Kingsclere is a large village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...

in Hampshire, England.

Geography

Kingsclere is approximately equidistant ) from the towns of

Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire. It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located north-east of Southa ...

and Newbury on the A339 road.

History

Kingsclere can trace back its history to a place identified as belonging to King Alfred in his will between 872 and 888, the 'clere' possibly meaning 'bright' or 'clearing'.
Kingsclere formed part of the ancient

demesne A demesne ( ) or domain was all the land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation, or support. This distinguished it from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. The concept or ...

of the Crown. In his will

King Alfred Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who ...

left Kingsclere for life to his second daughter, Ethelgiva, Abbess of Shaftesbury, and there are other mentions of it in Saxon charters. In 931

King Athelstan King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...

at a

Witenagemot The Witan () was the king's council in Anglo-Saxon England from before the seventh century until the 11th century. It was composed of the leading magnates, both ecclesiastic and secular, and meetings of the council were sometimes called the Wi ...

at Colchester granted 10 hides of land at Clere to Abbot Aelfric, and in 943 King Edmund bestowed 15 hides of land at Clere on the 'religious woman Aelfswith'. While sixteen years later King Edgar gave his thegn Aelfwine 10 hides of land at West Clere. Local legend asserts that King John was troubled by a bedbug during a night in a Kingsclere inn, when prevented by fog from reaching his lodge at Freemantle Park on Cottington's hill. He ordained that the church should erect and evermore maintain upon its tower a representation of the creature that had disturbed his sleep. It is recorded that King John stayed at Freemantle Park on 8 and 9 September 1204

The 'Kingsclere Massacre'

On 5 October 1944, 10 black American soldiers belonging to a US Army engineering support group based at

Sydmonton Court Sydmonton Court is an English country house in Hampshire. Built and developed over the centuries, it is surrounded by a 5,000 acre estate, in the parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green, near Watership Down. The house has been listed ...

nearby, broke bounds to visit The Swan public house, but were ordered back by two MPs. On their return to base, the soldiers broke into the armoury, then returned to the village and laid siege to The Crown public house, where the two MPs were drinking. Both MPs were killed, as was the pub landlady.Anon. (2011) The hidden tragedy of the Kingsclere pub massacre. ''The Reading Chronicle'' 11 November 2011

/ref>

Fairs

In 1218, the king ordered that the market which had been held in Kingsclere on Sundays should in the future be held on Saturdays. Richard Warner (antiquary), Warner, writing in the 18th century, mentions a well-frequented market on Tuesdays, and fairs the first Tuesday in April and the first Tuesday after 10 October. In 1848 the market was still held on Tuesdays, but had fallen very much into disuse, only a few farmers meeting at the Swan Inn with samples, and it probably ceased altogether about 1850. The fairs continued (c. 1911) to be held—on Whit Tuesday for pleasure on Ashford Hill and the Tuesday after Old Michaelmas Day for hiring servants and pleasure in the market place.

Inns

The former Falcon Inn, in Swan street, one of the oldest in Hampshire, is especially interesting as being at one time in the possession of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1510 gave it to

Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of ...

upon trust for the maintenance and support of the scholars upon its foundation. The original 'Crowne' Inn is mentioned in the parish register in 1611 and the 'Golden Faucon' in 1628. The modern Crown Inn was built in 1853 and the Swan Inn dates back to well before 1848. Its sign proclaims it a ''15th C. Rooming Inn''.

In popular culture

The nearby

Watership Down ''Watership Down'' is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in Berkshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natural ...

is the setting for the 1972 novel of the same name by

Richard Adams Richard George Adams (9 May 1920 – 24 December 2016) was an English novelist and writer of the books ''Watership Down'', '' Maia'', ''Shardik'' and '' The Plague Dogs''. He studied modern history at university before serving in the British Ar ...

. Watership Down was also the site of the 1982 World Field Archery Championship put on by the Overton Black Arrows archery club from the nearby village of Overton. The actress

Lavinia Fenton Lavinia Powlett, Duchess of Bolton (1708 – 24 January 1760), known by her stagename as Lavinia Fenton, was an English actress who was the mistress and later the wife of the 3rd Duke of Bolton. She was probably the daughter of a naval lieutenan ...

