Bensington in 1840

Bensington, in speaking usually shortened into Benson, is in the hundred of Ewelme, on the road from London, by Henley-on-Thames, to Oxford. It is on the left or east bank of the Thames, a little above Wallingford. Bensington was a place of importance in early times. It was taken from the Britons by the West Saxons under Cuthwin, brother of Cealwin, king of Wessex, A.D. 572. The West Saxons built a castle here for the defence of their frontier ; this castle was reduced by the Mercians under Offa, who defeated Cynewulf of Wessex here, A.D. 775. The village has some good houses : the church is ancient, it has an east window of decorated character : the tower is modern. The living is a perpetual curacy, of the clear yearly value of £180, with a glebe-house. There were in 1833, two day-schools, with 38 children ; two day and Sunday schools, with 108 children ; and one Sunday-school, with 20 children.

Old Towns is a resource of 19th century English historical data, extracted and digitized from articles written between 1833 and 1848 which were originally published in 'The Penny Magazine' by The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.