BARKHAM
Bercheham (xi cent.); Berkham (xiv cent.); Barcombe (xviii cent.).
Barkham is a small parish 1,388 acres in area, of
which 417 acres are arable, 559 permanent grass
and 333 woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The Barkham
Brook, a tributary of the Loddon, flows through the
village, and there is a small lake in the parish called
Longmoor, constructed by the late Mr. John Walter,
where formerly the Longmoor bog existed. The
parish is chiefly on London Clay, but the higher
ground is covered with sand of the Lower Bagshot
Beds, and there are patches here and there of plateau
gravel. By the side of the brook there is a narrow
strip of alluvium. The surface is undulating, the
highest points being the Copped or Barkham Hill
and Coombes Hill. The parish forms part of the
forest of Windsor and is well wooded, Coombes
Wood, which adjoins Bear Wood in Hurst parish, and
Kidgham Coppice being extensive, whilst the fir woods
with heather extend from the south of the parish
for a long distance to Sandhurst and Broadmoor. (fn. 2)
Norden's map of Windsor Forest shows that the
village stood on the border line of the Bigshot and
Bear Wood Walks. (fn. 3) In 1630 and 1655 the inhabitants of this parish petitioned the constable of
Windsor Castle against inclosures made by Richard
Arrowsmith, who under licence from James I had
built a hunting lodge and formed a deer park at
Bear Wood. (fn. 4)
The open fields were inclosed by award of 1821
under an Act of 1813 'for vesting in his majesty
certain parts of Windsor forest in the county of Berks.
and for inclosing the open commonable lands within
the said forest.' (fn. 5) The parish was formerly entirely
agricultural, but part of it is now occupied by the
War Office as an army remount dépôt. Dairy farming has much increased of late years. Until recently
in front of the Bull Inn and smithy there was a
curious stand for shoeing oxen.
A road from Wokingham passes through the village,
thence to Hand Post Farm, where it branches to
Arborfield and Swallowfield. From Copped Hill in
the village a road runs north to Sindlesham. There
are several by-lanes and green rides in the parish.
The manor-house is situated in the centre of the
village. The oldest portion of the present building
is not earlier than the end of the 18th century. Stewponds remain in the garden, where a fine cedar,
which has recently been lopped, was planted in 1788. (fn. 6)
From the manor-house a lane runs south to the
church, about a quarter of a mile distant.
There were two moated farm-houses in the village,
one of which, Bigg's Farm, has been recently pulled
down; but a portion of the moat remains, and a
new house called the Moat House preserves its
memory. The other moated house, near the church,
has been converted into two cottages. Langley Pond
Farm is an ancient building recently restored. The
moulded beams show that it was of early 16th-century
construction.
Amongst the place and field-names found in Barkham are the following: Inhams, French Close,
Graffage Ground, Jeremy Corner, Rooks Nest and
Dotkins (fn. 7) (1595).
The Kingsmill family appears frequently in records
of Barkham. John Kingsmill (de Kyngesmalle) was
resident in the parish in 1327, (fn. 8)
and the names of John Kingsmill and Adam his son and
Elizabeth wife of Adam occur
in 1337. (fn. 9) Thomas Kingsmill
and Richard his brother, living
in 1476, are called sons of
William Kingsmill of Barkham, deceased. (fn. 10) Richard
Kingsmill of Barkham was
father of John Kingsmill,
justice of the Common Pleas,
who died in 1504 and whose
daughter Alice married
Thomas Bullock of Arborfield. (fn. 11) His son Sir John
Kingsmill was of Sydmonton,
Hants, and was the ancestor of Elizabeth Brice (see
manor), whose husband Robert Brice took the name
and arms of Kingsmill in 1766 and was created a
baronet in 1800. (fn. 12) Another family resident in the
parish were the Balls, the reputed ancestors of Mary
Ball, mother of George Washington. William Ball
of Barkham died in 1480, and was succeeded by
his son Robert, who at his death in 1543 left his
personal estate to his elder son William, who lived at
Wokingham, and his lands to his second son Edward.
By his will proved in 1558 Edward Ball left 5s. 'to
the buying of a crosse to gooe afore the procession
at Barkham Church.' (fn. 13) The registers record the
baptism of many children, but the family soon afterwards moved to Wokingham.
Kingsmill of Sydmonton. Argent crusily fitchy sable a cheveron ermine between three millrinds sable with a chief ermine.
