Harwell, Oxfordshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Harwell | |
  Harwell shown within Oxfordshire |
|
| District | Vale of White Horse |
|---|---|
| Shire county | Oxfordshire |
| Ceremonial county | Oxfordshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DIDCOT |
| Postcode district | OX11 |
| Dialling code | +44-7971 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Wantage |
| List of places: UK • England • Oxfordshire | |
Harwell is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire). It lies near The Ridgeway long-distance footpath, halfway between Abingdon, Oxfordshire and Newbury, Berkshire and two miles from Didcot. Harwell has a population of about 2,400.
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[edit] Amenities
There are currently two public houses in the village, the White Hart and The Crispin. The two pubs are both located on the same corner of the High Street and back on to each other. Formerly there were five: The Crown is now a nursing home, while The Chequers and The Kicking Donkey have both been converted to private houses.
The village supports two shops, Bobs the Butcher's and White Horse News (which doubles as an off licence). Two other general stores have closed in the village over the last 20 years, and the village bakery. At one point the village even had a brewery. This is now a private house and located opposite the White Hart public house.
[edit] St Matthew's Church
The village church is St Matthew's and is part of the Church of England. It was mainly built in the 13th century. It is a Grade 1 listed building and was formerly dedicated to St Mary. The nave roof dates from 1220, and the screen dividing the chancel from the body of the church also dates from the 13th century. The church is notable for the quality and age of the peal of 8 bells housed in the belfry, and 1 sanctus bell, all dating from 1611 to 1932. These are the oldest set of bells that are still in use in the World[citation needed]. The tenor weighs 16 cwt. There is a single-handed clock on the tower's west face. In 1975, a two floor extension was built on the north wall which now contains a parish office. A new church hall was built in 1994.
[edit] Sport and leisure
There are a good number of clubs and societies in the village. These include an excellent Royal Legion, a lively Scout Group, an earnest Girls Brigade, a growing Horticultural Society, Harwell Feast Committee, Football and Rugby Clubs, and others.
The Harwell Feast is a celebration held on the Monday of the May Bank Holiday each year. The celebrations include a parade of decorated floats and people through the village. The recreation ground is turned over to various fund raising stalls and demonstration from sheep dog handling to vintage cars. Either a cow or a couple of pigs is roasted to supply the meat for the feast.
[edit] Airfield and Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Before 1946, Harwell was probably best known for its cherry orchards. In 1937, an airfield was built between Harwell and Chilton and named RAF Harwell. The airfield was used during World War II to launch glider-borne troops for the Normandy invasion.
In 1946, this airfield was taken over to become the new Atomic Energy Research Establishment, the main centre for atomic energy research in the UK, and become known as Harwell Laboratory. It was the site of Europe's first nuclear reactor in 1946, and once housed five nuclear reactors, all of which have been shut down. Two have been completely dismantled, and it is anticipated that the other three will be decommissioned by 2022.
Other parts of the airfield were later used for other scientific organizations, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. That part of the site is now known as Chilton/Harwell Science Campus and also houses the ISIS neutron source and the Diamond Light Source synchrotron. The Atomic Energy Research Establishment part of the airfield site is now officially called Harwell International Business Centre; locally it is referred to as the "Site".
[edit] Notable residents
- Christopher Elderfield, 17th century divine and author
- John Harewell, 14th century Bishop of Bath and Wells
- Klaus Fuchs, nuclear scientist and communist spy
