Speenhamland, Berkshire

Its name is probably derived from Old English Spen-haema-land, "land of the inhabitants of Speen", with "Speen" perhaps being formed on a Brittonic root deriving from Latin spinis, "thorns".

[1] Speenhamland was a tithing, or administrative subdivision, of the parish of Speen, though even in the early 19th century it was contiguous with the suburbs of Newbury.

[2] It lies to the north of the River Kennet, between the centre of Newbury and Speen village to the north-west.

[3] The Speenhamland system of poor relief was devised at a meeting in the area in 1795.

It set poor-relief rates by the bread price and the number of household members, in or out of work.