TOUCHEN END

'Touchen End' is a small village in the civil parish of Bray in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated at about 3 miles south of Maidenhead and 5 miles west of Windsor.

Contents

Toponomy

Holy Trinity Church

External Links

Toponomy

There are many theories as to the derivation of the name Touchen End and, up until the early 20th century, it was still annotated on maps as Tatchen End. The earliest record of a settlement is from 1274 when it was called Twychene which is possibly a corruption of 'two chain' where chains were stretched across road junctions to enable a toll to be levied. The village lies on the junction of the A330 and the B3024 so this is a plausible explanation.

Holy Trinity Church

The village expanded in the mid-19th century with the building of an Anglican church - Holy Trinity - which is mentioned in Pevsner, and an adjoining National School. The church was built in 1862 in the 14th century style and is constructed of red brick with stone dressings and a tiled roof, the architect was John Turner. Within five years the church was so overcrowded that a south aisle was built. In later years, it served as a chapel of ease to St Michael's, Bray until it was deconsecrated in the early 1970s. It is now, along with the school buildings, a private residence. The south aisle was demolished at the time of conversion and the east window, given by David Blackmore, is now in a prison chapel at Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire
The graveyard attached to Holy Trinity remains in use under the parish of Bray and is notable for the grave of William Thomas Forshaw VC.

External Links

★ David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History

★ William Thomas Forshaw VC

★ Church Plans Online