Bagnor

Bagnor is a village close to the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire and situated on the banks of the River Lambourn. At the 2011 census the population was included in the civil parish of Speen. It is best known as the home of the Watermill Theatre.

Bagnor
Village
Houses in Bagnor, with the River Lambourn in the foreground
Bagnor is located in Berkshire
Bagnor
Bagnor
Location within Berkshire
OS grid referenceSU452692
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNewbury
Postcode districtRG20
Dialling code01635
PoliceThames Valley
FireRoyal Berkshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament

Geography

Bagnor is located in West Berkshire. It is near the villages of Speen, Donnington, Boxford, and Winterbourne, as well as the hamlet of Honey Bottom. Donnington Castle, a significant site in the history of the First English Civil War, lies less than a mile to the east.[1]

History

Bagnor was recorded in the Domesday Book as Bagenore.[2]

"Humphrey the Chamberlain holds Bagenore from the King. Wulfeva held it freehold from King Edward. Then it answered for 4 hides; now 1 hide. Land for 3 ploughs: In hardship 1 (plough) 3 villagers and 3 smallholders with 2 ploughs. 1 slave: a water mill at 20s meadow 22 acres: woodland at 4 pigs".

The Blackbird public house has stood in the village since the 17th century.[3]

Bagnor Manor

Bagnor Manor is a country house standing near the centre of the village. The house in its current form dates from the 17th century. At the time of Domesday Book, the manor house and its estate had been held for the Crown. Ownership was later transferred to Henry de Bagenore, who sold the property to Poughley Priory and convent in 1232. The transfer was agreed in return for a yearly payment of 8 marks, food and clothing for Henry's two sons, and an agreement that the Prior would find a suitor for his youngest daughter, Celestria.

The priory was dissolved in c.1524 and its lands seized by Henry VIII. The manor house was granted to Wolsey College, later Christ Church, Oxford in 1531. Bagnor Manor was later transferred to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster in return for lands in St. James's Park. They built the present Grade II listed building[4] in the 17th century, but the estate did not pass into private ownership until 1871, when it was purchased by the wealthy Grove family from Donnington. Until 2007 it was home to the art collector and property developer Peter Palumbo, who installed many artworks in the house and grounds.[5] It is now a private residence.

Local government

Bagnor forms part of the civil parish of Speen, which is itself part of the district administered by the unitary authority of West Berkshire.[6]

Watermill Theatre
Main article: Watermill Theatre
Watermill Theatre
Aerial view of Rack Marsh, Bagnor, as seen in winter.
River Lambourn flowing through Rack Marsh to the south of Bagnor

The Watermill Theatre is a privately owned repertory theatre that has operated since 1967. It is a converted watermill with gardens beside the River Lambourn, and seats 220 people. It retains many of its original architectural features including the waterwheel, which can be viewed through a glass screen on entering the auditorium. Many successful actors have begun their careers at the Watermill Theatre, most notably Sean Bean, Bill Nighy and David Suchet.[7] It is one of only five theatres to have been awarded a National Touring remit by Arts Council England, and previous productions have subsequently moved to Broadway and the West End.[8]

Rack Marsh

Rack Marsh is a small local nature reserve in the village which is managed by BBOWT. As part of the Kennet and Lambourn floodplain it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It was the scene of protests during the construction of the Newbury bypass which passes to the east of the village. This was partly due to the presence on the reserve of the rare Desmoulin's whorl snail.[9]

Notable residents

A number of notable individuals have lived in the village or its immediate surroundings. They include:

See also

References
  1. Grid reference SU461692
  2. "The Domesday Book Online: Berkshire A-C". Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  3. "The Blackbird Pub". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  4. Historic England. "Bagnor Manor Farmhouse (Grade II) (1220574)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  5. "Berkshire History". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  6. "West Berkshire Council". Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  7. "Watermill Theatre Website – Save the Watermill". Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  8. "Watermill Theatre Website – About Us". Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  9. "SSSI designation for Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain" (PDF). Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  10. "Watermill Theatre Profile: Jill Fraser". Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  11. "Independent Online "Newbury: What the battle is all about"". The Independent. London. 14 January 1996. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  12. "Independent Online "Newbury: What the battle is all about"". The Independent. London. 14 January 1996. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
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