# Datchet

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Village and civil parish in Berkshire, England

Village and civil parish in England

Datchet Village and civil parish Datchet village centre Datchet Location within Berkshire Population 4,913 (2011 Census)[1] OS grid reference SU988771 Civil parish Datchet Unitary authority Windsor and Maidenhead Ceremonial county Berkshire Region South East Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town SLOUGH Postcode district SL3 Dialling code 01753 Police Thames Valley Fire Royal Berkshire Ambulance South Central UK Parliament Windsor List of places UK England Berkshire 51°29′03″N 0°34′34″W / 51.4841°N 0.5762°W / 51.4841; -0.5762

**Datchet** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) in the [Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead](/source/Royal_Borough_of_Windsor_and_Maidenhead) in Berkshire, England, on the north bank of the [River Thames](/source/River_Thames). [Historically](/source/Historic_counties_of_England) part of [Buckinghamshire](/source/Buckinghamshire), and the [Stoke Hundred](/source/Stoke_Hundred), the village was eventually transferred to Berkshire, under the [Local Government Act 1972](/source/Local_Government_Act_1972). The village developed because of its proximity to [Windsor](/source/Windsor%2C_Berkshire) and the ferry service which connected it to the main London Road across the River Thames. The ferry was later replaced by a road bridge at the foot of High Street. The bridge was rebuilt three times. There is also a rail bridge approaching Windsor across the river, and road bridges above and below the village.[2]

## Etymology

The name *Datchet* is first attested, in a [charter](/source/Charter) from between 990 and 992, as *Deccet*; it appears in the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) as *Daceta*.[3] The name is thought to be [Celtic](/source/Celtic_languages) in origin, partly because of its similarity to the ancient Gaulish name *[Decetia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Decetia&action=edit&redlink=1)*; the last part may be the Brittonic word that appears in modern Welsh as *coed* ("wood").[4]: 278[5]

## History

There is evidence of habitation in the area shortly after the end of the last [ice age](/source/Quaternary_glaciation), between 10,000 and 6,500 years ago, and of a multi-period settlement at Southlea from the Neolithic to the late [Roman](/source/Roman_people) periods.[6] An excavation at Riding Court, a [manorial](/source/Manorial) sub-division of Datchet, has revealed a monument complex that included a [cursus](/source/Cursus), [ring ditches](/source/Ring_ditches), [oval barrows](/source/Tumulus) and [causewayed](/source/Causeway) enclosures. The monuments had developed alongside the River Thames, which acted as a barrier, a gateway and a routeway to other regions. The 2017 investigations at Riding Court Farm have provided evidence of Early Neolithic activity (4000–3350 BC) with the discovery of a previously unknown causewayed enclosure.[7]

Datchet is first mentioned between 990 and 994, when [Æthelred](/source/%C3%86thelred_the_Unready) made small grants of land here. In the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book), in 1066 the lords were the brothers Saewulf and Siward. In 1086 the lord and tenant-in-chief was Giles, brother of Ansculf,[3] also referred to as Giles de Pinkney.[8] In 1150, the church already existed in Datchet, and the Pinkney family sold it to the [abbey](/source/St_Albans_Cathedral) of [St Albans](/source/St_Albans). The Abbot became [rector](/source/Rector_(ecclesiastical)) as impropriator of the parish and had the right to appoint vicars.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] There was a ferry at Datchet Ferry which provided a shorter route from London to [Windsor Castle](/source/Windsor_Castle) and was frequently used by royalty.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

St Mary's Church with its octagonal tower

Datchet Mead and Datchet Ferry in 1686 with Windsor Castle in the background

Datchet from J5 of the M4 and the Queen Mother Reservoir to Datchet Golf Course

In 1249, [Henry III](/source/Henry_III_of_England) gave a great oak from [Windsor Forest](/source/Windsor_Great_Park) to make a barge for passage from Windsor to Datchet. In 1350, [Edward III](/source/Edward_III_of_England) gave Datchet Church as part of the endowment of his new church and college of [St George](/source/St_George) at Windsor Castle. St. Mary's church originated as a rectory in the 13th century.[9]: 24 A church, dated from 1559 by the parish registers, was dismantled in 1857, rebuilt, and reopened in 1860. It is notable in that its tower is octagonal, the greater number of church towers being square or round.[9]: 27 On the [dissolution of the monasteries](/source/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries), [the Crown](/source/The_Crown) confiscated the rectory, which was sold by [Parliament](/source/UK_Parliament) in 1659 to William Stanbridge and [Thomas Roberts](/source/Sir_Thomas_Roberts%2C_4th_Baronet).[8]

The history of the manor begins in 1335 when Edward III gave the manor of Datchet to William de Montacute, who then passed it on to Sir [John Molyns](/source/John_Molyns), who held it until 1631, when it passed to the Winwood family and eventually to the Buccleuch and Montagu families. [Lord Montagu of Beaulieu](/source/Lord_Montagu_of_Beaulieu) is still the [titular](/source/Titular_ruler) Lord of Datchet Manor but owns no property here.

