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The First Battle of Newbury took place within the parish (See Skinners Green & Wash Common). The Earl of Essex’ Parliamentary reserve, under Robartes, was stationed near the village, and many of the dead were buried in the local churchyard. Crockham Heath was crawling with parliamentary troops as the Earl of Essex stationed his artillery and the main body of his men here. Prince Rupert attacked them between here and Hill Farm. Some of the fiercest fighting took place just north of Enborne Row, on the edge of Wash Common. The parliamentary leader, the Earl of Essex spent the night before the battle at Biggs Cottage. It is still haunted by his ghost. His right wing of men were stationed, under Skippon, below Biggs Hill. There is an old story told that, during the battle, a group of the parliamentary infantry managed to get hold of a large pig which they roasted on a spit in Lusky Gully behind Enborne Lodge. Just as the animal was done, a Royalist cannon ball came hurtling their way, shot straight into the pig and flew off with it! There is a recorded string of people through whom this tale is known to have passed, so it could well be true.

There is a curious legal custom from Enborne parish (which also prevailed in Chaddleworth). If a copyholder’s widow remained, she forfeited her rights to her husband’s lands. However, if she rode into court backwards on the back of a large black ram, the manor steward would be obliged to return her lands when she repeated the following lines:

Here I am, riding upon a blck ram,
Like a whore as I am;
And, for my Crincum Crancum,
Have lost my Bincum Bancum;
And, for my tail’s game,
Have done this worldly shame.
Therefore, I pray you, Mr. Steward,
Let me have my land again.

See also Skinners Green & Wash Common.