MANOR
In the time of Edward the Confessor
BARKHAM was in the tenure of Ælmer,
who held it of the king. (fn. 14) The Domesday
Survey records that William I held it in demesne
and that it was assessed at 3 hides. It was possibly
granted with Earley to the family of Earley, for the
Testa de Nevill gives it as held of the fee of Henry
de Earley. (fn. 15) The immediate tenants in the 13th
century were a family of Barkham. John de Barkham
held the fee under Henry de Earley. He forfeited
about 1249, (fn. 16) but was apparently restored before
1253, when John, called son of Robert de Barkham,
levied a fine of lands in Barkham. (fn. 17)
Before 1279 the manor had been acquired by
Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford, who in that
year granted it to his servitor William de Nevill. (fn. 18)
In 1316 the manor was held by John Botiller, (fn. 19)
against whom in 1327 an action for waste was brought
by Agnes daughter of Thomas de Nevill, who claimed
that John held the manor for life of her inheritance. (fn. 20)
She recovered seisin of 200 acres of wood, parcel of
the manor. In 1330 Philip and Henry Botiller, sons
of John, who had recovered the 200 acres of wood
against Agnes de Nevill, (fn. 21) conveyed the manor to
John Maltravers, jun. (fn. 22) He was summoned to Parliament as Lord Maltravers in 1330, and in the same
Parliament was condemned to death for his responsibility in connexion with the death of Edmund Earl
of Kent. (fn. 23) He escaped the sentence by flight to
Flanders, and was restored on his return to England
in 1345. During his forfeiture judgement was given
in an assize of novel disseisin brought by Agnes de
Nevill against John Maltravers and Philip and Henry
Botiller, and by this judgement (given in 1334) she
obtained possession of the
manor. (fn. 24) By a subsequent
settlement the manor was entailed on John Bullock (fn. 25) and
his heirs, a life interest being
reserved to a certain Agnes
Ganefield, against whom a
suit for dower was brought
by Agnes widow of John
Maltravers in 1368. (fn. 26)
Bullock. Gules a cheveron ermine between three bulls' heads caboshed argent with horns or.
The manor came subsequently to the Bullocks of
Arborfield. The name of
Thomas Bullock appears in
the Domesday of Inclosures
of 1517 as owning 100 acres
of land and a house in Barkham which had been
occupied as a farm until 1514, from which time
he had allowed the house to remain in disrepair. (fn. 27) In
his will of 1557 he gave his wife the choice between
certain rooms in the manor-house of Arborfield and
the farm of Barkham 'to inhabit there or not.' He
left to the church a pair of white satin vestments 'with
crosse redde velvett.' (fn. 28) With Arborfield the manor
was sold in 1589 to Edmund Standen, and was in
the Standen family (fn. 29) (see Arborfield) as late as 1700,
when Edward Standen suffered a recovery of it. (fn. 30) It is
found soon afterwards in the possession of the Waterman family, who are said to have bought it from the
Standens. (fn. 31) John Waterman presented to Barkham
Church in 1739. (fn. 32) He married Penelope daughter of
Sir William Kingsmill by his second wife Rebecca. (fn. 33)
In 1755 William Waterman suffered a recovery of
the manor, (fn. 34) and again in 1757 with Esther his wife. (fn. 35)
The manor apparently passed by settlement to Elizabeth Brice, daughter of Frances Cory, daughter of
Sir William Kingsmill by his first wife. She with
her husband Robert Brice levied a fine of it to Sir
Samuel Fludyer, bart., and his brother Sir Thomas
Fludyer in 1763 (fn. 36) and again in 1766 to Thomas
Ward. (fn. 37) In 1821 Samuel Fludyer, (fn. 38) son apparently
of Sir Samuel Brudenell Fludyer, bart., (fn. 39) suffered a
recovery. (fn. 40) What interest the Fludyers had in the
manor is not clear. According to Lysons the manor
passed to the Pitts and Fonneraus. (fn. 41) William Pitt
presented to the church in
1768 and John Pitt in 1782, (fn. 42)
but the ownership of the
rectory seems to have become
distinct from that of the manor
about this date, for the rectory
is mentioned with the manor
in 1757, but is not included
in the deed of 1763. The
manor-house also at this
date was held separately from
the manor. (fn. 43) Possibly there
has been a confusion between
the different estates. It seems,
however, that the manor was
purchased by Lady Gower,
the third wife of John first Earl Gower, about 1783
from the Pitts. (fn. 44) She died from injuries received in
a fire on 19 February 1785. (fn. 45) After her death her
step-son claimed this estate and Bill Hill, Hurst, the
family seat, and a lawsuit followed, resulting in a decision
that as the property was purchased with Lady Gower's
own money it should descend
to her own son, (fn. 46) the Hon.
John Leveson-Gower, Admiral
of the White.
Leveson-Gower. Barry of eight pieces or and gules a cross paty sable quartering Azure three leaves or.
Walter of Bear Wood. Argent sprinkled with blood two swords gules crossed saltirewise with a lion sable over all
The family resided at their
seat Bill Hill, in the parish of
Hurst, but their family vault
was at Barkham. (fn. 47) Admiral
the Hon. John Leveson-Gower was succeeded by his
son General Leveson-Gower, (fn. 48)
who died in 1816, and was
succeeded by his son John. During his minority the
trustees sold the manor of Barkham to Henry Arthur
Broughton. It was then sold to Henry Clive, second
son of George Clive of Wormbridge, co. Hereford.
