# Watchfield

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Village in Oxfordshire, England

Human settlement in England

Watchfield Oxford Square, Watchfield Watchfield Location within Oxfordshire Population 2,290 (2021)[1] OS grid reference SU248904 Civil parish Watchfield District Vale of White Horse Shire county Oxfordshire Region South East Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town Swindon Postcode district SN6 Dialling code 01793 Police Thames Valley Fire Oxfordshire Ambulance South Central UK Parliament Witney Website Watchfield Parish Council List of places UK England Oxfordshire 51°36′43″N 1°38′28″W / 51.612°N 1.641°W / 51.612; -1.641

**Watchfield** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) in the [Vale of White Horse](/source/Vale_of_White_Horse) in on the edge of southwest [Oxfordshire](/source/Oxfordshire), southern [England](/source/England), about 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of [Highworth](/source/Highworth) in neighbouring [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire). Watchfield is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the village of [Shrivenham](/source/Shrivenham). Both villages used to be on the main road between [Oxford](/source/Oxford) and [Swindon](/source/Swindon), which is now the [A420 road](/source/A420_road). The Vale of White Horse was part of [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire) until the [1974 boundary changes](/source/Local_Government_Act_1972) administratively transferred it to Oxfordshire.

## Toponym

Watchfield's [toponym](/source/Toponymy) evolved from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) *Wacenesfield* in the 8th century *via* *Wachenesfield* in the 11th century, *Wachenfeud* in the 13th century, and *Wachfeld*, *Wasshyngfeld* and *Watchyingfeld* in the 16th century before reaching its present form.[2]

## Churches

Watchfield was originally part of the Church of England parish of Shrivenham and therefore villagers were required to worship there at St. Andrew's parish church.[2] The [Church of England parish church](/source/Church_of_England_parish_church) of [Saint Thomas](/source/Thomas_the_Apostle) was designed by the [Gothic Revival architect](/source/Gothic_Revival_architecture) [G.E. Street](/source/George_Edmund_Street) in a late 13th-century style.[3] The building, which was completed in 1858, includes a [bellcote](/source/Bellcote) and a north [aisle](/source/Aisle#Architecture).[3] St. Thomas's is now part of the Shrivenham and [Ashbury](/source/Ashbury%2C_Oxfordshire) [Benefice](/source/Benefice#Church_of_England).[4] The [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) of [Saint Alban](/source/Saint_Alban) was built in the 20th century.[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*]

## Economy and amenities

Watchfield consists partly of military accommodation for the [Joint Services Command and Staff College](/source/Joint_Services_Command_and_Staff_College) (JSCSC) and the [Conflict Studies Research Centre](/source/Conflict_Studies_Research_Centre) (CSRC) in the parish, as well as for the [Defence Academy of the United Kingdom](/source/Defence_Academy_of_the_United_Kingdom) and [Cranfield University](/source/Cranfield_University) across the boundary in Shrivenham. Local amenities include the Eagle and College Farm [public houses](/source/Public_house), a [Midcounties Co-operative](/source/Midcounties_Co-operative) convenience store, a unisex hairdresser, optician, a [McDonald's](/source/McDonald's), a [Subway](/source/Subway_(restaurant)), and [Shrivenham Hundred](/source/Business_park) Business Park which is host to a large number of businesses from small manufacturers to high end technology companies. The village Post Office closed in 2013.

A [wind farm](/source/Wind_farm), owned by the community-owned [Westmill Wind Farm Cooperative](/source/Westmill_Wind_Farm_Cooperative), came online in March 2008 and was formally opened in May 2008 on the site of the former [RAF Watchfield](/source/RAF_Watchfield) near the village.[5][6] It consists of five 1.3 MW turbines, and is described by its promoters as the UK's largest community-owned wind farm. Nearby is [Westmill Woodland Burial Ground](/source/Westmill_Woodland_Burial_Ground), a [natural burial](/source/Natural_burial) ground. Adjacent to the wind farm, a solar farm, Westmill Solar Park has also been developed, and this was sold in 2012 to [Westmill Solar Co-operative](/source/Westmill_Solar_Co-operative) with local investment, to become the UK's first and world's largest community-owned solar farm.[7]

