Kingsclere is a large village and
civil parish in Hampshire, England.
Geography
Kingsclere is approximately equidistant 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the towns of
Basingstoke and
Newbury on the
A339 road.
History
Portraits of Sir Henry Kingsmill (1587-1625), of
Sydmonton, and his wife Bridget (died 1670) by
William Larkin. (Oil on panel, 23 x 17 inches). A massive tomb in their honour is in the church.[3]
Kingsclere can trace back its history to a place identified as belonging to King Alfred in his will between 872 and 888, the 'clere' possibly meaning 'bright' or 'clearing'.[4]
Kingsclere formed part of the ancient
demesne of the Crown.
In his will
King Alfred left Kingsclere for life to his second daughter,
Ethelgiva,
Abbess of Shaftesbury,[5]
and there are other mentions of it in Saxon charters. In 931
King Athelstan at a
Witenagemot at Colchester granted 10 hides of land at Clere to
Abbot Aelfric,[6] and in 943
King Edmund bestowed 15 hides of land at Clere on the 'religious woman Aelfswith'.[7]
While sixteen years later
King Edgar gave his thegn Aelfwine 10 hides of land at West Clere.[8]
Local legend asserts that
King John was troubled by a bedbug during a night in a Kingsclere inn, when prevented by fog from reaching his lodge at Freemantle Park on Cottington's hill. He ordained that the church should erect and evermore maintain upon its tower a representation of the creature that had disturbed his sleep.[4] It is recorded that King John stayed at Freemantle Park on 8 and 9 September 1204[9]
The 'Kingsclere Massacre'
On 5 October 1944, 10 black American soldiers belonging to a US Army engineering support group based at
Sydmonton Court nearby, broke bounds to visit The Swan public house, but were ordered back by two
MPs. On their return to base, the soldiers broke into the armoury, then returned to the village and laid siege to The Crown public house, where the two MPs were drinking. Both MPs were killed, as was the pub landlady.[10]
Fairs
In 1218, the king ordered that the market which had been held in Kingsclere on Sundays should in the future be held on Saturdays.[11]Warner, writing in the 18th century, mentions a well-frequented market on Tuesdays, and fairs the first Tuesday in April and the first Tuesday after 10 October.[12] In 1848 the market was still held on Tuesdays, but had fallen very much into disuse, only a few farmers meeting at the Swan Inn with samples,[13] and it probably ceased altogether about 1850. The fairs continued (
c. 1911) to be held—on Whit Tuesday for pleasure on Ashford Hill and the Tuesday after Old Michaelmas Day for hiring servants and pleasure in the market place.[14]
Inns
The former Falcon Inn, in Swan street, one of the oldest in Hampshire, is especially interesting as being at one time in the possession of
William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1510 gave it to
Winchester College upon trust for the maintenance and support of the scholars upon its foundation.
The original 'Crowne' Inn is mentioned in the parish register in 1611 and the 'Golden Faucon' in 1628. The modern Crown Inn was built in 1853 and the Swan Inn dates back to well before 1848. Its sign proclaims it a 15th C. Rooming Inn.[15]
Watership Down was also the site of the 1982 World Field Archery Championship put on by the Overton Black Arrows archery club from the nearby village of
Overton.
Rosamund Clifford, the fair Rosamund, (before 1150 –
c. 1176), a royal mistress, stayed at the royal residence at
Tidgrove, on the southern side of the parish.[16]
John de Lancelevy, lord of the manor of Hannington.[17]
Peter Fitz Herbert, lord of the manors of North Oakley and Wolverton, held the church after
Hyde Abbey.[18]
Ranulf de Broc (sometimes Rannulf de Broc; died around 1179), and his son-in-law
Stephen of Thornham (died
c. 1214), possessors of the manor of Frobury (Frollebury).[19]
Richard of Cornwall, encaustic tiles bearing his symbols used to be in the chancel aisle.[20]
William Melton (died 1340), 43rd Archbishop of York (1317–1340), held the manor of Kingsclere. Sir William Melton (died 1362), the nephew, obtained a grant of
free warren in his
demesne lands of Kingsclere in 1346,[22] and was succeeded by his son, Sir William de Melton (MP for Yorkshire) who died in 1399.[23][24]
Pope Clement VI (1291–1352), (Pope 1342–1352), previously Peter, archbishop of Rouen 1331–1338, a.k.a. Peter III Roger de Beaufort.[citation needed]
William of Wykeham, (died 1404), bishop and local magnate (Burghclere, Highclere and Earlstone).[21]
William Fauconer (died 1412), JP (Hants, 1407–1412), MP for
Hampshire, 1407 and 1411, buried in St. Mary's.[27][28]
Anne of Cleves, rectory and the
advowson of the vicarage of Kingsclere fell again into the hands of the king, who in 1541 granted them to Anne of Cleves.[29] On her death in 1557 they reverted to
William, Marquess of Winchester.
William Mount (1753–1815) of
Wasing Place and others conveyed
North Oakley manor to Oliver Cromwell of
Cheshunt Park, Hertfordshire, the last direct male descendant of Henry Cromwell, the Protector's fourth son, in 1787.[citation needed]
Kit Malthouse, sitting MP for North-West Hampshire, which includes Kingsclere.[37]
Stained glass in the Sanctuary, South Chapel, Chancel Aisle, Kingsmill Room by
William Wailes (Transfiguration for Dr Thompson of Swan Street), and by
Ward and Hughes (Marriage at Cana of Galilee).[20]
Alexander de Bykenore (1260s? – 14 July 1349), sometime rector of Kingsclere, and then Archbishop of Dublin (1317–1349), Lord Treasurer of Ireland (1307–1309) and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Six
Dukes of Bolton and their heirs, sometime patrons and owners of large parts of Kingsclere.
