Speenhamland, Berkshire

Speenhamland is an area within modern Newbury, Berkshire, which gave rise to the Speenhamland system of poor relief in the early 19th century. Its name is probably derived from Old English Spen-haema-land, "land of the inhabitants of Speen", with "Speen" perhaps being formed on a Brittonic root deriving from Latin spinis, "thorns".[1]

Speenhamland was a tithing, or administrative subdivision, of the parish of Speen, though even in the early 19th century it was contiguous with the suburbs of Newbury.[2] It lies to the north of the River Kennet, between the centre of Newbury and Speen village to the north-west.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Coates and Breeze (2000) Celtic voices, English places: studies of the Celtic impact on place-names in England, p.41
  2. ↑ Lysons & Lysons (eds.) (1813) Magna Britannia, vol I, part II, London: Cadell & Davies, p.372
  3. ↑ Page, William; Ditchfield, P.H., eds. (1924). "Speen with Speenhamland, Bagnor and Benham". A History of the County of Berkshire. Victoria County History. 4. pp. 97–110.

Coordinates: 51°24′25″N 1°19′30″W / 51.407°N 1.325°W / 51.407; -1.325


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