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. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

in Hampshire, England. Kingsclere-st-marys-from-se

At the centre of the village lies the Church Of England parish church of St. Mary's with its distinctive tower. St. Mary's church has C12 origins. It is cruciform and has Norman style with various Romanesque features. The Victorians re-faced the flint exterior, and made other alterations. The present church replaced an earlier Saxon minster on the same site.

Geography

Kingsclere is approximately equidistant from the towns of

Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is a town in Hampshire, situated in south-central England across a valley at the source of the River Loddon on the western edge of the North Downs. It is the largest settlement in Hampshire without city status in the United King ...

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 subinfeudation, sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. ...

of the Crown. In his will King Alfred 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 at a

Witenagemot The witan () was the king's council in the Anglo-Saxon government of England from before the 7th century until the 11th century. It comprised important noblemen, including ealdormen, thegns, and bishops. Meetings of the witan were sometimes ...

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 American soldiers belonging to a US Army engineering support group based at Sydmonton Court 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 () 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 William Warham ( – 22 August 1532) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to his death in 1532. Early life and education Warham was the son of Robert Warham of Malshanger in Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College and New Colleg ...

, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1510 gave it to

Winchester College Winchester College is an English Public school (United Kingdom), public school (a long-established fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) with some provision for day school, day attendees, in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It wa ...

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 Hampshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natur ...

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

Richard Adams Richard George Adams (10 May 1920 – 24 December 2016) was an English novelist. He is best known for his debut novel ''Watership Down'' which achieved international acclaim. His other works included ''Maia'', '' Shardik'' and '' The Plague Do ...

. 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, 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 Peach ...

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 sati ...

, 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 through her marriage to Edward the Confessor from 1045 until Edward's death in 1066. Unlike most English queens in the 10th and 11th centuries, she was crowned. The principal ...

( – 18 December 1075) Queen Edith, widow of

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was King of England from 1042 until his death in 1066. He was the last reigning monarch of the House of Wessex. Edward was the son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy. He succeede ...

. * Rosamund Clifford, ''the fair Rosamund'', (before 1150 – ), 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-Normans, Anglo-Norman nobleman and royal official during the reign of King Henry II of England. He held two offices in the roya ...

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

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

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

Walter de Coutances Walter de Coutances (died 16 November 1207) was a medieval Anglo-Norman bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of Rouen. He began his royal service in the government of Henry II, serving as a vice-chancellor. He also accumulated a number of eccl ...

, Walter of Rouen (died 1207), Anglo-Norman

bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary (officer), 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 Nort ...

and

archbishop of Rouen The Archdiocese of Rouen (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rothomagensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rouen'') is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the Archbishop of Rouen's ecclesi ...

. * 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 Richard (5 January 1209 – 2 April 1272) was an English prince who was King of the Romans from 1257 until his death in 1272. He was the second son of John, King of England, and Isabella, Countess of Angoulême. Richard was nominal Count of ...

, encaustic tiles bearing his symbols used to be in the chancel aisle. * William Melton (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 Exclusive franchise or Privilege (legal ethics), privilege conveyed by a sovereign in medieval England to an English subject, promising to hold them harmless for killing game (hunting), g ...

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, 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 (; 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 Black Death (1 ...

(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 ...

, (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 counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...

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

Anne of Cleves Anne of Cleves (; 28 June or 22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England from 6 January to 12 July 1540 as the Wives of Henry VIII, fourth wife of Henry VIII. Little is known about Anne before 1527, ...

, 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 Milton Keynes ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in Buckinghamshire, England, about north-west of London. At the 2021 Census, the population of Milton Keynes urban ar ...

. The great

Duke of Wellington Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ar ...

,(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. Lancaster was brought up in Portugal as a merchant and soldier, but retu ...

VI (-1618) was an Elizabethan trader,

privateer A privateer is a private person or vessel which engages in commerce raiding 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 o ...

and philanthropist. Endowed Kingsclere £30 per annum. * Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington ( – 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 wrote in many genres and on many topics - including fables, odes, songs, and religious verse - which are informed by "pol ...

(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 Laverstoke ( ) is a village in north west Hampshire, England. The On the other side of the River Test there is the settlement at Freefolk which is included in the Laverstock census return. In the early 18th century, Laverstoke Mill was purchased ...

, local philanthropist who paid for some of church's 1848 re-fit. A younger brother of

Melville Portal Melville Portal Justice of the Peace, JP, Deputy Lieutenant, DL (31 July 1819 – 24 January 1904) was a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician from Hampshire. Career Portal was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, graduati ...