He was at one time Under-Secretary of State for
the Home Department, and married Charlotte Jane
Buller of Morval, Cornwall, leaving no children. (fn. 49)
Dying in 1848 he left the manor to his widow for
life and the remainder to his nephew, George Clive.
Mrs. Clive died in 1874, (fn. 50) and immediately after her
death Mr. George Clive sold the manor to the late
John Walter of Bear Wood. (fn. 51) His son Arthur
Fraser Walter inherited the property in 1894 on
his father's death. Mr. A. F. Walter died in 1910,
and his son Mr. John Walter is now lord of the
manor, and until recently owned almost all the land
in the parish. Several farms were sold in 1912, when
one of them was bought by the War Office for its
army remount dépôt here.
CHURCH
The church of ST. JAMES is a
modern building in 13th-century style
of flint with stone dressings, the chancel
being all of stone. It was erected on an old site in
1862, the eastern portion being again rebuilt in 1887,
and consists of a chancel, north and south transepts,
north vestry, and an aisleless nave with a south tower,
whose lower stage serves as a porch. The roofs are
tiled. The top stage of the tower is of wood and
has a small octagonal spire covered with shingles.
Barkham Church from the South-west
In a recess in the east wall of the porch is a carved
wooden effigy, probably of the 13th century, of a
lady in a long, loose dress and linen head-dress.
Both the hands are missing and the face is much
damaged. There are several 18th-century floor slabs
in the nave, and tablets to the memory of the Rev.
David Davies, Henry Clive and to former rectors.
There are four bells, cast by Warner & Sons, 1863.
The plate includes a silver chalice of 1561, a silver
paten given in 1664 by John Stronghill, who described
himself as head churchwarden, a large silver flagon
inscribed, 'The gift of Dame Rebecca Kingesmill,
Relict of Sr Wm Kingesmill Kt., late of Sidmontain
in the County of Hampshire to the Parish Church
of Barkham, in the County of Berkshire, 1729,' and
a second silver paten given by the Rev. John Gabriel,
a former rector, in 1775.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) all entries 1538 to 1732; (ii) baptisms and
burials 1741 to 1812 (no entries exist between 1732
and 1741); (iii) a book containing entries of three
marriages in 1764, 1767 and 1768 respectively;
(iv) marriages 1770 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The church of St. James is mentioned in 1220, when William de
Wenda, Dean of Salisbury, held a
visitation at Sonning, and John, rector of Barkham,
was reported to be holding the chapel of Arborfield by rendering half a mark to the dean. Henry,
chaplain of Arborfield, lived with the rector of
Barkham and received a stipend of 20s. (fn. 52)
The right of presentation to the rectory was vested
in the lord of the manor. (fn. 53) In 1334 the king presented to the church, the lands of John Maltravers
being in his hands through forfeiture. (fn. 54) After 1757,
when William Waterman was holding both manor
and advowson, (fn. 55) the records of the manor do not
mention the advowson (see above). In 1768 the
advowson was in the hands of William Pitt, and in
1782 John Pitt presented. (fn. 56) The advowson was
purchased by Lady Gower, and remained in her
family until the year 1810, when the Rev. Henry
Ellis St. John purchased it from Major-General John
Leveson-Gower and became rector of the parish, he
being also rector of Winchfield (co. Hants) and
Finchampstead. (fn. 57) His widow, Mrs. Elizabeth St.
John, was patron of the living after his death in
1841, and was followed by her son the Rev. Edward
St. John, then rector. (fn. 58) In 1862 he sold the advowson to the Rev. Arthur Roberts, curate of the parish,
and two years later Mr. Roberts sold it to John
Walter of Bear Wood, (fn. 59) whose grandson Mr. John
Walter is now the patron.
The Rev. David Davies, D.D., rector of Barkham
(1782–1819), was the author of Cases of Labourers
in Husbandry Stated and Considered, 1785. He made
a very careful study of the condition of the labouring poor, and recorded in his book valuable statistics
regarding the wages, cost of food, &c., in various
districts of England and Scotland.
CHARITIES
The official trustees hold the
following sums of stock in trust for
the poor of this parish:—
£16 2½ per cent. annuities, representing the
redemption in 1899 of a rent-charge of 8s., the gift
of John Brookbank, mentioned in the table of benefactions, dated in 1724;
£267 4s. 5d. consols, arising from sales in 1871
and 1874 of part of Half Moon Close and Long
Moor Common, constituting the endowment of Alice
Allwright's charity, founded by deed, 1758;
£488 11s. consols, representing proceeds of sale
in 1874 of land awarded in 1821 as fuel allotment;
£9 1s. 5d. consols, arising from sale of heath land
under the same award; and
£199 10s. consols, being a legacy by will of
Mrs. Sarah Glasspool, proved 24 February 1881,
the dividends being applicable in the distribution of
blankets or flannel.
The dividends, amounting to £24 10s. a year,
are, together with the income of a charity known
as Dalamore's charity, stated to be £100 consols,
applied in gifts of coal.