Brightwell, Berkshire

Description
Brightwell, a parish in Berks, near the river Thames and the G.W.R., 2 1/2 miles WNW of Wallingford station, and 3 1/2 E of Didcot. It has a post and money order office under Wallingford, which is the telegraph office. Acreage, 2064 ; population of the civil parish, 613; of the ecclesiastical, with Sotwell, 735. The manor belongs to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. An ancient castle stood here, and was destroyed about the time of Henry II. The living is a rectory, with the chapelry of Sotwell annexed, in the diocese of Oxford; net yearly value, £500 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Oxford. The church is a building of stone in the Early English style. Slade-End and Mackney are hamlets in this parish. Godwin, author of a work on Jewish and Roman antiquities, Bernard the astronomer, and Wintle the Orientalist were rectors.