East Garston
# East Garston

East Garston is a village and civil parish on the River Lambourn, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north of Hungerford in West Berkshire. The river flows through the village, dividing many houses from the main road, so that each has a bridge over the river to the front door.

## Government

The civil parish of East Garston comprises the village of East Garston, together with a considerable area of rural downland to the north and south. The parish has approximately 226 dwellings. In 2011 the population was 449, in an area of 4,500 acres (18 $km^2).$ The parish has boundaries with the Berkshire parishes of Fawley, Great Shefford, Hungerford and Lambourn, and with the Oxfordshire parish of Letcombe Bassett.

## Notable people

* Charles Thomas Wooldridge, murderer and dedicatee of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde, was born in the village.

## Amenities

The Church of England parish church of All Saints is a flint built church dating back to the 12th century. Situated on the northwestern edge of the village, it is Grade II* listed. The East Garston Bellringers was re-formed in 1998.

The village has a village hall, social club and cricket club, and is the home of the Garston Gallopers, a mixed Morris dancing side. The Gallopers' colours are purple and green, the "village" colours from the school uniform and the racing colours of a prominent racehorse trainer from the village..

## Gallery of images

* Bridges over the River Lambourn
* River Lambourn
* East Garston Down
