Clewer
Encyclopedia
Clewer is an ecclesiastical parish
and region of Windsor
making up three wards
of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
in the English
county of Berkshire
.
The name Clewer comes from the word 'Clifwara' meaning 'Cliff-Dwellers' and is named after those who lived below the hill on which Windsor Castle
was built. Historically, Clewer pre-dates New Windsor
and still exists as a separate ecclesiastical parish. A Saxon
settlement existed there, and it is thought that the settlement of Clewer may have grown up at a place where the river Thames could be forded. A wood-and-thatch Saxon church is believed to have existed on the site of the present church. The surviving font
is thought to be Saxon, and is presumed to have belonged to the earlier church. Until the 1850s this font was in an improbable position at the west end of the north aisle and it is likely that it had never been moved from its position in the earlier Saxon church.
By the time of the Norman Conquest
, there was a Manor
of Clewer, mentioned in the Domesday Book
as Clivore and recorded as having a church and mill. It was from here that William I
took the lands on which he built his fort, which became Windsor Castle
. The Manor of Clewer continued to receive a rent of 12 shillings per annum from the Crown
, for this land, until the sixteenth century. The present St Andrew's Church is of Norman
construction and it is traditionally believed that William I habitually attended mass there, as there was no chapel within the original castle. It has a 14th century chantry chapel to the memory of the second wife of the hero of the Hundred Years' War
, Sir Bernard Brocas
. The family lived in the sub-manor of Clewer Brocas until rebellious activities obliged then to retreat to obscurity at Beaurepaire
in Sherborne St John
.
The Clewer Park
area of Clewer Village is where the former home of Sir Daniel Gooch
once stood.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and region of Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
making up three wards
Ward (subnational entity)
A ward is a subdivision of a municipality. Wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected to the area...
of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
History
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
was built. Historically, Clewer pre-dates New Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and still exists as a separate ecclesiastical parish. A Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
settlement existed there, and it is thought that the settlement of Clewer may have grown up at a place where the river Thames could be forded. A wood-and-thatch Saxon church is believed to have existed on the site of the present church. The surviving font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is thought to be Saxon, and is presumed to have belonged to the earlier church. Until the 1850s this font was in an improbable position at the west end of the north aisle and it is likely that it had never been moved from its position in the earlier Saxon church.
By the time of the Norman Conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
, there was a Manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Clewer, mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Clivore and recorded as having a church and mill. It was from here that William I
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
took the lands on which he built his fort, which became Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. The Manor of Clewer continued to receive a rent of 12 shillings per annum from the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
, for this land, until the sixteenth century. The present St Andrew's Church is of Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
construction and it is traditionally believed that William I habitually attended mass there, as there was no chapel within the original castle. It has a 14th century chantry chapel to the memory of the second wife of the hero of the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
, Sir Bernard Brocas
Bernard Brocas (soldier)
Sir Bernard Brocas, Senior was a prominent commander in the English army during King Edward III's French campaigns of the Hundred Years War. He was also a close friend of the Black Prince and William of Wykeham....
. The family lived in the sub-manor of Clewer Brocas until rebellious activities obliged then to retreat to obscurity at Beaurepaire
Beaurepaire, Hampshire
Beaurepaire is a country estate near Bramley in Hampshire, England.- History :Beaurepaire was owned by the Brocas family from Aquitaine for approximately 500 years....
in Sherborne St John
Sherborne St John
Sherborne St John is a village and civil parish near Basingstoke in the English county of Hampshire.-History:The village was named in the Domesday book as Sireburne. It became Shireburna , Schyreburne and Shirebourne Decani, Shireburn St...
.
The Clewer Park
Clewer Park
Clewer Park can be found within the village of Clewer to the west of Windsor in the United Kingdom. Today Clewer Park consists of a small estate of residential homes built during the mid 1950s and a public open parkland....
area of Clewer Village is where the former home of Sir Daniel Gooch
Daniel Gooch
Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet was an English railway and transatlantic cable engineer and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
once stood.
Notable residents
- Sir Bernard Brocas, 14th century English commander
- Sir Bernard Brocas JuniorBernard Brocas (rebel)Sir Bernard Brocas was an English landowner and knight who was executed for his part in the Epiphany Rising.He was the eldest son of Sir Bernard Brocas of Clewer, now part of Windsor, in Berkshire. He was married at a young age to Joan, the daughter of Sir Thomas Middleton...
, early 15th century rebel - Sir Daniel GoochDaniel GoochSir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet was an English railway and transatlantic cable engineer and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
, 19th century Railway Engineer, lived at Clewer ParkClewer ParkClewer Park can be found within the village of Clewer to the west of Windsor in the United Kingdom. Today Clewer Park consists of a small estate of residential homes built during the mid 1950s and a public open parkland.... - Sir Michael CaineMichael CaineSir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
, actor, lived at the Old Mill House at the end of Mill Lane, Clewer Village during the 1970s - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, musician and lead guitarist of the band Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, lived at the Old Mill House at the end of Mill Lane, Clewer Village from the 1970s up to 2005 - Richard HerringRichard HerringRichard Keith Herring is a British comedian and writer, whose early work includes his involvement in the double-act, Lee and Herring...
, comedian, lives near Clewer ParkClewer ParkClewer Park can be found within the village of Clewer to the west of Windsor in the United Kingdom. Today Clewer Park consists of a small estate of residential homes built during the mid 1950s and a public open parkland.... - Nathalie Imbruglia, singer, has lived on White Lillies Island for years.