Kingsclere

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.

Geography

Kingsclere is situated approximately equidistant (13km /8 miles) from the towns of Basingstoke and Newbury on the A339 road.

Village Life

Kingsclere benefits from a long established friendly village culture^[1] and many local organisations and volunteer groups

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^[2], Saint Mary's Anglican Church^[3], 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.^[4]

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'.^[5]
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.^[5]

In popular culture

The nearby Watership Down is the setting for the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams.

Sources

1. ^ Margaret Ingram's book 'Kingsclere - A place and its people (1987)'
2. ^ "Kingsclere Methodist Church, Kennet and Test Valley Circuit". http://www.kennet-and-test-valleymethodist.org.uk/. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
3. ^ "Saint Mary's Anglican Church". http://www.clerewoodlands.org.uk/. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
4. ^ "Kingsclere Parish Council". http://www.kingsclere.gov.uk/. Retrieved 2006-10-08. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Kingsclere Heritage Association". The Bedbug Recorder (Edition One). http://www.kingsclere.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-17. 

See also

• List of places in Hampshire
• List of civil parishes in Hampshire
• Kingsclere census data 2001

Further reading

• Kingsclere - A place and its people (1987)

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.