Shaw House, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Shaw House is an important example of an early symmetrical H-plan Elizabethan
mansion
, located at Shaw
, on the north-eastern outskirts of Newbury
in Berkshire
.
, Thomas Dolman, and completed in 1581. It is famous for its reputation as King Charles I
's headquarters during the Second Battle of Newbury
. However recent research has proved that, despite being at the centre of the fighting, the King never went to the house. Other Royals have visited, most notably Elizabeth I
. In the 1720s, it was acquired by the flamboyant James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
, although it was not his main home. After his death in 1744, his widow lived at Shaw House for a few years before her death. Her step-spn sold the property soon afterwards to the Andrews family. It was the childhood home of the historian, James Pettit Andrews
. For many years it was a school.
The house is currently owned and managed by West Berkshire
Council as a conference venue and public attraction.
. English Heritage
and Vodafone
, also contributed to the £6m project.
Visitors can now enjoy a programme of events and activities whilst wandering the house and spending time int the exhibitions and family corner. The House is open most weekends and some school holidays.
During the week the House is a meetings and conference venue open for hire complete with modern facilities.
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, located at Shaw
Shaw, Berkshire
Shaw is a village in Berkshire, England.It is located to the north of Newbury, near the village of Donnington. It is in the parish of Shaw-cum-Donnington....
, on the north-eastern outskirts 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...
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...
.
History
The manor house of Shaw, Shaw House was built by the wealthy cloth merchantCloth merchant
Cloth merchant is, strictly speaking, like a draper, the term for any vendor of cloth. However, it is generally used for one who owned and/or ran a cloth manufacturing and/or wholesale import and/or export business in the Middle Ages or 16th and 17th centuries...
, Thomas Dolman, and completed in 1581. It is famous for its reputation as 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...
's headquarters during the Second Battle of Newbury
Second Battle of Newbury
The Second Battle of Newbury was a battle of the English Civil War fought on 27 October, 1644, in Speen, adjoining Newbury in Berkshire. The battle was fought close to the site of the First Battle of Newbury, which took place in late September the previous year.The combined armies of Parliament...
. However recent research has proved that, despite being at the centre of the fighting, the King never went to the house. Other Royals have visited, most notably Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. In the 1720s, it was acquired by the flamboyant James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
, although it was not his main home. After his death in 1744, his widow lived at Shaw House for a few years before her death. Her step-spn sold the property soon afterwards to the Andrews family. It was the childhood home of the historian, James Pettit Andrews
James Pettit Andrews
James Pettit Andrews was an English historian and antiquary.He was the younger son of Joseph Andrews of Shaw House, near Newbury in Berkshire...
. For many years it was a school.
The house is currently owned and managed by West Berkshire
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:...
Council as a conference venue and public attraction.
Restoration
Following a major restoration Shaw House opened to the public in 2008. It is also a conference venue and home to West Berkshire's Registration Service for Births, Deaths and Ceremonies. Work began in 2005 after the mansion was awarded more than £4m from the Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
. English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, also contributed to the £6m project.
Visitors can now enjoy a programme of events and activities whilst wandering the house and spending time int the exhibitions and family corner. The House is open most weekends and some school holidays.
During the week the House is a meetings and conference venue open for hire complete with modern facilities.