Chapel Row is a village 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...

, and part of the civil parish

Civil parish

In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...

 of Bucklebury

Bucklebury

Bucklebury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire. The village is about north-east of Newbury and about north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066.-Geography:...

, England. The settlement lies near to the A4 road, and is situated approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 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...

.

Notable residents

Chapel Row was the home of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge before her marriage in April 2011.

History

Since the mid 17th century, an inn has stood near to the village green. The site is now occupied by The Bladebone Inn

The Bladebone Inn

-History:Records show that there has been an inn on the site since the mid-17th century. The current red-brick building, however, is undated.The pub was the location for Courts leet and baron on behalf of Bucklebury manor, and was often part of the Chapel Row Fair...

.

In the 18th century, Chapel Row became known for its revels

Revels

Revels is a contemporary series of American seasonal stage performances, initially given at Christmas time as the Christmas Revels at Town Hall in New York City in 1957, which involve singing, dancing, recitals, theatrics , and usually some audience participation, all appropriate to the season...

, which were held on the Monday following the feast of Saint Anne

Saint Anne

Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...

. The revels featured events such as backsword

Backsword

A backsword is a sword with a blade on one edge, or an "edge-and-a-quarter." The back of the sword is often the thickest part of the blade and acts to support and strengthen it....

ing (described by Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was a man of letters, eldest son of Lancelot Addison...

 in The Spectator

The Spectator (1711)

The Spectator was a daily publication of 1711–12, founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England after they met at Charterhouse School. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, also contributed to the publication. Each 'paper', or 'number', was approximately 2,500 words long, and the...

as "a ring of cudgel players who broke one another's heads in order to make some impression on their mistresses' hearts"). The sport was not featured in a number of later fayres as at least one contender was reported to have been killed. An 1812 Reading Mercury article on the fayre focuses primarily on agriculture, stating that the event was an opportunity to trade cattle and employ farmhands.

Sources