, most famous for her role as the first Polly Peachum in

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for '' The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly P ...

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satiri ...

, was lover and then wife of

Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton Charles Powlett (sometimes spelled Paulet), 3rd Duke of Bolton (3 September 168526 August 1754), styled Earl of Wiltshire from 1685 until 1699, and Marquess of Winchester from 1699 until 1722, was a British landowner and Whig politician who sat ...

of the parish. Their eldest son, Rev. Charles Powlett, was briefly vicar of Kingsclere.

People from and associated with Kingsclere

Edith of Wessex Edith of Wessex ( 1025 – 18 December 1075) was Queen of England from her marriage to Edward the Confessor in 1045 until Edward died in 1066. Unlike most English queens in the 10th and 11th centuries, she was crowned. The principal source on h ...

(c. 1025 – 18 December 1075) Queen Edith, widow of

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ; la, Eduardus Confessor , ; ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. Edward was the son of Æt ...

. *

Rosamund Clifford Rosamund Clifford (before 1150 – ), often called "The Fair Rosamund" or "Rose of the World" (Latin: ''rosa mundi''), was a medieval English noblewoman and mistress of Henry II, King of England, who became famous in English folklore. Life ...

, ''the fair Rosamund'', (before 1150 – ca. 1176), a royal mistress, stayed at the royal residence at Tidgrove, on the southern side of the parish. *John de Lancelevy, lord of the manor of Hannington. *Peter Fitz Herbert, lord of the manors of North Oakley and Wolverton, held the church after

Hyde Abbey Hyde Abbey was a medieval Benedictine monastery just outside the walls of Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was dissolved and demolished in 1538 following various acts passed under King Henry VIII to dissolve monasteries and abbeys (see Dis ...

. *

Ranulf de Broc Ranulf de Broc (sometimes Rannulf de Broc;Keats-Rohan ''Domesday Descendants'' p. 351 died around 1179) was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and royal official during the reign of King Henry II of England. He held two offices in the royal household as ...

(sometimes Rannulf de Broc; died around 1179), and his son-in-law

Stephen of Thornham Stephen Thurnham (died 6 March 1214) was a British justice and administrator. He was the son of Robert Thurnham, a Kentish landowner, and the older brother of Robert Thurnham, and first came to official attention in 1170 when, along with his fathe ...

(died c. 1214), possessors of the manor of Frobury (Frollebury). *

Walter de Coutances Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...

, Walter of Rouen (died 1207),

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 *Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature *Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 1066 ...

bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...

and

archbishop of Rouen The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rouen (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rothomagensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rouen'') is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the Arch ...

. * King John (died 1216).''The Story of the Parish Church at Clere'', by A.T. Finch, M.A. (Vicar), 1905.VCH, 1911 * Richard of Cornwall, encaustic tiles bearing his symbols used to be in the chancel aisle. *

William Melton William Melton (died 5 April 1340) was the 43rd Archbishop of York (1317–1340). Life Melton was the son of Nicholas of Melton, and the brother of Henry de Melton, and John Melton. He was born in Melton in the parish of Welton, about ...

(died 1340), 43rd Archbishop of York (1317–1340), held the manor of Kingsclere. Sir William Melton (died 1362), the nephew, obtained a grant of

free warren A free warren—often simply warren—is a type of franchise or privilege conveyed by a sovereign in medieval England to an English subject, promising to hold them harmless for killing game of certain species within a stipulated area, u ...

in his

lands of Kingsclere in 1346, and was succeeded by his son, Sir William de Melton (MP for Yorkshire) who died in 1399. *

William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury William Montagu, alias de Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 3rd Baron Montagu, King of Man (1301 – 30 January 1344) was an English nobleman and loyal servant of King Edward III. The son of William Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu, he entered the r ...