In 1641, [Charles I](/source/Charles_I_of_England) sold the manor house and estate of Riding Court to William Wheeler. It was later sold out of the Wheeler estates, and, after passing through various hands, was finally conveyed to [John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu](/source/John_Montagu%2C_2nd_Duke_of_Montagu) in 1742, and so came once more under the same ownership as Datchet Manor. After the death in 1790 of his son-in-law, George, [Earl of Cardigan](/source/Earl_of_Cardigan), created Duke of Montagu in 1766, the manors passed to the latter's daughter Elizabeth wife of [Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch](/source/Henry_Scott%2C_3rd_Duke_of_Buccleuch). From 1802 the title followed the same descent as Datchet and Ditton in [Stoke Poges](/source/Stoke_Poges), and the manorial rights were vested in John Walter Edward, the second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, until recently transferred to David Mapley, the current owner.

In 1706, the ferry that carried traffic across the River Thames through Datchet was replaced by [Datchet Bridge](/source/Datchet_Bridge). The crossing was replaced three times until it was finally demolished in 1851 as part of the re-routing of roads and bridges when the [LSWR](/source/LSWR) railway line was built from [Richmond](/source/Richmond-upon-Thames) to Windsor. Traffic between [Old Windsor](/source/Old_Windsor) and Datchet now uses a southerly route along Southlea Road and crossing [Albert Bridge](/source/Albert_Bridge%2C_Datchet), while a new Windsor Road was built from Datchet riverside and crossing the new [Victoria Bridge](/source/Victoria_Bridge%2C_Datchet).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 1742, [John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu](/source/John_Montagu%2C_2nd_Duke_of_Montagu) bought Datchet manor, and his family owned it until at least 1925; at one point it was owned by the head of the influential Montagu-Douglas-Scott family, [Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch](/source/Henry_Scott%2C_3rd_Duke_of_Buccleuch).[8]

In 1790, a [workhouse](/source/Workhouse) was built in Holmlea Road and in 1820 an [almshouse](/source/Almshouse) belonging to the workhouse was turned into a shop. In 1848, the first train went through Datchet to [Windsor](/source/Windsor%2C_Berkshire) and by 1860 Datchet Common's beer house, The Plough, was in existence. In 1886, Datchet was described as having been known as Black Datchet in the early 1800s because of a large number of bad characters living there, and that [Aylesbury](/source/Aylesbury) [County Jail](/source/County_Jail) had one building known as the 'Datchet Wing' filled mostly with [poachers](/source/Poachers), for which there is good evidence.[10]

In early 1911 a young [Sydney Camm](/source/Sydney_Camm) watched Sir [Thomas Sopwith](/source/Thomas_Sopwith) land his aircraft on Datchet [golf course](/source/Golf_course), on his return journey from [Windsor Castle](/source/Windsor_Castle).[11]

## In popular culture

In [Jerome K. Jerome](/source/Jerome_K._Jerome)'s *[Three Men in a Boat](/source/Three_Men_in_a_Boat)*, the narrator describes a previous visit to Datchet, during which he and his friends experience extreme difficulties in getting lodgings for the night. This has descriptions of the Manor Hotel and the Royal Stag.[12]

## Commerce and services

[Datchet railway station](/source/Datchet_railway_station) is on the [Windsor & Eton Riverside](/source/Windsor_%26_Eton_Riverside_railway_station) to [London Waterloo](/source/London_Waterloo_railway_station) line with a journey time of around 55 minutes.[13] The Manor is a hotel and conference centre, originally part of the Manor House range of houses, owned but never occupied by any lord of the manor. There is one pub in Datchet, The Royal Stag. The former Morning Star is now a [Costa Coffee](/source/Costa_Coffee) shop and the Plough is a branch of [Tesco](/source/Tesco). Datchet has three schools; [Churchmead School](/source/Churchmead_School), a secondary school, Datchet St. Mary's Primary School, and Eton End, a private [preparatory school](/source/Preparatory_school_(United_Kingdom)).

## Sport and social clubs

Datchet has a number of sports clubs, including Datchet Cricket Club,[14] Datchet Football Club (Senior & Junior Football), a golf club founded in 1892,[15] and a sailing club at the [Queen Mother Reservoir](/source/Queen_Mother_Reservoir).[16] Datchet Players are an amateur dramatics society that have been putting on productions in the village hall since the 1960s.[17]

## Notable residents

- [William Herschel](/source/William_Herschel), astronomer, lived at *The Lawn* on Horton Road from 1782 to 1785.[18]

- [Hon Evelyn Ellis](/source/Hon_Evelyn_Ellis) lived at *Rosenau* on Southlea Road in the 1880s. He owned the first motor car in Britain.[19]

- [Louis Levy](/source/Louis_Levy), film music director and composer, was living at Orchard Cottage, Horton Road in Datchet at the time of his death in 1957.[20]

- [Barry Davies](/source/Barry_Davies), sports commentator, lives in Datchet.