## Watchfield Festival 1975

Strattenborough Castle

On 23–31 August 1975, a former military site at Watchfield became the location of the [People's Free Festival](/source/People's_Free_Festival) which had been held during the previous three years, despite opposition, in Windsor Great Park. The [Windsor Free Festivals](/source/Windsor_Free_Festival) had been violently terminated by the [police](/source/Thames_Valley_Police) in 1974. This new site was offered as an alternative venue due to government embarrassment at previous police actions and was attended by several thousand people. Musicians who performed there included [Hawkwind](/source/Hawkwind) and [Vivian Stanshall](/source/Vivian_Stanshall). Watchfield Free Festival was the only free festival to be government sponsored (with assistance by then-Home Secretary [Roy Jenkins](/source/Roy_Jenkins)), or be given official recognition. Later the People's Free Festival at Stonehenge was forcibly terminated at the [Battle of the Beanfield](/source/Battle_of_the_Beanfield). The first [Big Green Gathering](/source/Big_Green_Gathering) festival was held at Watchfield in 1994.

## Landmarks

A little over a mile to the northwest of the village is Strattenborough Castle, built in 1792 as both a working farm and for the view from [Coleshill House](/source/Coleshill_House).[8]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Parish population 2021"](https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/admin/vale_of_white_horse/E04012515__watchfield/). City Population. Retrieved 17 December 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Page_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Page_2-1) Page & Ditchfield, 1921, pages 531-543

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Pevsner_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Pevsner_3-1) Pevsner, 1966, page 259

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Shrivenham & Ashbury Benefice"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110205211348/http://www.standrews-shrivenham.fsnet.co.uk/Churches.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.standrews-shrivenham.fsnet.co.uk/Churches.htm) on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Westmill Wind Farm Celebrates Success of Public Share Launch"](http://www.energy4all.co.uk/energy_newsdetails.asp?newsID=31). [Energy4All](/source/Energy4All). 5 December 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2006.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Westmill Wind Farm Celebrates Success of Public Share Launch"](http://www.energy4all.co.uk/energy_newsdetails.asp?newsID=60). [Energy4All](/source/Energy4All). 2 June 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Chan, Julia (1 November 2012). ["Westmill Solar Park becomes world's largest co-operatively owned solar farm"](http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/westmill_solar_park_becomes_worlds_largest_co_operatively_owned_solar_farm). *Solar Power Portal*. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Strattenborough Castle (1072498)"](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1072498&resourceID=19191). *Research records (formerly PastScape)*. Retrieved 26 May 2011.

## Sources

- [Page, W.H.](/source/William_Henry_Page); [Ditchfield, P.H.](/source/Peter_Ditchfield), eds. (1924). *A History of the County of Berkshire, Volume 4*. [Victoria County History](/source/Victoria_County_History). pp. 531–543.

- [Pevsner, Nikolaus](/source/Nikolaus_Pevsner) (1966). *Berkshire*. [The Buildings of England](/source/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides#Buildings_of_England). Harmondsworth: [Penguin Books](/source/Penguin_Books). p. 259.

## External links

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

- [Westmill Wind Farm](http://www.westmill.coop/)

- [Watchfield Free Festival](http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/watchfieldfestival-menu.html)

