Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district RG26 Shire county Hampshire Dialling code 01256 | Country England Post town NEWBURY Police Hampshire District Basingstoke and Deane UK parliament constituency North West Hampshire | |
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Civil parish Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green | ||
Sydmonton is a small village and estate in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Newbury, which lies approximately 7 miles (11 km) north-west from the village.
Contents
Map of Sydmonton, Newbury, UK
Governance
The village is now part of the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green(where the 2011 Census population was included), historically having been within the parish of Kingsclere. It is part of the Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne ward of Basingstoke and Deane borough council. The borough council is a Non-metropolitan district of Hampshire County Council.
History
Romsey Abbey once owned 764 acres of the parish called Sidemanestone in Domesday Book. The church (St Mary the Virgin) was rebuilt in 1853 in Early English Period architectural style. The parish had a population of 160 in 1871.
Sydmonton Court
Sydmonton is the home of the 5000 acre Sydmonton Court estate, formerly the seat of the Kingsmill Family, including Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill. The estate is currently owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber, and is home to the annual Sydmonton Festival.
The house is a grade II* listed Tudor manor house originally built to an E-shaped floor plan in the 16th century, but modified several times since then.
The estate came into the hands of the Kingsmill family after the Dissolution of the Monasteries when it was granted by Henry VIII to John Kingsmill. It passed down in the family to Elizabeth Corry, daughter of Frances Kingsmill and Hugh Corry, who married Robert Brice. Robert took the name of Kingsmill in 1766, became an admiral and was created Baronet Kingsmill in 1800. He left Sydmonton to the Rev. John Stephens, vicar of Chewton Mendip, Somerset, who also took the name of Kingsmill in 1806.
Anne Kingsmill (1661–1720), daughter of Sir William Kingsmill, married Heneage Finch and became Lady Winchilsea and a well-known poet.
The Sydmonton Festival is a summer arts festival presented in a deconsecrated 16th century chapel in the grounds of the estate.