Winterbourne, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Winterbourne is a village and civil parish in the Berkshire Downs
about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Newbury
in West Berkshire
.
of Saint James was completely redeveloped in the 18th and 19th centuries. The north chapel was added in 1712 and the bell tower
in 1759. The architect J.W. Hugall
rebuilt the nave
in 1854 and a Mr. Hudson restored
the chancel
in 1895. Hudson retained the chancel's 14th century east window, and an earlier lancet window
in the south wall.
. Donnington Castle
was remodelled by cannon and two battles
were fought nearby. On 26 October 1644, Cromwell
stayed the night in the Blue Boar public house
in the north of the parish and his forces camped at North Heath. In July that year, his forces had taken on Prince Rupert
and company at Ripley
in Yorkshire
, during which successful (for the Parliamentarians
) skirmish, they liberated a statue of a wild boar that Lord Ingleby had brought back from Italy
as one of a pair. The other remains in Ripley Castle. In the 17th century's equivalent of the dash for the 7.48 from Newbury
, the blue boar was left behind at the pub. The pub has become a successful hotel and changed to 'The Crab'. The owners used to run the famous Crab and Lobster near Harrogate before moving south.
One history reports that in the Autumn of 1644 a maiden of Bussock House in the very east of the parish - the daughter of Philip Weston, a Royalist
- fell for a Parliamentarian
officer. Father and lover went into the Second Battle of Newbury
, agreeing before departure that news was to be returned of their fate through trumpet blasts. One was to signal that Philip had been killed; two that the lover was no more; three that both had died. The maid waited by her window. Upon hearing three blasts, she threw herself into a well in despair. Her ghost, apparently, haunts it still.
Berkshire Downs
The Berkshire Downs are a range of chalk downland hills in southern England, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
about 3 miles (4.8 km) north 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 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:...
.
Parish church
The Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint James was completely redeveloped in the 18th and 19th centuries. The north chapel was added in 1712 and the 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...
in 1759. The architect J.W. Hugall
John West Hugall
John West Hugall, FRIBA, was a British Gothic Revival architect. His dates of birth and death are unknown.-Career:Hugall's works span the period 1848-78. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1871....
rebuilt 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...
in 1854 and a Mr. Hudson restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
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...
in 1895. Hudson retained the chancel's 14th century east window, and an earlier lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
in the south wall.
Civil War
Winterbourne and the surrounding area had an eventful Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle, situated in the small village of Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire.- History :...
was remodelled by cannon and two battles
Battle of Newbury
Battle of Newbury may refer to:*First Battle of Newbury, 20 September 1643*Second Battle of Newbury, 27 October 1644*Third Battle of Newbury...
were fought nearby. On 26 October 1644, Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
stayed the night in the Blue Boar 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...
in the north of the parish and his forces camped at North Heath. In July that year, his forces had taken on Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
and company at Ripley
Ripley, North Yorkshire
Ripley is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire in England, a few miles north of Harrogate on the A61 road towards Ripon.A castle dating from the 15th century, Ripley Castle, has been the home of the Ingilby family for 700 years. The present owner is Sir Thomas Ingilby, 6th Baronet , the...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, during which successful (for the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
) skirmish, they liberated a statue of a wild boar that Lord Ingleby had brought back from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
as one of a pair. The other remains in Ripley Castle. In the 17th century's equivalent of the dash for the 7.48 from 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...
, the blue boar was left behind at the pub. The pub has become a successful hotel and changed to 'The Crab'. The owners used to run the famous Crab and Lobster near Harrogate before moving south.
One history reports that in the Autumn of 1644 a maiden of Bussock House in the very east of the parish - the daughter of Philip Weston, a Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
- fell for a Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
officer. Father and lover went into 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...
, agreeing before departure that news was to be returned of their fate through trumpet blasts. One was to signal that Philip had been killed; two that the lover was no more; three that both had died. The maid waited by her window. Upon hearing three blasts, she threw herself into a well in despair. Her ghost, apparently, haunts it still.
External links
- Much of the text for this page was originally taken, with permission, from MyChieveley.co.uk.