Bucklebury
Encyclopedia
Bucklebury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire
. The village is about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Newbury
and about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066.
. Directly south of Bucklebury village, and on higher ground, is Bucklebury Common
, which is 826 acres (334.3 ha) of open grazing on managed heather and woodland. The common is open to all commoners but is privately owned. At the eastern boundary of the common is Chapel Row
, incorporating local landmarks such as the Blade Bone public house
, a butcher's shop with the same name, a General Practitioner
's practice and a tea shop.
In recent years the village of Upper Bucklebury has become the parish's larger residential area. This is on a hill about a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west of Bucklebury village at the western tip of the common. Upper Bucklebury has a general store, a public house, the new Church of England parish church of All Saints
, and a Church of England
primary school.
The hamlet of Marlston
is also part of the parish.
owned by Edward the Confessor
(reigned 1042–1066). The village and parish church are recorded in the Domesday Book
of 1086. Henry I
(reigned 1100–35) granted Bucklebury to the Cluniac
Reading Abbey
, which retained it until it surrendered all its lands to the Crown
in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
in 1540.
The place-name 'Bucklebury' is first attested in the Domesday Book, as 'Borgeldeberie', which means 'Burghild's fortified place or borough' ('Burghild' is a woman's name).
During the Second World War
much of Bucklebury Common was cleared for the stationing of troops. Some of the concrete paths laid down still remain and are now used as bridleways.
is thought to have been built in the second half of the 11th century. The ornate south doorway is late Norman
and was added in about 1170. A north transept
was added to the nave
at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. Late in the 13th century a second arch was added to turn the transept into a two-bay
north aisle. One of the windows in the south wall of the nave was added in the 14th century.
In the 15th century the nave and north aisle were lengthened westwards by the addition of a third bay, and new east and two new north windows were inserted in the north aisle. In the second half of the 15th century the Perpendicular Gothic bell tower
was added. The chancel
was rebuilt in 1591 and the porch was added in 1603. The chancel was partly rebuilt again in 1705 and the porch has also been rebuilt. A vestry
has also been added.
The Rectory has an early 18th-century facade. In 1966 the garden included two sculptures by Henry Moore
: Draped Reclining Woman (1957–58) and Reclining Figure (1961–62).
West Berkshire
West Berkshire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England, governed by a unitary authority . Its administrative capital is Newbury, located almost equidistantly between Bristol and London.-Geography:...
. The village is about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
and about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066.
Geography
The parish of Bucklebury has three main parts. The original village is on the banks of the River PangRiver Pang
The River Pang is a small chalk stream river in the west of the English county of Berkshire, and a tributary of the River Thames. It runs for approximately from its source near the village of Compton to its confluence with the Thames in the village of Pangbourne.The river, and its water voles, are...
. Directly south of Bucklebury village, and on higher ground, is Bucklebury Common
Bucklebury Common
Bucklebury Common is a common in the English county of Berkshire, within the civil parish of Bucklebury, located northeast of Thatcham and encircling the villages of Upper Bucklebury and Chapel Row. It is one of the largest largest Commons in Southern England covering 350 hectares...
, which is 826 acres (334.3 ha) of open grazing on managed heather and woodland. The common is open to all commoners but is privately owned. At the eastern boundary of the common is Chapel Row
Chapel Row
Chapel Row is a village in Berkshire, and part of the civil parish of Bucklebury, England. The settlement lies near to the A4 road, and is situated approximately north-east of Newbury.-Notable residents:...
, incorporating local landmarks such as the Blade Bone public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, a butcher's shop with the same name, a General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
's practice and a tea shop.
In recent years the village of Upper Bucklebury has become the parish's larger residential area. This is on a hill about a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west of Bucklebury village at the western tip of the common. Upper Bucklebury has a general store, a public house, the new Church of England parish church of All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, and a Church of England
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
primary school.
The hamlet of Marlston
Marlston
Marlston is a hamlet in the English county of Berkshire, within the civil parish of Bucklebury.The settlement lies south of the M4 motorway, and is located approximately north-east of Thatcham....
is also part of the parish.
History
Bucklebury was a royal manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
owned by Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
(reigned 1042–1066). The village and parish church are recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086. Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
(reigned 1100–35) granted Bucklebury to the Cluniac
Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
Reading Abbey
Reading Abbey
Reading Abbey is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It was founded by Henry I in 1121 "for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of King William, my father, and of King William, my brother, and Queen Maud, my wife, and all my ancestors...
, which retained it until it surrendered all its lands to the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1540.
The place-name 'Bucklebury' is first attested in the Domesday Book, as 'Borgeldeberie', which means 'Burghild's fortified place or borough' ('Burghild' is a woman's name).
During the Second World War
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...
much of Bucklebury Common was cleared for the stationing of troops. Some of the concrete paths laid down still remain and are now used as bridleways.
Parish church
The parish church (Anglican) of Saint Mary the VirginMary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
is thought to have been built in the second half of the 11th century. The ornate south doorway is late Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
and was added in about 1170. A north transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
was added to the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. Late in the 13th century a second arch was added to turn the transept into a two-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
north aisle. One of the windows in the south wall of the nave was added in the 14th century.
In the 15th century the nave and north aisle were lengthened westwards by the addition of a third bay, and new east and two new north windows were inserted in the north aisle. In the second half of the 15th century the Perpendicular Gothic bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
was added. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was rebuilt in 1591 and the porch was added in 1603. The chancel was partly rebuilt again in 1705 and the porch has also been rebuilt. A vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
has also been added.
The Rectory has an early 18th-century facade. In 1966 the garden included two sculptures by Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
: Draped Reclining Woman (1957–58) and Reclining Figure (1961–62).
Notable residents
- Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeHenry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeHenry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. He was a leader of the Tories, and supported the Church of England politically despite his atheism. In 1715 he supported the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 which sought to overthrow the...
, English politician and philosopher - Hutin BrittonHutin BrittonNelly Hutin Britton , usually credited as Hutin Britton was an English actress. She was best known for her performances in Shakespeare roles early in the 20th century. She also appeared in leading roles in two silent British films.-Biography:Nelly, the daughter of Thomas Britton, was born in...
, English actress - Henry Octavius CoxeHenry Octavius CoxeHenry Octavius Coxe was an English librarian and scholar.The eighth son of Rev. Richard Coxe & Susan Smith, he was educated at Westminster School and Worcester College, Oxford...
, English librarian and scholar - Carole Middleton Mother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton), wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
- James William Middleton Brother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Michael Middleton, businessman, father of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and his family.
- Pippa MiddletonPippa MiddletonPhilippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton is an English party planner, socialite and younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge...
, party organiser and sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge - George Palmer (businessman)George Palmer (businessman)George Palmer was a proprietor of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturers of Reading in England. He was born in Long Sutton in Somerset, the son of William Palmer and his wife, Mary, the daughter of William Isaac of Sturminster Newton in Dorset...
, proprietor of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturers - George William Palmer (England)George William Palmer (England)George William Palmer was a member of the Palmer family, proprietors of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturers of Reading in England....
, Liberal Member of Parliament, son of George Palmer (businessman)George Palmer (businessman)George Palmer was a proprietor of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturers of Reading in England. He was born in Long Sutton in Somerset, the son of William Palmer and his wife, Mary, the daughter of William Isaac of Sturminster Newton in Dorset... - Robert StillRobert StillRobert Still was an English composer, educator and amateur tennis player.Robert Still was born in London on 10 June 1910...
, English composer, educator and amateur tennis player