Kingsclere is a large village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire, England. Kingsclere is located near to Watership Down, the setting of Richard Adams' 1972 novel Watership Down.
Kingsclere is situated approximately equidistant (13 km /8 miles) from the towns of Basingstoke and Newbury on the A339 road.
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 of the Crown. King Alfred by will 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 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 on Cottington's hill. He ordained that the church should erect and evermore maintain upon its tower a representation of the creature which disturbed his sleep.
In 1218 the king ordered that the market which had been held in Kingsclere on Sundays should in the future be held on Saturdays. 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.
The former Falcon Inn, in Swan street, was 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 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, and its sign proclaims it a 15th C. Rooming Inn.
The nearby Watership Down is the setting for the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams. 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's The Beggar's Opera, was lover and then wife of Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton of the parish. Their eldest son, Rev. Charles Powlett, was briefly vicar of Kingsclere.
People from and associated with Kingsclere
Edith of Wessex (c. 1025 – 18 December 1075) Queen Edith, widow of Edward the Confessor.
Hyde Abbey.
Rosamund Clifford, 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.
Ranulf de Broc (sometimes Rannulf de Broc; died around 1179), and his son-in-law Stephen of Thornham (died c. 1214), possessors of the manor of Frobury (Frollebury).
Walter de Coutances, Walter of Rouen (died 1207), Anglo-Norman bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of Rouen.
King John (died 1216).
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 in his demesne 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 was sold for 500 marks by Edward III in 1336. He then passed it onto the monastery of Bisham.
Pope Clement VI (1291-1352), (Pope 1342-1352), previously Peter, archbishop of Rouen 1331–1338, a.k.a. Peter III Roger de Beaufort.
William of Wykeham, (died 1404), bishop and local magnate (Burghclere, Highclere and Earlstone).
William Fauconer (died 1412), JP (Hants, 1407–1412), MP for Hampshire, 1407 and 1411, buried in St. Mary's.
Anne of Cleves, rectory and the advowson 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.
Mary Johnson, a Negro, buried Kingsclere, 18 May 1713.
Various Dukes of Wellington owned some of Kingsclere and Wolverton. The great Duke of Wellington,(1769-1852), gave £300 towards the 1848 remodeling of the church.
Sir James Lancaster VI (c.1554-1618) was an Elizabethan trader, privateer and philanthropist. Endowed Kingsclere £30 per annum.
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington (ca. 1579 – 1652), possessor of Freemantle from 1631.
Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (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.
Colonel the Hon. George Hysteron-Proteron, CB (c. 1874—1942). 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.
Lord Lloyd-Webber lives at Sydmonton Court, near Kingsclere.
Tom Croft England International Rugby Player grew up in Kingsclere.
Kit Malthouse, sitting MP for North-West Hampshire, which includes Kingsclere.
Walter de Mertone, rector in 1263 and later Bishop of Rochester (c. 1205 – 27 October 1277), and founder of Merton College, Oxford.
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.
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.
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester (c.1485-1572), KG, a local magnate and statesman, of Old Basing 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 (c. 1794) 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 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, 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.
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 had his famous leg injury as a result of horse-play. Foote wrote many letters to David Garrick from Cannon Heath.
Duke of Cumberland (1745 – 1790), had some horses at Cannon Heath.
Sir John Lade, 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).
Lawrence Lee (1909 – 2011), designed a stained glass window for Peter Hastings-Bass in Kingsclere.
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 (1865-1948), soldier, Conservative politician (MP & Peer), diplomat and racehorse owner.
Eclipse (1764-1789), Orme (1889-1915), Isonomy (1875-1891), Blue Gown (1865-1880), Ormonde 1883-1904), Flying Fox (1896–1911), Friar's Balsam (1885–1899), La Fleche (1889–1916), Paradox (1882–1890), Shotover (1879–1898), Common (1888–1912), Winkipop (1907–1931), Mid-day Sun (1934–1954), Mill Reef (1968–1986), Casual Look (2000-), racehorses.
Ian Balding (1938-), trainer.
William Edward Robin Hood Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon, LVO (1948-), trainer.
Clare Balding and her brother Andrew grew up in Kingsclere.
The manor of Frobury is the western part of the modern parish of Kingsclere. In addition to Frobury the manors of North Oakley, Hannington, Sydmonton, Edmundsthorp Benham (Headley, and Beenham Court or Cheam School) 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 connecting the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DNSR) with the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). Despite public support of the railway proposal, sufficient funding was never obtained and the idea was abandoned.