, to whom the

advowson Advowson () or patronage is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present to the diocesan bishop (or in some cases the ordinary if not the same person) a nominee for appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a ...

was sold for 500 marks by Edward III in 1336. He then passed it onto the monastery of Bisham. *

Pope Clement VI Pope Clement VI ( la, Clemens VI; 1291 – 6 December 1352), born Pierre Roger, was head of the Catholic Church from 7 May 1342 to his death in December 1352. He was the fourth Avignon pope. Clement reigned during the first visitation of the Bl ...

(1291-1352), (Pope 1342–1352), previously Peter, archbishop of Rouen 1331–1338, a.k.a. Peter III Roger de Beaufort. *

William of Wykeham William of Wykeham (; 1320 or 1324 – 27 September 1404) was Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College, Oxford, and New College School in 1379, and founded Winchester College in 1382. He was also the clerk of wor ...

, (died 1404), bishop and local magnate (Burghclere, Highclere and Earlstone). *William Fauconer (died 1412), JP (Hants, 1407–1412), MP for

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English cities on its south coast, Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire ...

, 1407 and 1411, buried in St. Mary's. *

Anne of Cleves Anne of Cleves (german: Anna von Kleve; 1515 – 16 July 1557) was Queen of England from 6 January to 12 July 1540 as the fourth wife of King Henry VIII. Not much is known about Anne before 1527, when she became betrothed to Francis, Duke of ...

, rectory and the

of the vicarage of Kingsclere fell again into the hands of the king, who in 1541 granted them to Anne of Cleves. On her death in 1557 they reverted to William, Marquess of Winchester. *Sir George Darcy, 1544 sold the manor to Sir William Paulet, Lord St. John. *

Ingram Frizer Ingram Frizer ( ; died August 1627) was an English gentleman and businessman of the late 16th and early 17th centuries who is notable for his reported killing "According to the official story – the story told by Skeres and Poley – it was Marlo ...

, murderer of Christopher Marlowe. Born in Kingsclere 1561, died 1627. *Mary Johnson, ''a Negro'', buried Kingsclere, 18 May 1713. *Various Dukes of Wellington owned some of Kingsclere and

Wolverton Wolverton is a constituent town of Milton Keynes, England. It is located at the northern edge of Milton Keynes, beside the West Coast Main Line, the Grand Union Canal and the river Great Ouse. It is the administrative seat of Wolverton and ...

. The great

Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister ...

,(1769-1852), gave £300 towards the 1848 remodeling of the church.''The story of the parish church at Clere'', by Arthur Thomas Finch (died 1920), MA, Winchester & London, 1905. *Sir

James Lancaster Sir James Lancaster (c. 1554 – 6 June 1618) was an English privateer and trader of the Elizabethan era. Life and work Lancaster came from Basingstoke in Hampshire. In his early life, he was a soldier and a trader in Portugal. On 10 April 1 ...

VI (c.1554-1618) was an Elizabethan trader,

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

and philanthropist. Endowed Kingsclere £30 per annum. *

Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington (c. 15791652) was the English lord treasurer and ambassador and leader of the pro-Spanish, pro-Roman Catholic faction in the court of Charles I. Early life He was the fourth son of Philip Cottington of Go ...

(ca. 1579 – 1652), possessor of Freemantle from 1631. *

Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (''née'' Kingsmill; April 16615 August 1720), was an English poet and courtier. Finch's works often express a desire for respect as a female poet, lamenting her difficult position as a woman in the literary ...

