Calcot Park
Encyclopedia
Calcot Park is a country house, estate
, and golf club
in the English
county
of Berkshire
. It is situated between Calcot and Tilehurst
, suburbs of the town of Reading
, and within the civil parish
of Tilehurst. It is north of the Bath Road (now part of the A4
).
of Tilehurst manor, and the estate was significantly larger than at present. A forerunner of the present house is thought to have been built by the merchant and moneylender, Sir Peter Vanlore
(1547–1627). Later, it was the home of the famous 'Berkshire Lady', Frances Kendrick, who married her husband, Benjamin Child, after challenging him to a duel
. It is said that when, as a widower, Benjamin sold up to John Blagrave (a descendant of the great mathematician
's brother), he changed his mind and the lead from the roof had to be removed to force him to leave. The resulting damage to the house forced Blagrave to build the present house in 1759.
In fact, Benjamin Child's did not sell the whole of the Calcot Park estate, but retained the easternmost section, where the duel was said to have been held. Here he built himself a new mansion, the centre-piece of what is now Prospect Park
.
The western part of the estate remained in the ownership of the Blagrave family for many years. The idea of a new golf course on this part of the estate was initially tested at a public meeting held in Reading on 24 April 1929. A favourable response resulted in a group of Reading businessmen meeting one week later to discuss the purchase of the estate and its conversion into a golf course. It was anticipated that a figure of £19,500 would be necessary to acquire the estate and another £5,000 to lay out the golf course to the design of the famous golf course architect Harry Colt. The main feature of this design is the picturesque lake spanned by the 7th hole.
Initially the house was used as the clubhouse for the new golf club
. However in 1960 it was sold and converted into apartments. The Golf Club had a new clubhouse built within the grounds with the proceeds of the sale.
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
, and golf club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
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
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of 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...
. It is situated between Calcot and Tilehurst
Tilehurst
Tilehurst is a suburb of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is also, with different boundaries as described below, a civil parish in West Berkshire district.-History:...
, suburbs of the town of Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, and within 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 Tilehurst. It is north of the Bath Road (now part of the A4
A4 road
The A4 is a major road in England, portions of which are known as the Great West Road and Bath Road. It runs from London to Avonmouth, near Bristol. Historically the road was the main route from London to the west of England, and has formed the second main western artery from London, after...
).
History
Calcot Park was originally the manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
of Tilehurst manor, and the estate was significantly larger than at present. A forerunner of the present house is thought to have been built by the merchant and moneylender, Sir Peter Vanlore
Peter Vanlore
Sir Peter Vanlore was a Dutch-born English merchant, jeweller and moneylender in Elizabethan and Stuart England....
(1547–1627). Later, it was the home of the famous 'Berkshire Lady', Frances Kendrick, who married her husband, Benjamin Child, after challenging him to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
. It is said that when, as a widower, Benjamin sold up to John Blagrave (a descendant of the great mathematician
John Blagrave
John Blagrave was an English mathematician.He was probably born in the vicinity of Reading in 1561, to John Blagrave of Bulmershe Court at Earley and his wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Down Ampney in Gloucestershire...
's brother), he changed his mind and the lead from the roof had to be removed to force him to leave. The resulting damage to the house forced Blagrave to build the present house in 1759.
In fact, Benjamin Child's did not sell the whole of the Calcot Park estate, but retained the easternmost section, where the duel was said to have been held. Here he built himself a new mansion, the centre-piece of what is now Prospect Park
Prospect Park, Reading
Prospect Park is both a public park and a historic house at Tilehurst in the western suburbs of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is at .Prospect Park was originally the site of Dirle's Farm and part of the estate of Calcot Park...
.
The western part of the estate remained in the ownership of the Blagrave family for many years. The idea of a new golf course on this part of the estate was initially tested at a public meeting held in Reading on 24 April 1929. A favourable response resulted in a group of Reading businessmen meeting one week later to discuss the purchase of the estate and its conversion into a golf course. It was anticipated that a figure of £19,500 would be necessary to acquire the estate and another £5,000 to lay out the golf course to the design of the famous golf course architect Harry Colt. The main feature of this design is the picturesque lake spanned by the 7th hole.
Initially the house was used as the clubhouse for the new golf club
Golf club
A golf club is used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a clubhead. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety of shots; Hybrids that combine design elements of woods and...
. However in 1960 it was sold and converted into apartments. The Golf Club had a new clubhouse built within the grounds with the proceeds of the sale.