v t e Historic rock and pop festivals italics = festival ongoing List of festivals 1950s– 1960s 1950–1966 Big Sur Folk Festival Sanremo Music Festival Festival di Napoli Newport Jazz Festival Beaulieu Jazz Festival Nationaal Songfestival Eurovision Song Contest Melodifestivalen Benidorm International Song Festival Thessaloniki Song Festival Viña del Mar International Song Festival Melodi Grand Prix Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Sopot International Song Festival Reading and Leeds Festivals National Jazz and Blues Festival Festival Omladina National Festival of Polish Song in Opole Festivali i Këngës Festival da Canção Un disco per l'estate Parada ritma / Vatromet ritma Jazz Bilzen Gitarijada (Belgrade) Golden Orpheus Gitarijada (Zaječar) 1967–1968 Mantra-Rock Dance Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival Barbeque 67 Monterey Pop Festival Schaefer Music Festival Miami Pop Festival I Northern California Folk Rock Festival I Summerfest Quebec City Summer Festival Newport Pop Festival Festival de Ancón (Perú) Isle of Wight Festival Sky River Rock Festival Internationale Essener Songtage San Francisco Pop Festival Los Angeles Pop Festival Miami Pop Festival II 1969 Big Rock Pow-Wow Northern California Folk-Rock Festival II Newport 69 Pop Festival Denver Pop Festival Bath Festival of Blues Mississippi River Festival Atlanta International Pop Festival I The Stones in the Park Harlem Cultural Festival Laurel Pop Festival Midwest Rock Festival Seattle Pop Festival Atlantic City Pop Festival Woodstock Gold Rush Vancouver Pop Festival Texas International Pop Festival New Orleans Pop Festival Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Altamont Free Concert 1970s 1970 Redwood 70 Festival of Political Songs Hollywood Music Festival The Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival World Popular Song Festival Atlanta International Pop Festival II Super Concert '70 Aachen Open Air Pop Festival Piedra Roja Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music Phun City Kralingen Music Festival Strawberry Fields Ruisrock Pinkpop Festival Powder Ridge Rock Festival Goose Lake International Music Festival Man-Pop Festival Glastonbury Festival Vortex I 1971–1973 Festival de Ancon Roskilde Festival Pesnya goda Vilar de Mouros Festival Myponga Pop Festival Bumbershoot Ilosaarirock Tokyo Music Festival Weeley Festival Northern Lights Festival Boréal Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro Sunbury Pop Festival Erie Canal Soda Pop Festival Bickershaw Festival Concert 10 Mar y Sol Pop Festival Windsor Free Festival BOOM Festival Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival Aquarius Festival Day on the Green Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Hurricane Festival 1974–1979 Stonehenge Free Festival Volunteer Jam Ashton Court Festival Knebworth Festival Village Fair Zaire 74 August Jam Ozark Music Festival Rock Werchter California Jam Hollywood Rock Watchfield Free Festival Michigan Womyn's Music Festival Midtfyns Festival Stemweder Open Air Cropredy Convention 100 Club Punk Special Paléo Festival Nambassa Deeply Vale Festivals Texxas Jam Havana Jam Gurtenfestival Waikino Music Festival California Jam II Canada Jam Bele Chere Key people Chet Helms Tom Rounds Mel Lawrence Lou Adler John Phillips Hilly Kristal Michael Lang Bill Graham Wally Hope Ubi Dwyer Sid Rawle Bill Hanley Wavy Gravy Freddy Bannister Barry Fey Merry Pranksters Alex Cooley Graeme Dunstan Mick Farren Russ Gibb Shelly Finkel Jim Koplik Stewart Levine Hugh Masekela Leonard Stogel Robert Raymond Bruce Lundvall Jerry Masucci Michael Eavis Emily Eavis Related Counterculture of the 1960s Summer of Love UK underground hippies la Onda deadheads rock concert crowd surfing audience wave music festival folk festival pop festival rock festival free festival

v t e The District of the Vale of White Horse Oxfordshire County Council elections District Council elections Didcot and Wantage County Constituency Oxford West and Abingdon County Constituency Witney County Constituency Towns Abingdon-on-Thames Caldecott Faringdon Wantage Belmont Large villages Blewbury Cumnor Chilswell Cumnor Hill Dean Court Farmoor Swinford Drayton East Challow East Hendred Great Western Park Grove Harwell Kennington Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Kingston Bagpuize Southmoor Marcham Cothill Milton North Hinksey Botley Harcourt Hill Radley St. Helen Without Dry Sandford Shippon Shrivenham Stanford in the Vale Bow Steventon Sunningwell Bayworth Boars Hill Sutton Courtenay Watchfield Wootton Boars Hill Henwood Other civil parishes (component villages and hamlets) Appleford-on-Thames Appleton-with-Eaton Appleton Eaton Ardington West Ginge Ashbury Idstone Baulking Besselsleigh Bourton Buckland Gainfield Buscot Charney Bassett Childrey Chilton Coleshill Compton Beauchamp Knighton Denchworth East Hanney Eaton Hastings Fernham Frilford Fyfield and Tubney Fyfield Tubney Netherton Garford Goosey Great Coxwell Hatford Hinton Waldrist Duxford Kingston Lisle Letcombe Bassett Letcombe Regis Little Coxwell Littleworth Lockinge East Lockinge West Lockinge Longcot Longworth Lyford Pusey Shellingford South Hinksey Hinksey Hill Sparsholt Uffington Upton West Challow West Hanney West Hendred East Ginge Western Valley Woolstone Wytham Seacourt Former districts and boroughs Municipal Borough of Abingdon Abingdon Rural District Faringdon Rural District Wantage Urban District Wantage Rural District Former constituencies Oxfordshire County Constituency Abingdon Borough Constituency Berkshire North or Abingdon County Constituency Abingdon County Constituency Wantage County Constituency List of parliamentary constituencies in Oxfordshire List of places in Oxfordshire List of civil parishes in Oxfordshire

Authority control databases: Geographic MusicBrainz area MusicBrainz place

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