(1661 – 1720), Anne Kingsmill, a.k.a. Lady Finch, gave a pulpit cushion. *William Mount (1753–1815) of Wasing Place and others conveyed North Oakley manor to Oliver Cromwell of Cheshunt Park, Hertfordshire, the last direct male descendant of Henry Cromwell, the Protector's fourth son, in 1787. * Sir Wyndham Spencer Portal, 1st Bt., (1822–1905), of Laverstoke, local philanthropist who paid for some of church's 1848 re-fit. A younger brother of Melville Portal.common knowledge *Colonel Gervase Francis Newport Tinley, CB (1909), CMG. (Grahamstown, 1857 - Marseille, 18 February 1918). * Sir Rowland Arthur Charles Sperling, KCMG, CB (1874-1965), was a British diplomat. HM Minister at Berne; Sofia, and then Finland. *Colonel the Hon. George Hysteron-Proteron, CB (c. 1874–1942). Fictional character created by J. K. Stanford. *Lt. Col. John Keith Stanford OBE MC (1892–1971), Stanton's farm. Soldier, civil servant, writer and part owner of Stanford's Ltd, cartographer. *James Stanford, OBE, director general of the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, and organiser of the Liberty and Livelihood Countryside March, 2002. Grew up at Stanton's farm. * Martin Evans (1904–1998), cricketer and Royal Navy sailor * Ronald Alfred Goodwin, (1925 – 2003), composer, buried in St Paul's, Kingsclere Woodlands; * David Wynne (1926 - 2014), OBE, sculptor, parents buried in St Paul's, Kingsclere Woodlands, and sculpture in the church; *David Howell,

Lord Howell of Guildford David Arthur Russell Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford, (born 18 January 1936) is a British Conservative Party politician, journalist, and economic consultant. Having been successively Secretary of State for Energy and then for Transport und ...

, opened the Kingsclere bypass on 13 September 1982. *Rev. David Shearlock, vicar of Kingsclere, 1964–1971; *

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musical ...

, Lord Lloyd-Webber lives at

Sydmonton Sydmonton is a small village and estate in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Newbury, which lies approximately north-west from the village. Governance The village is now part of the civil parish of ...

Court, near Kingsclere. *

Tom Croft Tom Croft (born 7 November 1985) is a retired rugby union player. He played 173 games for Leicester Tigers between 2005–17 winning four Premiership Rugby titles, played 40 times for between 2008–2015, was part of the squad for the ...

England International Rugby Player grew up in Kingsclere. * Ralph Dellor, (1948 – 2017), cricket journalist. * Kit Malthouse, sitting MP for North-West Hampshire, which includes Kingsclere. *Stained glass in the Sanctuary, South Chapel, Chancel Aisle, Kingsmill Room by William Wailes (Transfiguration for Dr Thompson of Swan Street), and by Ward and Hughes (Marriage at Cana of Galilee). File:Walter merton d1277 painting.jpg, Walter Merton (died 1277). Rector in 1263 and founder of

Merton College, Oxford Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, ...

. File:PopeClementVICameo.jpg, Kingsclere's Pope:

Clement VI Pope Clement VI ( la, Clemens VI; 1291 – 6 December 1352), born Pierre Roger, was head of the Catholic Church from 7 May 1342 to his death in December 1352. He was the fourth Avignon pope. Clement reigned during the first visitation of the Bl ...

(1291-1352), previously Peter, archbishop of Rouen 1331–1338. File:Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington from NPG.jpg, Lord Cottington (died 1652), of Cottington, Freemantle from 1631. File:William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester from NPG.jpg, Lord St. John (a.k.a. Marquess of Winchester) bought Frobury manor in 1546 and Kingsclere circa 1544. 3rdDukeOfBolton.jpg, Lt-Gen. Charles Powlett (Paulet), 3rd Duke of Bolton & 8th Marquess of Winchester, KG, PC (1685–1754). File:John Porter, Vanity Fair, 1889-10-12.jpg, John Porter, who trained horses just south of Kingsclere, 1867–1905.

Some renowned rectors

Walter de Merton Walter de Merton ( – 27 October 1277) was Lord Chancellor of England, Archdeacon of Bath, founder of Merton College, Oxford, and Bishop of Rochester. For the first two years of the reign of Edward I he was - in all but name - Regent of England d ...

e, rector in 1263 and later Bishop of Rochester (c. 1205 – 27 October 1277), and founder of

. * Robert de Wyville, rector 1326–29, then Bishop of Salisbury. * John Drokensford (died 9 May 1329), sometime rector of Kingsclere, and later

Bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of D ...