.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 (–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 Sir Martin John Evans FLSW (born 1 January 1941) is an English biologist who, with Matthew Kaufman, was the first to culture mice embryonic stem cells and cultivate them in a laboratory in 1981. He is also known, along with Mario Capecchi ...

(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, 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 theatre, West End and on Broadway theatre, Broad ...

, Lord Lloyd-Webber lives at

Sydmonton Sydmonton is a small village, estate and former civil parish, now in the parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green, in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury, which lies ...

Court, near Kingsclere. * Tom Croft England International Rugby Player grew up in Kingsclere. * Ralph Dellor, (1948 – 2017), cricket journalist. *

Kit Malthouse Christopher Laurie "Kit" Malthouse (born 27 October 1966) is a British Conservative Party politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Hampshire since 2015. He served as Secretary of State for Education ...

, 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 Ward and Hughes (formerly Ward and Nixon) was the name of an English company producing stained-glass windows. History Ward and Hughes was preceded by the company Ward and Nixon, whose studio was at 67 Frith Street, Soho. They created a large w ...

(Marriage at Cana of Galilee). * Daniel Hannan, Baron Hannan of Kingsclere 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 a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 126 ...

. File:PopeClementVICameo.jpg, Kingsclere's Pope: Clement VI (1291–1352), previously Peter, archbishop of Rouen 1331–1338. File:Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington from NPG.jpg,

Lord 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 ...

(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 Marquess of Winchester is a title in the Peerage of England that was created in 1551 for the prominent statesman William Paulet, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. It is the oldest of six surviving English marquessates; therefore its holder is considered th ...

) 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 En ...

e, rector in 1263 and later Bishop of Rochester ( – 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 ...

(–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 name Basing comes from two Old English components: ''Basa'', t ...

and parts of Kingsclere. * John Paulet, 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 () estates, including Hackwood Park, Bolton Castle 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 ( 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 Duke ...

KB, PC ( – 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 a British Army officer and colonial administrator. He twice served as Governor of the Province of Quebec, from 176 ...

, 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, 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, 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 Samuel Foote (January 1720 – 21 October 1777) was a Cornish dramatist, actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. He was known for his comedic acting and writing, and for turning the loss of a leg in a riding accident in 1766 to comedic oppor ...

had his famous leg injury as a result of horse-play. Foote wrote many letters to

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

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 w ...

(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 English Regency, Regency society, notable as an owner and breeder of racehorses, as an accomplished Driving (horse), driver, associated with Samuel Jo ...

, 2nd Baronet (1759–1838), lived occasionally at Cannon Heath circa 1805. * Sir Joseph Henry Hawley, 3rd Baronet (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 (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. Daughter of Sir Malcolm Bullock (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 The Hon. Edward Stanley from 1886–93 and Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British peer, soldier, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politic ...

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

Ian Balding Ian Balding (born 7 November 1938) is a British retired 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 fami ...

(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 broadcast journalist and author. She currently presents programmes for BBC Sport and Channel 4, and previously for BT Sport. She also formerly presented ''Good Morning Sunday'' on BBC ...

and her brother

Andrew Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "c ...

grew up in Kingsclere.

Some racehorses

Eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event which 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 ...

(1764-1789), Orme (1889–1915), Isonomy (1875–1891), Blue Gown (1865–1880),

Ormonde Ormonde is a surname originated in Ireland (Ormonde) and Scotland (Ormond (surname), Ormond), but also occurring in England, United States, Portugal (mainly in Azores, as a variation of the scottish surname Drummond_(surname), Drummond) and Brazil. ...

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 (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 or apparently true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictor ...

(1882–1890), Shotover (1879–1898),

Common Common may refer to: As an Irish surname, it is anglicised from Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comáin. Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Com ...

(1888–1912), Winkipop (1907–1931),Trained by William Waugh for the Dukes of Wellington and Portland. Mid-day Sun (1934–1954),

Mill Reef Mill Reef (23 February 1968 – 2 February 1986) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a three-year career from 1970 to 1972, he won twelve of fourteen races and finished second in the other two. The horse w ...

(1968–1986), Casual Look (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, 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, Surre ...

) and Ecchinswell 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 Rail transport, railway built at lower costs and to lower standards than typical "heavy rail": it uses lighter-weight track, and may have more Grade (slope), steep gradients and Minimum railway curve radius, tight curves to ...

connecting the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (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, Exete ...

(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