Kellys_1917_0417.jpg

402

ENCJLEFIELD.

V ILLA G E S D IR E C T O R V -1 9 1 7 .

f° r ¿ 35» ' n
89ft of James H erbert of the upper room s is a bedstead brought
Benyon esq. and held since 1904 by the from Gidea Hall, Essex, and said to have
Bev. Granville Gore Skip with M .A. of been used by Charles I . ; from these
Jesus College, Cam bridge.
There is a apartments and from the tower m agnifi­
charity of ¿ 2 7 yearly, left by an unknown cent views are afforded of the beautiful
donor, for apprenticing poor ch ild ren ; woodland scenery, which is here the
also a gift of ¿ 2 for bread on St. Thom as' greatest charm of the far-sfcretching land­
day.
A. Volunteer Fire Brigade of 12 scape; the gardens are very attractive,
m em bers was formed here in 1893, aQd and m any visitors from the neighbour­
has a steam fire engine and various appa­ hood avail them selves of the opportunity
ratus. James Herbert Benyon esq. J.P. of. inspecting them on W ednesday durin»
and L ord Lieut, of Berkshire, is lord 01 the months o f A ugust and September*
the manor and principal landow ner; his perm ission being kindly given by the pro­
residence, Englefield House, is a fine prietor. Elias Ashm oie M.D. of BraseTudor mansion, charm ingly situated on a nose College, Oxford, W indsor Herald and
gently rising slope o f the fine deer-park, a distinguished antiquary, retired to this
facing south and overlooking the valley of village in 1647; d uring his lifetim e he
the Kennet, its many turreted pinnacles founded, by the bequest of the younger
giving it a noble appearance; it was built Tradescant, the m useum at Oxford which
by one of the Paulet family, but reduced now bears his name, and died at South
and m odernised by one of their descend­ Lam beth, M ay 18th, 1692, aged 76. The
ants, Paulet W rig h t esq. and has also soil is g ra v el; subsoil, clay and chalk.
been renovated and refaced by the late The land is chiefly grass and woods. The
owner, who has added a new entran'ce area is 1,427 acres o f land and water;
hall and converted the old hall into a rateable value, ¿ 2 ,8 4 7 > ^be population in
magnificent library. S ir Francis E nglo- 1911 was 299.
field being attainted o f high treason in
Sexton and Parish Clerk, W . Joyce,
; 1564, the manor becam e the property of
Sir Francis W alsingham K .G . Secretary Post & M. O. 0 ., S. B. & Annuity & In­
surance Office.—-James H. Claydon, sub­
of State* *0 Queen E lizabeth ; on one occa­
postm aster. Letters from Reading ar­
sion th e 3-iT'neen visited this house, and Sir.
rive
at 6.25 a .m .; dispatched 8 a.m. &
Francis, in order to save Her M ajesty the
7.10
p .m .; Sundays, arrive 7 a .m .; dis­
trouble o f ascending the staircase, b u ilt a
patched 7.5 p .m . The nearest telegraph
gallery 120 feet long, so as to Teach the
office is at Theale
level of the hill outside at the back of
the h o u se : this gallery, reduced to 90 P ublic Elementary School, bu ilt in 1863
& enlarged by the late Richard Benyon
feet by m odern alterations within the
esq. for 130 c h ild ren ; average attend­
house, is now used, with M r. Benyon’s
ance, 9 0 ; Charles F . G olding, master
perm ission, for parochial m eetings, school
fetes and similar useful p u rposes; from Parish C o u n cil:— James Herbert Benyon
the second storey of the building, along
esq. (chairm an), ’ Henry Horne, A. B.
its passage, an exit is gained to the park
W adds, T om Harris & Augustus H arris;
o u tsid e ; a portrait of Queen Elizabeth,
J. Be van, clerk
presented by herself in com m em oration of W orking Men’s Club, O. A . Hopley, sec.;
this visit, still hangs on a wall in the
James H. Claydon, steward
lib ra ry ; in the hall and corridor are some
exquisito sculptures by M unro, Foley, Overseers, J. Bevan & Michael John
Osmond
Power and oth ers; the drawing rcom is a
very fine apartment, with a painted ceil­ Carriers to Reading.— Cotterall, tues.
thurs. & s a t .; Payne, m on. thurs. & sat
ing representing the fou r seasons; in one
Benyon Jas. Herbert J.P. (lord lieutenant Claydon James H. sub-postmaster
Cottrell W illiam , lo d g e ' kseper, Common
of Berkshire), Englefield house
Hill lodge
Skip with
Rev.
Granville Gore
M .A.
Golding Charles F. school naster
(re cto r), The R ectory
Hayes John, blacksm ith, Ifayridge farm
COMJTEnCIAT,.
Horne Henry, blacksm ith, Chalk Pit t o w
Bevan J. estate clerk of works & clerk to Joyce W . sexton & parish clerk
Osmond Michael Jn. farm ir.W ickcroft fm
the Parish Council & overseer
Carter C. G. land agent to J. H. Benyon Page Walter, farm bailiff to James Herbt.
Benyon esq. Mayridge firm
e s q .; Tel. 4 Theale