. * Alexander de Bykenore (1260s? – 14 July 1349), sometime rector of Kingsclere, and then Archbishop of Dublin (1317-1349), Lord Treasurer of Ireland (1307–1309) and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Paulet/Powlett associations

William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester (c. 1483/1485 – 10 March 1572), styled Lord St John between 1539 and 1550 and Earl of Wiltshire between 1550 and 1551, was an English Lord High Treasurer, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and statesma ...

(c.1485-1572), KG, a local magnate and statesman, of

Old Basing Old Basing is a village in Hampshire, England, just east of Basingstoke. It was called ''Basengum'' in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and ''Basinges'' in the Domesday Book. Etymology The root ''Bas'' derives from the Latin word '' basilīa'' - the ...

and parts of Kingsclere. *

John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester (c. 1598 – 5 March 1675), styled Lord John Paulet until 1621 and Lord St John from 1621 to 1628, was the third but eldest surviving son of William Paulet and his successor as 5th Marquess of Winchester. ...

. *Six Dukes of Bolton and their heirs, sometime patrons and owners of large parts of Kingsclere. *The Reverend Charles Powlett, (1728-1809), Vicar of Kingsclere, 19 July 1769 - 15 February 1773. Chaplain to his nephew dukes of Bolton. Cricket pioneer. * Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton, PC (1740 – 1807), MP (1780–1796). Governor of the Isle of Wight (1791–1807) and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (1800–1807), inherited (c. 1794) estates, including Hackwood Park,

Bolton Castle Bolton Castle is a 14th-century castle located in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England (). The nearby village of Castle Bolton takes its name from the castle. The castle is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The castle was da ...

and Bolton Hall, of the Dukes of Bolton through his wife, Jean Mary Browne-Powlett, love-child, natural, illegitimate daughter of

Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton Lieutenant-general Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton (c. 1718 – 5 July 1765), styled Marquess of Winchester from 1754 to 1759, was a British soldier, nobleman and Whig politician. Early life He was the eldest son of Harry Powlett, 4th D ...

KB, PC (c. 1718 – 1765). *William Orde-Powlett, 2nd Lord Bolton (1782-1850) married (1810) Hon Maria Carleton (1777-1863), daughter of

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (3 September 1724 – 10 November 1808), known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Anglo-Irish soldier and administrator. He twice served as Governor of the Province of Quebec, from 1768 to 17 ...

, KB (1724-1808). In 1848 Bolton gave £500 for the church's remodeling and £700 in particular for the chancel's restoration. *Lady Algitha Orde-Powlett (1847-1919) (from 1895 Lady Bolton) daughter of

Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough Lieutenant-Colonel Richard George Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough (7 May 1813 – 5 December 1884) was an Anglo-Irish peerage, peer and soldier. Biography He was born at Tickhill Castle, the son and heir of Frederick Lumley-Saville (1788–1837), ...

, who married (1868) Hon. William Orde-Powlett (1845-1922), FSA, from 1895 the 4th Lord Bolton.

Racing associations

*Many of the Dukes of Bolton were dedicated breeders and owners of race-horses. For most of the eighteenth century they had a race-course at nearby Kempshott. * Sir Francis Blake Delaval, KB (1727 – 1771), M.P. for Andover 1754 - 1768, married (1750), Lady Isabella Powlett, widow of

Lord Nassau Powlett Lord Nassau Powlett (23 June 1698 – 24 August 1741) was an English army officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1720 to 1734 and in 1741. Powlett was the only son of Charles Powlett, 2nd Duke of Bolton by his third wife H ...

, M.P., son of second Duke of Bolton. Lived occasionally at Cannon Heath. * John Savile, 1st Earl of Mexborough (1719 – 1778), at Cannon Heath, where in 1766 Samuel Foote had his famous leg injury as a result of horse-play. Foote wrote many letters to

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1717 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil and friend of Sa ...

from Cannon Heath. *

Duke of Cumberland Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the historic county of Cumberland. History The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom ...