The Reverend
Charles Powlett, (1728–1809),[48] Vicar of Kingsclere, 19 July 1769 – 15 February 1773. Chaplain to his nephew dukes of Bolton. Cricket pioneer.[49]
William Orde-Powlett, 2nd Lord Bolton (1782–1850) married (1810) Hon Maria Carleton (1777-1863), daughter of
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB (1724–1808). In 1848 Bolton gave £500 for the church's remodeling and £700 in particular for the chancel's restoration.
Lady Algitha Orde-Powlett (1847–1919) (from 1895 Lady Bolton) daughter of
Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough, who married (1868) Hon. William Orde-Powlett (1845–1922), FSA, from 1895 the 4th Lord Bolton.
Racing associations
Many of the
Dukes of Bolton were dedicated breeders and owners of race-horses. For most of the eighteenth century they had a race-course at nearby
Kempshott.
Sir
John Lade, 2nd Baronet (1759–1838), lived occasionally at Cannon Heath circa 1805.
Sir Joseph Henry Hawley, 3rd Baronet (1813–75), racehorse owner, (operated in converted farm buildings at Cannons Heath, with a young John Porter employed as his private trainer, and later built a new yard in 1867).
The manor of Frobury is the western part of the modern parish of Kingsclere. In addition to Frobury the manors of
North Oakley,
Hannington,
Sydmonton, Edmundsthorp Benham (
Headley, and Beenham Court or
Cheam School) and
Ecchinswell used to be a part of the parish of Kingsclere.
Highclere, Kingsclere and Basingstoke Light Railway
^A grant of money (muniments of St George's Chapel, Windsor: SGC XV.54.5), dated between 1217-1223, Frobury, Hampshire. Grant by Edelina de Broch, widow, to the Canons of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Sandleford of 40s. and 8d. from her inheritance in Frollebire [Frobury] for the maintenance of a Canon Chantry Priest, for the souls of herself, her father,
Randulf de Broch, and Dametta, her mother, and
Stephen de Turneham, her husband. Such money to be received from Henry de Wudecote, Walter de Clera, Hugh de Swantun, Joceus de Brikeull, William Furmentin of Spenes, Symon Cath, Wulfric de Marisco, Nicholas de Wullavintun, John Trull. Witnesses:
Peter [de Rupibus], Bishop of Winchester, William Prior of
Syreburn [Sherbourne], Dan Roger de Leburna, William de Stanes and William de Sorewull, Sheriff of the County of Southampton, Henry de Wudecott, Henry de Fernlehd, Thomas Croc, Roger Lanceleue, John de Hamtun, John de Wultun, Walter de Clera, William de Edmundesdrop, William Toli seneschel of the donor, Master Wlater de Syreburne, Robert Fitzbernard of Hamtun, Richard, Clerk of Clera, Henry Blakemy, Wlater Clerk of the donor, Hugh de Swantun, Master Walter, Joceus de Brikeull, Bartholomew Crok, Richard Fitzruald, John his brother, Thomas the clerk.
^
abcdThe Story of the Parish Church at Clere, by A.T. Finch, M.A. (Vicar), 1905.
^The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, edited by J. S. Roskell, L. Clark, and C. Rawcliffe, 1993
^Chart. R. 10 Edw. III, m. 3; Abbrev. Rot. Orig. (Rec. Com.), ii, 111 (via VCH, 1911).
^Close, 11 Edw. III, pt. ii, m. 13d.; Pat. 11 Edw. III, pt. i, m. 4. (via VCH, 1911).
^Bishop Wykeham's bailiff of Sutton, Alresford and Cheriton, Hants 18 April 1401-c.1405;
Bishop Beaufort's bailiff of Highclere, c. Michaelmas 1405–1412.
^L.S. Woodger in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386–1421, edited by J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe, 1993.
^L. and P. Hen. VIII, xvi, 717. She presented to the vicarage in 1543 (Egerton MS. 2034, fol. 166 d.).
^Burials at St. Mary's Parish Church, Kingsclere, Hants 1680 to 1880, Extracted by Barrie Brinkman 2010 - 11 (v2.0)
^Capt. A. S. Wills, Middleton House, Longparish, purchased 60 acres of land at Kingsclere belonging to the Duke of Wellington's Parliamentary estates, 1940–1946, (Museum of English Rural Life: Wellington/1298).
^Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS.
^
abThe story of the parish church at Clere, by Arthur Thomas Finch (died 1920), MA, Winchester & London, 1905.
^See monumental inscription on wood in the church of St Mary.
^'A History of the County of Hampshire', Volume four, edited by William Page, VCH, London, 1911.
^Constable of the Tower of London and lord-lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets. Seemingly from near today's Anchor road showing the duke in front of the pre-1848 church of St. Mary's, Kingsclere, and the back of Swan street. This picture is now in the
Government Art Collection on loan to the Royal Armories in Leeds. Possibly painted by
James Seymour, but probably not.
^One of the committee which revised the laws of cricket, at the Star and Garter in Pall Mall, February 25, 1774 and a renowned Hampshire hunting man. Author of many hunting songs. (
http://db.theclergydatabase.org.uk/)