Bucklebury Common
BUCKLEBURY COMMON
Bucklebury Church and Manor came into the possession of Reading Abbey between 1152 & 1153. The Abbot built a manor house – constructed fishponds to supply fish for his table. Also Pillow Mounds to house rabbits. Both still around today.
The plague struck here and miracles are recorded as being performed between 1158 & 1165, when Roger, Abbot of Reading, came to Bucklebury with a religious relict (the hand of the blessed James), which was dipped to make holy water which was sprinkled on homes, people and beasts – after that time the plague went!
The church lost their lands and King Henry VIII granted Bucklebury & Thatcham to John Winchcombe, who was son of ‘Jack of Newbury’. John was a Member of Parliament in 1544.
In the 2nd Battle of Newbury, Cromwell’s soldiers, along with camp followers, camped on the common prior to going into battle with the King’s forces on the edge of Newbury – near Shaw House in 1644. There are 2 soldiers & 1 officer buried in the village churchyard from this time in action on and near the common – their graves are unmarked.
Bucklebury Cemetery opened in the 1800s – has been extended and still in use today. George Lailey, celebrated bowl turner of Bucklebury, buried there with a simple wooden cross. Some iron headstones there made in the Foundry in Bucklebury village.
The Enclosure Act of 1834 meant the Commoners of Bucklebury Common would no longer be able to use it for grazing their animals, firewood, winter bedding etc., as the common would be fenced off and sold in lots. John Morton, a local farmer from Bucklebury Slade, and Preacher at Turner’s Green, took up the challenge and fought the Bill in London – mainly at his own expense. Locals chipped in and collected £100 18sh 0d – the final bill came to £177 7s 0d – with the help of the MP for Reading the Bill was defeated and the enclosure never took place. The Common remains as it is today because of John Morton – we owe him a lot. Morton’s Lane, near the pub, is named after him
In 1835 a freak storm on Whit Monday, June 8th, was recorded. Thunder & hailstones fell 4” deep and in some places larger – windows were broken and other damage recorded.
The Coronation Oak on the common has plaque to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII in 1903 when 1,200 people assembled there and a service was held. The parishioners then went on to Tomlin’s Farm for a bonfire and fireworks.
During WW2 the common was requisitioned to serve as a depot for army vehicles – villagers watched while bulldozers levelled the whole area and the barriers were erected. They were issued with permits enabling them to pass through the enclosed land to their homes. The concrete road ways that were laid down at that time are still here and some brick building foundations still survive fi you know where to look. After the war the buildings that remained were occupied by many homeless ‘squatters’ and then the District Council housed people there before housing them in Paradise Way, Chapel Row. There are still folk around who once lived there.
On Dec 3rd 1940 a house on the common received a direct hit from an enemy bomb. Nobody was killed but the house so damaged that it was demolished – when it was rebuilt after the war the new house was called ‘The Blitz’ and still carries that name today and is owned by the same family.
Bucklebury Place, owned by the Sutton family, (Sutton Seeds of Reading) was used as a convalescent home for wounded troops during WW2. 12 Bucklebury men lost their lives. Bucklebury Memorial was built in the memory of the men who died during WW2 – a temporary hall made from 2 army huts was erected and fund raising began. The present hall was opened in 1961.
The Cottage Inn was formerly The Three Crowns
Some Bucklebury place names – Paradise – Angel’s Corner – Mount Pleasant signifying that our ancestors found this a very good place to live – we think so!
Chris Relf,