Articles on a range of topics will be added to this page regularly. Click on the title of a post or the accompanying photograph. Use the search bar on the right to find a specific topic, or select from the list of latest posts.
1731: Kintbury man murdered?
England 1731 George II had been on the throne since 1727; he had been born and brought up in Northern Germany but at least, unlike his father George I, he could speak English. The average person in the street, or out in the field, was probably little bothered by this as they were never going…
Enborne & the First Battle of Newbury
The church of St Michael & All Angels, Enborne is situated in what must be one of the most peaceful and picturesque corners of West Berkshire. The view from the back of the church looking south, is across farm and woodland to the distant Beacon Hill just over the border in Hampshire. It’s a view…
Jethro Tull: Not a rock band, but part of a quiet countryside revolution.
On March 24th 1741, the Kentish Weekly Post printed the following: “A few Days since died at his Seat at Prosperous near Hungerford in Berkshire, Jethro Tull, Esq; Author of an useful and ingenious Book, entitled, The Horse-Hoing (sic) Husbandry, and has been very well received by the Curious in that Art.” There is no…
A letter to Kintbury
Saturday, 29th February, 1772: the Rev Nowes Lloyd, vicar of Enborne, has travelled the 65 miles from his home in West Berkshire to Vine Street, in London. His journey is an important one as he has come to discuss a commission for a new monument from the celebrated sculptor, Thomas Scheemakers. Scheemakers is the youngest…
“Rough Music” comes to Kintbury
Throughout the nineteenth century, “rough music” was a popular form of protest amongst some sections of society. In parts of the north, these protests were known as “stang riding” and in the midlands, “Lewbelling”. In Dorset the term “skimmington” or “skimmity ride” was used. Thomas Hardy describes one such in his novel of 1886, The…
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