Kingsclere
Encyclopedia
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
.
and Newbury
on the A339 road
.
The village has a good selection of local shops and businesses, healthcare services a primary school and varied outdoor facilities. It also has an extensive network of green lanes and paths, glades and the kingsclere stream. Areas treasured by the villagers such as 'the rec.' and 'the ducks' are usually overlooked by the casual visitor.
There are three Christian churches, Kingsclere Methodist Church, Saint Mary's Anglican Church, and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
There are many activities that take place within the village. Local facilities include the village club, and the Fieldgate Centre which lies on the outskirts of the village and adjoins the rugby
and football grounds. The centre was built in 1996 at a cost of £1.6 million
The parish council meets in the village club monthly, except for August and December.
Kingsclere is a conservation area and has a village plan.
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.
is the setting for the 1972 novel of the same name
by Richard Adams.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the county of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England. Kingsclere is located near to Watership Down
Watership Down, Hampshire
Watership Down is a hill, or down, at Ecchinswell in the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green in the English county of Hampshire. It rises fairly steeply on its northern flank , but to the south the slope is much gentler . .The Down is best known as the setting for Richard...
, the setting of Richard Adams
Richard Adams
Richard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
' 1972 novel Watership Down
Watership Down
Watership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
.
Geography
Kingsclere is situated approximately equidistant (13km /8 miles) from the towns of BasingstokeBasingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
and Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
on the A339 road
A339 road
The A339 is a long A road in England. It is the main road between Newbury in Berkshire and Alton in Hampshire.-Points of interest:...
.
Village Life
Kingsclere benefits from a long established friendly village culture and many local organisations and volunteer groupsThe village has a good selection of local shops and businesses, healthcare services a primary school and varied outdoor facilities. It also has an extensive network of green lanes and paths, glades and the kingsclere stream. Areas treasured by the villagers such as 'the rec.' and 'the ducks' are usually overlooked by the casual visitor.
There are three Christian churches, Kingsclere Methodist Church, Saint Mary's Anglican Church, and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
There are many activities that take place within the village. Local facilities include the village club, and the Fieldgate Centre which lies on the outskirts of the village and adjoins the rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and football grounds. The centre was built in 1996 at a cost of £1.6 million
The parish council meets in the village club monthly, except for August and December.
Kingsclere is a conservation area and has a village plan.
History
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'.Local legend asserts that King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
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 popular culture
The nearby Watership DownWatership Down, Hampshire
Watership Down is a hill, or down, at Ecchinswell in the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green in the English county of Hampshire. It rises fairly steeply on its northern flank , but to the south the slope is much gentler . .The Down is best known as the setting for Richard...
is the setting for the 1972 novel of the same name
Watership Down
Watership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
by Richard Adams.
See also
External links
- Clare, Clere, and Clères A paper on the origin of the name.
- Kingsclere Parish Council
- Kingsclere: Its heritage and genealogy
- Kingsclere, history from the website of Hampshire County Council
- A Vision of Britain through Time: Kingsclere
- Hampshire Treasures: Volume 2 (Basingstoke and Deane) Pages 147, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, and 163.