four Horseshoes within the village and the 17th century Highwayman to the south in the nearby hamlet of Exlade Street. There is also The Black Horse at Scots Common.
Checkendon has a Church of England
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
primary school.
Checkendon has an equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
centre. Checkendon Cricket Club plays in the Berkshire Cricket League First Division.
North of the village in the 19th century Wheelers Barn is Philip Koomen Furniture, producing modern bespoke wooden furniture.
The music studio in the manor house at nearby Hook End was used by David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
of the band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
to record parts of the band’s 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason
A Momentary Lapse of Reason
A Momentary Lapse of Reason is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. It was released in the UK and US in September 1987. In 1985 guitarist David Gilmour began to assemble a group of musicians to work on his third solo album...
. The band’s inflatable pig, first used to promote their Animals album a decade earlier, was stored in one of the outbuildings. The studio is now owned by Mark White singer/songwriter with the band Godnose
Godnose
Godnose are an Australian metalcore band from Brisbane, Queensland in Australia. They formed in 1995. The name was an early name for ascorbic acid/vitamin c used by its discoverer Albert Szent-Gyorgyi not long after he isolated the substance for the first time.-Associated acts:*from the USA:...
.
Public transport
Checkendon is served by two bus routes:- Reading TransportReading TransportReading Transport Ltd is a bus operator serving the towns of Reading, Newbury and the surrounding area in the English county of Berkshire. The company is wholly owned by Reading Borough Council and operates under the brands Reading Buses, Newbury Buses and Goldline Travel...
route 142, ReadingReading, BerkshireReading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
-WoodcoteWoodcoteWoodcote is a village in the civil parish in South Oxfordshire, about southeast of Wallingford and about northwest of Reading, Berkshire. It is in the Chiltern Hills, and the highest part of the village is above sea level....
-Checkendon - White's Coaches route 145, Woodcote-Checkendon-HenleyHenley-on-ThamesHenley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...