- [Stephen Tompkinson](/source/Stephen_Tompkinson), actor, has lived in Datchet since 2003.[21]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Civil Parish population 2011"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161123071417/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122627&c=Datchet&d=16&e=62&g=6398418&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1479841149542&enc=1). *Neighbourhood Statistics*. Office for National Statistics. Archived from [the original](http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122627&c=Datchet&d=16&e=62&g=6398418&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1479841149542&enc=1) on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Downstream Bridges of Windsor and Datchet. History by ThamesWeb, Windsor"](http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/windsorbridges/bridges2.html). *thamesweb.co.uk*. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-OD_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-OD_3-1) Powell-Smith, Anna. ["Datchet"](https://opendomesday.org/place/SU9877/datchet/). *Open Doomsday*. Anna Powell-Smith. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Coates, Richard; Breeze, Andrew (2000). *Celtic Voices, English Places: Studies of the Celtic Impact on Place-Names in Britain*. Stamford: Tyas. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1900289415](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1900289415)..

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Watts, Victor, ed. (2004). *The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780521168557](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521168557)., s.v. *Datchet*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Martin, Julia (5 June 2016). [*Evidence of Prehistoric Settlement at Southlea Farm, Datchet*](https://web.archive.org/web/20160605030103/http://datchethistory.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Southlea_Report_Vol1.pdf) (PDF). UK.: Datchet Village Society. Archived from [the original](http://datchethistory.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Southlea_Report_Vol1.pdf) (PDF) on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Krakowka, Kathryn (28 March 2018). ["Neolithic causewayed enclosure discovered in Berkshire"](https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/neolithic-causewayed-enclosure-discovered-in-berkshire.htm). *Current Archeology*. Current Publishing. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-page_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-page_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-page_8-2) ["Parishes: Datchet | British History Online"](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp249-255). *www.british-history.ac.uk*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HoD1896_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HoD1896_9-1) Osborn, S. (1896). *The History of Datchet* (2nd ed.). Windsor, UK: Oxley and Son.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Osborn, Samuel (1886). *The History of Datchet*. British Library.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Sweetman, John (2019). *Sydney Camm Hurricane and Harrier Designer, Saviour of Britain*. Newburyport: Pen & Sword Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781526756237](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781526756237).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Jerome, Jerome K (1889). *Three Men in a Boat* (1964 ed.). London: Folio Society. pp. 118–122.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["National Rail Enquiries"](http://www.nationalrail.co.uk). *nationalrail.co.uk*. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["About us"](https://datchet.play-cricket.com/Aboutus). *Datchet CC*. Retrieved 22 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** *The Golfing Annual – Volume 23*. UK: H. Cox. 1910. p. 262.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Datchet Water Sailing Club"](https://www.dwsc.co.uk). *Datchet Water Sailing Club*. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["About Page"](https://www.datchetplayers.co.uk/). *Datchet Players*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** HOLDEN, EDWARD S. (1881). ["Chapter 3"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sir_William_Herschel,_his_life_and_works/Life_at_Datchet,_Clay_Hall,_and_Slough;_1782-1822). *Sir William Herschel – His Life and Works*. Charles Scribner's Sons. Retrieved 26 September 2020. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |website= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Kennish, Janet. ["Evelyn Ellis and the First Motor Car in England"](http://datchethistory.org.uk/datchet-people/evelyn-ellis-and-the-first-motor-car-in-england/). *Datchet History*. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** 'Louis Levy Dies', The Stage, 22 August 1957, p. 11

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Sturges, Fiona (25 February 2004). ["Stephen Tompkinson: Made in Britain"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/stephen-tompkinson-made-in-britain-70816.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Datchet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Datchet).

- [Datchet Village Website](http://www.datchet.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060516142609/http://www.datchet.com/) 16 May 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Datchet Parish Council](http://www.datchetparishcouncil.gov.uk/)

Nearest places Slough Langley Langley Eton Datchet Colnbrook Windsor Old Windsor Sunnymeads, Wraysbury

v t e Settlements in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Towns Eton Maidenhead Windsor Civil parishes Bisham Bray Cookham Cox Green Datchet Horton Hurley Old Windsor Shottesbrooke Sunningdale Sunninghill and Ascot Waltham St Lawrence White Waltham Wraysbury Other villages and hamlets Ascot Braywick Burchetts Green Cheapside Clewer Cookham Dean Dedworth Eton Wick Fifield Holyport Knowl Hill Littlewick Green Paley Street Pinkneys Green Shurlock Row Sunninghill Touchen End Warren Row

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Datchet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datchet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datchet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.