Compton, Berkshire

Compton is a village and civil parish in the River Pang valley in the Berkshire Downs about 6.5 mi south of Didcot. It has a population of 1,521. The Pang flows through the village from NW to SE and is joined at the centre of the village by the Roden from the North, both as a winter bourne, a stream that only flows after periods of seasonal high rainfall.

Parish church
The bell tower of the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary and Saint Nicholas was built in the 13th century and has Perpendicular Gothic features that were added in the 15th century. In 1850 the nave and chancel were modernised or rebuilt and in 1905 the Gothic Revival architect John Oldrid Scott added the north aisle.

Former railway
In 1881 the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway was completed through the parish and Compton railway station was opened. British Railways withdrew passenger services from the line and closed Compton station in 1962. BR had closed Compton goods yard by 1966. Through freight traffic was withdrawn in 1967 and the line was closed and dismantled.

Bus service
From 18 February 2013, Compton is served by Newbury and District bus services 6 and 6A from Newbury.

Amenities and economy
The academically successful The Downs School local authority secondary school is in Compton. A new Maths and Science building is nearing completion.

The Institute for Animal Health is at Compton. Substantial portions of the BBC Television series Trainer were filmed in and around Compton and the neighbouring village of East Ilsley.