(1745 – 1790), had some horses at Cannon Heath. *Sir

John Lade Sir John Lade, 2nd Baronet (1 August 1759 – 10 February 1838) was a prominent member of Regency society, notable as an owner and breeder of racehorses, as an accomplished driver, associated with Samuel Johnson's circle, and one of George ...

, 2nd Baronet (1759–1838), lived occasionally at Cannon Heath circa 1805. *

Sir Joseph Henry Hawley, 3rd Baronet Sir Joseph Henry Hawley Bt. (1813–75) was a noted English thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder. Life Hawley was born in Harley Street, London, on 27 October 1813 , the eldest in a family of ten children. His parents were Sir Henry Hawl ...

(1813–75), racehorse owner, (operated in converted farm buildings at Cannons Heath, with a young John Porter employed as his private trainer, and later built a new yard in 1867). * John Wells (1833 - 1873), a.k.a. ''Wells the jockey''. * John Porter, (1838-1922), great racehorse trainer, brought to Kingsclere by Hawley. Buried in St. Mary's churchyard. Church warden from 1899. * William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland, KG, GCVO, TD, PC, DL, (1857 – 1943). *Frederick Stanley Butters (1888-1967), trained at Kingsclere 1934–1939, Park House stables then owned by Captain Arnold Stancomb Wills (1877-1961), of W.D. & H.O. Wills. (Brother of

Frank Butters Frank Joseph Arthur Butters (1878–1957) was a racehorse trainer specialising in flat racing who trained in Austria, Italy and England in the first half of the 20th century. He trained for two of the most successful owner-breeders in British raci ...

). *

Lawrence Lee Lawrence Stanley Lee (18 September 1909 – 25 April 2011) was a British stained glass artist whose work spanned the latter half of the 20th century. He was best known for leading the project to create ten windows for the nave of t ...

(1909 – 2011), designed a stained glass window for Peter Hastings-Bass in Kingsclere; * Evan Morgan Williams (1912 – 2001), jockey turned trainer. Sold the stables to Peter Hastings-Bass in 1953; * Peter Robin Hood Hastings-Bass (1920–1964), trainer; * Priscilla Victoria Hastings (1920-2010), owner and trainer. Director of

The Tote The Tote is a British gambling company which is the largest pool betting operator in the United Kingdom. Headquartered in Wigan, England, its main products are sports betting and online casino. Founded in 1928, the company was owned by the U ...

. Daughter of Sir

Malcolm Bullock Captain Sir Harold Malcolm Bullock, 1st Baronet, (10 July 1889 – 20 June 1966) was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician. Life Bullock was the son of iron merchant Frank M. Bullock, of Milhanger, Thursley, Surrey He was educate ...

(1890-1966), soldier and MP for Waterloo, 1923–1950, by Lady Victoria Stanley, daughter of

Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, (4 April 1865 – 4 February 1948), styled Mr Edward Stanley until 1886, then The Hon Edward Stanley and then Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, ...

(1865-1948), soldier, Conservative politician (MP & Peer), diplomat and racehorse owner. *

Ian Balding Ian Balding (born 7 November 1938) is a retired British horse trainer. He is the son of the polo player and racehorse trainer Gerald Matthews Balding and the younger brother of trainer Toby Balding. Ian Balding was born in the US, but his famil ...

(1938-), trainer. * William Edward Robin Hood Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon, LVO (1948-), trainer. *

Clare Balding Clare Victoria Balding (born 29 January 1971) is an English broadcaster, journalist, and author. She currently presents for BBC Sport, Channel 4, BT Sport, is the current president of the Rugby Football League (RFL) and formerly presented the ...

and her brother

Andrew Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derive ...

grew up in Kingsclere.

Some racehorses

Eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three c ...

(1764-1789), Orme (1889-1915), Isonomy (1875-1891),

Blue Gown Blue Gown (1865 – November 25, 1880) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse that was the winner of the 1868 Epsom Derby and Ascot Gold Cup. He was one of the best colts of his generation at two, three years and four of age, but his form decl ...

