Bagnor
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|type = Village
|static_image_name =File:Aerial image of Bagnor, showing the River Lambourn in the foreground.jpg
|static_image_caption = Houses in Bagnor, with the River Lambourn in the foreground
|coordinates = {{coord|51.422|-1.351|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|official_name =Bagnor
|population =
|shire_district= West Berkshire
|shire_county= Berkshire
|metropolitan_borough=
| metropolitan_county =
|region=South East England
|constituency_westminster= Newbury
|post_town= Newbury
|postcode_district = RG20
|postcode_area= RG
|dial_code= 01635
|os_grid_reference= SU452692
}}
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.
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.{{gbmapping|cap=1|SU461692}}
History
Bagnor was recorded in the Domesday Book as Bagenore.
{{cite web
| url = http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/berkshire1.html
| title = The Domesday Book Online: Berkshire A-C
| access-date = 22 December 2007
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071230055520/http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/berkshire1.html| archive-date= 30 December 2007 |url-status = live}}
"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.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.theblackbird.co.uk/
|title = The Blackbird Pub
|access-date = 3 May 2009
}}
=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.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
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{{National Heritage List for England| num=1220574 |desc=Bagnor Manor Farmhouse |grade=II |access-date=8 September 2017}} 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.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/bagnor_manor.html
|title = Berkshire History
|access-date = 3 May 2009
}} 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.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9478
|title = West Berkshire Council
|access-date = 3 May 2009
}}
Watermill Theatre
{{main|Watermill Theatre}}
File: Watermill Theatre, Bagnor.jpg
File:Aerial view of Rack Marsh, Bagnor.jpg
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.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.watermill.org.uk/save_the_watermill.html
|title = Watermill Theatre Website – Save the Watermill
|access-date = 7 June 2009
}} 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.
{{cite web|url=http://www.watermill.org.uk/about_us/about_us.html|title=Watermill Theatre Website – About Us|access-date=7 June 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301132141/http://www.watermill.org.uk/about_us/about_us.html|archive-date=1 March 2009}}
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.
{{cite web
| url = http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000109.pdf
| title = SSSI designation for Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain
| access-date = 22 December 2007
}}
Notable residents
A number of notable individuals have lived in the village or its immediate surroundings. They include:
- Jill Fraser MBE, theatre owner and director, who was artistic director of the Watermill Theatre from 1981 to 2006.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.watermill.org.uk/about_us/jill_fraser_mbe.html
|title=Watermill Theatre Profile: Jill Fraser
|access-date=3 May 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302151041/http://www.watermill.org.uk/about_us/jill_fraser_mbe.html
|archive-date=2 March 2009
}}
- Lord Hanson, industrialist, who lived on the outskirts of the village.
- Jack Hargreaves, television presenter and author, who bought and converted Brook House on the Winterbourne in 1948, moving on to Lymington in 1960.
- Sir Michael Hordern, actor best known for his performances of Shakespeare, and as the voice of Paddington Bear in the eponymous BBC television series.
{{cite news
|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/newbury-what-the-battle-is-all-about-1323863.html
|title = Independent Online "Newbury: What the battle is all about"
|access-date = 3 May 2009
| work=The Independent
| location=London
| date=14 January 1996
}}
- George Melly, jazz musician and writer
- Peter Palumbo, property developer and art collector, who lived in Bagnor Manor.
{{cite news
|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/newbury-what-the-battle-is-all-about-1323863.html
|title = Independent Online "Newbury: What the battle is all about"
|access-date = 3 May 2009
| work=The Independent
| location=London
| date=14 January 1996
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Bagnor}}
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220328052213/http://breathingplaces.org/public/place/21776/ Rack Marsh on BBC 'Breathing Places' Website]}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100104220109/http://berkshirehistory.com/castles/bagnor_manor.html Bagnor Manor on 'Berkshire History' Website]
- {{OpenDomesday|SU4569|bagnor|Bagnor}}
{{West Berkshire}}