Kingsclere

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Kingsclere
Kingsclere (Hampshire)
Kingsclere

Kingsclere shown within Hampshire
Population 3,396 (Civil Parish, 2001)
OS grid reference SU527588
Parish Kingsclere
District Basingstoke and Deane
Shire county Hampshire
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEWBURY
Postcode district RG20
Dialling code 01635
Police Hampshire
Fire Hampshire
Ambulance South Central
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament North West Hampshire
List of places: UK • England • Hampshire

Coordinates: 51°19′34″N 1°14′39″W / 51.326, -1.2442

Kingsclere is a large village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire, England. Kingsclere is located near to Watership Down.

Contents

[edit] Geography

A street in Kingsclere
A street in Kingsclere


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

[edit] Economy

In 2003, Kingsclere won an award in the Calor Village of the Year competition, winning in the Business category for the Southern and South East England region.[1] The award was controversially placed above the public toilets of the village.

[edit] Culture

Kingsclere has a primary school. The parent teacher association "Friends of Kingsclere Primary School" organise and run many fund raising events which contribute to village life

Kingsclere has a village club, which was given in memory to the village. Many societies and clubs use the building. It is also the home of the village library and police office. The police office is still identified by the exterior blue lantern, which was notably removed from the building, but returned anonymously after an appeal.

Kingsclere has a film society.[2]

Kingsclere has a photo club.[3]

There are three Christian churches, Kingsclere Methodist Church.[4], Saint Mary's Anglican Church[5] and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

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

[edit] Administration

The parish council meets in the Village Club monthly, except for August and December.[6]

In 2005, Kingsclere started its Village Plan for the next 10 years to make sure that the village is still kept in a decent condition and is improved, and does not develop into a town-sized settlement.

[edit] History

Kingsclere used to have a workhouse.[7]

Kingsclere was named in the Domesday Book.

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. [8]

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Calor Village of the Year Competition 2003 - Final Results. Calor Village of the Year. Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
  2. ^ Kingsclere Film Club. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
  3. ^ Kingsclere Photo Club. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
  4. ^ Kingsclere Methodist Church. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  5. ^ Saint Mary's Anglican Church. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
  6. ^ Kingsclere Parish Council. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
  7. ^ Higginbotham, Peter. Kingsclere Poor Law Union and Workhouse. The Workhouse. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
  8. ^ Kingsclere Heritage Association. The Bedbug Recorder (Edition One). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links