Beckett Hall
Encyclopedia
Beckett Hall is a country house at Shrivenham
in the English
county of Oxfordshire
(formerly in Berkshire
). The present house dates from 1831.
in 1204.
The property was held by William, the Count of Evreux
, on behalf of King John who occasionally made residence there. In return for service, King John granted ownership of the estate to the de Becote family who held the manor until 1424.
In 1633, the Manor was bought by Sir Henry Marten, a judge, then inherited by his son Henry Marten
, a prominent Civil War politician and one of the regicide
s of King Charles I
. In 1648, the house was ransacked by royalists. On the son Henry Marten's death, the lands were sold to Sir George Pratt.
In 1666, John Wildman
bought the property. Wildman's son adopted John Shute
as his heir. In 1716, John Shute was bequeathed the Barrington name by Francis Barrington and inherited the Beckett Estates. He was also the recipient of a newly created Peerage of Ireland
, Viscount Barrington
of Ardglass. He changed his name to John Shute Barrington, and established Beckett as the family seat. The Barrington family held the estate for many years.
In 1938, Beckett Hall was acquired by the War Office for use as an Artillery School. During World War II
, it became an Officer Cadet Training Unit with up to 10,000 US troops based in the area, run and operated by United States Army Forces in the British Isles
or European Theater of Operations United States Army (ETOUSA). In 1946, Beckett Hall became home to the "Royal Military College of Science", now known as Defence College of Management and Technology
, and served as an officers mess, then as the college library. The library has since vacated the Hall, moving to a new building on the DCMT campus, and the Hall has become a management centre. A modern extension has been built providing accommodation.
The House is a Grade II listed building; The China House in the grounds, traditionally seen as the work of Inigo Jones
is a Grade I listed building.
and Great Barrington, Massachusetts
.
Shrivenham
Shrivenham is a large village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, close to the boundary with Wiltshire. It is in the Vale of White Horse, between Swindon and Faringdon. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Character:Shrivenham features many...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
). The present house dates from 1831.
History
This ancient historical manor is first mentioned in the Domesday survey, and acquired by King JohnJohn of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
in 1204.
The property was held by William, the Count of Evreux
Évreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
, on behalf of King John who occasionally made residence there. In return for service, King John granted ownership of the estate to the de Becote family who held the manor until 1424.
In 1633, the Manor was bought by Sir Henry Marten, a judge, then inherited by his son Henry Marten
Henry Marten (regicide)
Sir Henry Marten was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1640 and 1653...
, a prominent Civil War politician and one of the regicide
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
s of King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. In 1648, the house was ransacked by royalists. On the son Henry Marten's death, the lands were sold to Sir George Pratt.
In 1666, John Wildman
John Wildman
Sir John Wildman was an English soldier and politician.-Biography:Wildman was born in the Norfolk town of Wymondham, the son of Jeffrey and Dorothy Wildman. His father was a butcher. John was educated as a sizar at Corpus Christi College University of Cambridge taking an MA in 1644...
bought the property. Wildman's son adopted John Shute
John Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount Barrington
John Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount Barrington was an English lawyer and theologian-Background and education:Born at Theobalds House, near Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, he was the son of the merchant, Benjamin Shute...
as his heir. In 1716, John Shute was bequeathed the Barrington name by Francis Barrington and inherited the Beckett Estates. He was also the recipient of a newly created Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
, Viscount Barrington
Viscount Barrington
Viscount Barrington, of Ardglass in the County of Down, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1720 for the lawyer, theologian and politician John Barrington. He was made Baron Barrington, of Newcastle in the County of Limerick, also in the Peerage of Ireland, at the same time...
of Ardglass. He changed his name to John Shute Barrington, and established Beckett as the family seat. The Barrington family held the estate for many years.
In 1938, Beckett Hall was acquired by the War Office for use as an Artillery School. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it became an Officer Cadet Training Unit with up to 10,000 US troops based in the area, run and operated by United States Army Forces in the British Isles
United States Army Forces in the British Isles
United States Army Forces in the British Isles ' was a command responsible for all United States Army units stationed in the United Kingdom during World War II. The command developed from the Special Observers group sent to Britain before the USA entered the war to study British use of Lend Lease...
or European Theater of Operations United States Army (ETOUSA). In 1946, Beckett Hall became home to the "Royal Military College of Science", now known as Defence College of Management and Technology
Defence College of Management and Technology
The Defence Academy - College of Management and Technology is a British postgraduate school, research institution and training provider formed in 2009 from five departments of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and as such part of the British Armed Forces. Since 1984 Cranfield University...
, and served as an officers mess, then as the college library. The library has since vacated the Hall, moving to a new building on the DCMT campus, and the Hall has become a management centre. A modern extension has been built providing accommodation.
The House is a Grade II listed building; The China House in the grounds, traditionally seen as the work of Inigo Jones
Inigo Jones
Inigo Jones is the first significant British architect of the modern period, and the first to bring Italianate Renaissance architecture to England...
is a Grade I listed building.
Notable residents
Notable residents include:- Henry MartenHenry Marten (regicide)Sir Henry Marten was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1640 and 1653...
- English politician, regicideRegicideThe broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
and resident of Beckett Hall - John WildmanJohn WildmanSir John Wildman was an English soldier and politician.-Biography:Wildman was born in the Norfolk town of Wymondham, the son of Jeffrey and Dorothy Wildman. His father was a butcher. John was educated as a sizar at Corpus Christi College University of Cambridge taking an MA in 1644...
- English politician and republican agitator - John Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount BarringtonJohn Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount BarringtonJohn Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount Barrington was an English lawyer and theologian-Background and education:Born at Theobalds House, near Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, he was the son of the merchant, Benjamin Shute...
- English statesman and 1st Viscount Barrington, resident of Beckett, Shrivenham - William Barrington, 2nd Viscount BarringtonWilliam Barrington, 2nd Viscount BarringtonWilliam Wildman Shute Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington PC was a British politician best known for his two periods as Secretary at War during Britain's involvement in the Seven Years War and American War of Independence....
- British politician and eldest son of John Shute Barrington - Samuel BarringtonSamuel BarringtonRear Admiral Samuel Barrington RN was a British admiral.Samuel was the fourth son of John Shute Barrington, 1st Viscount Barrington of Beckett Hall at Shrivenham in Berkshire...
- British Admiral and fourth son of John Shute Barrington - Shute BarringtonShute BarringtonShute Barrington was an English churchman, Bishop of Llandaff in Wales, as well as Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of Durham in England.-Life:...
, Bishop of LlandaffBishop of LlandaffThe Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
, of SalisburyBishop of SalisburyThe Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
and of Durham
Legacy
The estate and the Barrington family who lived there were the inspirations for the naming of Becket, MassachusettsBecket, Massachusetts
Becket is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,779 at the 2010 census.- History :...
and Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
.