Snelsmore Common
Encyclopedia
Snelsmore Common is a common
and country park
in the English
county of Berkshire
, within the civil parish
of Chieveley
.
It lies near to the M4
and A34 roads, and is located approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Newbury
. It consists of lowland heathland of heather, gorse, wet bog and small trees and broadleaved woodland. There are several rabbit warrens and it is a home to the smaller breeds of deer and other small mammals, snake, lizards and birds such as kestrels and green woodpeckers. rarer species include the palmate newt and nightjar.
Snelsmore became a common in the medieval period. Extant rights there include the grazing of cattle and ponies, the collection of fallen timber and fuel, the digging of gravel and the shooting of game. The cutting of peat and turf and fishing are also allowed, but not practical. Cattle did indeed return to the common in 1999.
During the Second World War
the common was taken over for military uses, and had quantities of petrol stored in jerrycans by the 3900 Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company stockpiled for the Normandy landings.. It became a country park in 1972, and is managed as public open space by the Snelsmore Common Country Park Management Committee for West Berkshire Council.
During 1995-6 woodland at the south end of the common became an early base for campaigners protesting against the proposed Newbury bypass
. The English band New Model Army
immortalized the conflict in their song "Snelsmore Woods". Following eviction of the protesters, the construction of the road went ahead through a part of the common, and an equivalent area of common was added to the west.
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
and country park
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
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...
, within the 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...
of Chieveley
Chieveley
Chieveley is a village and civil parish about north of Newbury in Berkshire, close to the M4 motorway and A34 road.-Character:Chieveley is a village of 1,481 people and 508 households. A map of 1877 stated the area at the time to be roughly . Chieveley Service Station serves Junction 13 of the M4...
.
It lies near to the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and A34 roads, and is located approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) north of 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...
. It consists of lowland heathland of heather, gorse, wet bog and small trees and broadleaved woodland. There are several rabbit warrens and it is a home to the smaller breeds of deer and other small mammals, snake, lizards and birds such as kestrels and green woodpeckers. rarer species include the palmate newt and nightjar.
Snelsmore became a common in the medieval period. Extant rights there include the grazing of cattle and ponies, the collection of fallen timber and fuel, the digging of gravel and the shooting of game. The cutting of peat and turf and fishing are also allowed, but not practical. Cattle did indeed return to the common in 1999.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the common was taken over for military uses, and had quantities of petrol stored in jerrycans by the 3900 Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company stockpiled for the Normandy landings.. It became a country park in 1972, and is managed as public open space by the Snelsmore Common Country Park Management Committee for West Berkshire Council.
During 1995-6 woodland at the south end of the common became an early base for campaigners protesting against the proposed Newbury bypass
Newbury bypass
The Newbury bypass, officially known as The Winchester-Preston Trunk Road , is a stretch of dual carriageway road which bypasses the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England...
. The English band New Model Army
New Model Army (band)
New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
immortalized the conflict in their song "Snelsmore Woods". Following eviction of the protesters, the construction of the road went ahead through a part of the common, and an equivalent area of common was added to the west.