A stone spire that stood higher than the church tower is part of the building history of Wickham House. Wickham’s history stretches from traces of Roman settlement to St Swithun’s Church on Wickham Hill. Visitors planning a stay with an interest in local history can trace several periods through these architectural and excavation details.

Wickham House: Alterations and Architecture

Wickham House is a former rectory dating from the early 19th century and has three storeys. Rev William Nicholson remodelled the building in the Gothic style. A conservatory and a stone spire that stood higher than the church tower were also added. The remodelling therefore involved both a change in style and additional architectural features. The building’s date of origin and its later alterations are both relevant to understanding the house.

Excavations on the Site

Excavations took place on the Wickham House site between April and June 2025. Trench 1 yielded Roman pottery, evidence of ironworking—including slag and hammer scale—and a spindle whorl. Alongside the traces of metalworking, the spindle whorl points to another activity. Trench 2 revealed a paved area made of large flints. It may have been the floor of a medieval building on the Roman road. Whether the area actually served this purpose remains uncertain.

Ermin Street and Roman Wickham

Part of the Roman road Ermin Street ran through the Wickham House site. Finds from the walled garden also support evidence for a possible Roman roadside settlement associated with Ermin Street. Coin finds suggest that the Roman settlement at Wickham was active from the early 1st century AD until the end of the Roman period; a clear peak apparently occurred in the late 4th century AD. This should be distinguished from the presumed crossing of the Roman road to Bath and Ermin Street near the centre of the present-day village. This possible crossing is based on a geophysical projection; its location remains conjectural.

St Swithun’s Church on Wickham Hill

St Swithun’s Church stands on the summit of Wickham Hill. It dates from the 12th century and was built over a much older Saxon watchtower. The church tower contains Roman ashlar stones, and there is a column on its north side. Another unusual detail can be found in the roof structure of the north aisle: papier-mâché elephants are located there. These architectural features bring together the older watchtower, the 12th-century church and reused Roman stones.

Visiting and Accommodation in Wickham

Visitors are welcome in the churches of the West Downland Benefice, including Welford with Wickham. As visiting arrangements may change, check the current arrangements before your visit. For choosing a destination, the cultural and historical focus is clear: house architecture, archaeological traces and church history.

Discover more destinations: Pangbourne, Frilsham, Wokingham, Easton, Wasing, Midgham, East Ilsley, Newbury

For the broader travel overview: Berkshire.