(1865-1880),

Ormonde Ormonde is a surname occurring in Portugal (mainly Azores), Brazil, England, and United States. It may refer to: People * Ann Ormonde (born 1935), an Irish politician * James Ormond or Ormonde (c. 1418–1497), the illegitimate son of John Butl ...

1883–1904),

Flying Fox ''Pteropus'' (suborder Yinpterochiroptera) is a genus of megabats which are among the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as fruit bats or flying foxes, among other colloquial names. They live in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Aust ...

(1896–1911),

Friar's Balsam Tincture of benzoin is a pungent solution of benzoin resin in ethanol. A similar preparation called Friar's Balsam or Compound Benzoin Tincture contains, in addition, Cape aloes or Barbados aloes and storax resin. Friar's balsam was invented by Jo ...

(1885–1899), La Fleche (1889–1916),

Paradox A paradox is a logically self-contradictory statement or a statement that runs contrary to one's expectation. It is a statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictory or a logically u ...

(1882–1890), Shotover (1879–1898),

Common Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally ...

(1888–1912),

Winkipop Winkipop (1907–1931) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1910 1,000 Guineas Stakes and Coronation Stakes. She raced briefly at age four and was retired from racing in 1911. As a broodmare, she produced the good racers Plymsto ...

(1907–1931),Trained by William Waugh for the Dukes of Wellington and Portland.

Mid-day Sun Mid-day Sun (1934–1954) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After showing little promise as a two-year-old in 1936, Mid-day Sun improved into top class performer at three. In 1937 he won five races including The Derby and the ...

(1934–1954), Mill Reef (1968–1986),

Casual Look Casual Look (foaled May 10, 2000 in Kentucky) was the winning racehorse in The Oaks in 2003. Owned and bred by William S. Farish III, she was out of the mare Style Setter, a daughter of Manila, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf winner and that year's ...

(2000-).

Other manors

The manor of Frobury is the western part of the modern parish of Kingsclere. In addition to Frobury the manors of North Oakley, Hannington,

, Edmundsthorp Benham (

Headley Headley may refer to: Places * Headley, Basingstoke and Deane in the civil parish of Ashford Hill with Headley * Headley, East Hampshire ** Headley Grange, Hampshire * Headley, Surrey Other uses * Headley (surname) * Baron Headley, a title in th ...

, and Beenham Court or

Cheam School Cheam School is a mixed preparatory school located in Headley, in the civil parish of Ashford Hill with Headley in Hampshire. Originally a boys school, Cheam was founded in 1645 by George Aldrich. History The school started in Cheam, Surrey ...

) and

Ecchinswell Ecchinswell is a village in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. Geography Watership Down, location of Richard Adams' novel of the same name, is just south of Ecchinswell. Ladle Hill on Great Litchfield Down, also lies to th ...

used to be a part of the parish of Kingsclere.

Highclere, Kingsclere and Basingstoke Light Railway

The Highclere, Kingsclere and Basingstoke Light Railway was a proposed (circa 1896–1900)

light railway A light railway is a railway built at lower costs and to lower standards than typical "heavy rail": it uses lighter-weight track, and may have more steep gradients and tight curves to reduce civil engineering costs. These lighter standards all ...

connecting the

Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway The Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&SR) was a cross-country railway running north–south between Didcot, Newbury and Winchester. Its promoters intended an independent route to Southampton and envisaged heavy traffic from the Midl ...

(DNSR) with the

London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway (LSWR, sometimes written L&SWR) was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Originating as the London and Southampton Railway, its network extended to Dorchester and Weymouth, to Salisbury, Exeter ...

(LSWR). Despite public support of the railway proposal, sufficient funding was never obtained and the idea was abandoned.

References

External links

Clare, Clere, and Clères
A paper on the origin of the name.
Kingsclere Parish Council

Kingsclere: Its heritage and genealogy

history from the website of Hampshire County Council
A Vision of Britain through Time: Kingsclere
* ''Hampshire Treasures'': Volume 2 (Basingstoke and Deane) Page

an

Kingsclere census data 2001
{{authority control Villages in Hampshire Civil parishes in Basingstoke and Deane