TILEHURST
Tygelhurst (xiii cent.); Tyghelhurst (xiv cent.);
Tylehurst (xvi cent.).
The parish of Tilehurst was formerly very extensive,
but in 1889 (fn. 1) over 2,000 persons were transferred to
the parish of St. Mary, Reading, and in 1894 the
tithing of Theale and part of Calcot hamlet were
divided from it and formed into the parish of Theale.
The present parish contains 3,281 acres; there are
269 acres of woods or plantations and the remainder
is nearly equally divided between arable land and grass
land. (fn. 2) The greater part of the parish lies at about
200 ft. above the ordnance datum, but it is lower
near the Thames at the northern boundary and rises
to 299 ft. at Kentwood Hill and still higher to the
west in the woods near Pincents Farm.
The subsoil is Woolwich and Reading beds,
London clay, chalk, and in the valley of the Thames
alluvium. Tilehurst Heath used to cover a large part
of the parish, and apparently the Abbot of Reading,
as lord of the manor, claimed exclusive right of cutting
furze on the heath, (fn. 3) which was carted to Reading for
the use of the monastery.
The River Thames forms the north-eastern boundary of the parish. The Great Western railway main
line runs through the parish parallel with the
river; Tilehurst station is in the parish, about 1½ miles
north of the village. Two main roads cross the
parish; in the north the Oxford road runs nearly
parallel with the Thames and the railway, while the
Bath road forms the southern boundary of the parish
for some distance. From this road a branch runs
north along the eastern side of Calcot Park to the
village of Tilehurst, where it divides into two, near
St. Michael's Church. One branch is called Churchyard Lane and runs north-east into Norcot Lane to
join the Oxford road; the other branch goes past the
church to Back Lane, leading to Tilehurst Common
and the hamlet of Armour, where there is a village
hall and also the Blagrove recreation grounds.
Calcot House is a fine red brick building standing
in a well-wooded park. The date 1755, which is
found on some of the lead rain-water heads, is clearly
the date of the erection of the whole house, which is
in its original condition except that the walls have
been carried up above the main cornice to inclose
the topmost story and a new roof has been added.
The buildings are arranged round a courtyard, of
which the south side is occupied by the house and
the other three sides by stables, &c. A doorway with
Doric columns and entablature, approached by stone
steps from the courtyard, leads into the hall, where is
an open stone staircase. East and west of the hall
are the library and dining room respectively, both of
which are panelled, as is also the drawing room, which
occupies the centre of the south front. Behind
the library is the so-called 'Magistrate's Room,'
where a court was formerly held. In the centre of
the south front are four Ionic pilasters of brick with
stone bases and capitals carrying an entablature and
pediment.
Various antiquarian discoveries have been made in
the parish; a bronze dagger was dredged from the
Thames, (fn. 4) and there are traces of a Roman settlement
near Pincents Farm. (fn. 5) There is also a well-marked
rectangular camp in a wood near Tilehurst station. (fn. 6)
The parish of Theale was formed ecclesiastically in
1832, and for civil purposes in 1894, out of part of
the parish of Tilehurst. It had previously formed a
tithing in Tilehurst, but the new parish also contains
the greater part of the hamlet of Calcot and covers an
area of 1,647¾ acres, of which there is a slightly
greater proportion of permanent grass land than of
arable land. (fn. 7) The southern boundary is formed by
the Kennet and its tributary, the Holy Brook, and
the parish is well watered by various streams running into the Sul. In the north there is a small
stream that runs into the Thames. The village of
Theale lies in the south-west of the parish along the
Bath road, which also forms for some distance the
division between the two parishes of Theale and
Tilehurst. From this road there is a branch road
running north to Sulham, and there are several small
roads going west to Englefield parish. The houses
which line the main road are almost entirely modern,
with the exception of a pair of half-timber cottages,
once an inn, which probably date from the middle of
the 17th century. Their fronts are twin-gabled with
moulded barge-boards. The gables are tile-hung and
central with each are two bay windows lighting the
first floor, supported by carved console brackets of
wood, having mullions and transoms of the same
material. The bay windows are crowned by pediments; in the tympanum of each is a winged cherub's
head in plaster. The roof is covered with tiles. The
building is now demolished.
Calcot House, Tilehurst: South Front
The Great Western railway (Berks and Hants
section) crosses the parish of Theale, with a station
a short distance south-east of the village. In the
parish remains have been found indicating that it was
a site occupied probably by successive British, RomanoBritish and Saxon settlements. (fn. 8) Various relics have
been dug up, including British urns, fine hand-made
pottery, tiles, loom-weights, &c. A drinking cup of
the Bronze Age has also been found in Theale. (fn. 9)
MANORS
The manor of TILEHURST is not
mentioned in the Domesday Survey, but
it is possible that it was included with
other hamlets in the manor of Reading. (fn. 10) This
seems more probable, since in 1291 (fn. 11) Tilehurst is
enumerated among the hamlets of Reading. Tilehurst
came into the possession of Reading Abbey before the
13th century, and the manor was held by the abbey
until the dissolution of the greater monasteries. (fn. 12)
In 1545 (fn. 13) Henry VIII granted it to Francis Englefield. He was attainted and forfeited his lands in
1585, and in the following year (fn. 14) Elizabeth granted
a lease of the manor of Tilehurst for forty years to
Humphrey Foster and George
Fitton, but she kept the fee
simple until 1599–1600,
when she sold it to Henry
Best and Francis Jackson, (fn. 15)
from whom it passed to
Thomas Crompton, son and
heir of Sir Thomas Crompton, kt., of Benington,
Herts. (fn. 16) He sold it in 1604
to Sir Peter Vanlore, (fn. 17) to
whom Francis Englefield, the
nephew and heir of the former lord of the manor, who
had died in exile about 1596,
quitclaimed it in 1604. (fn. 18) A
few years later James I (fn. 19)
made grants of a fee-farm
rent in the manor, with a
water-mill and other rights
there, that had been reserved
by Queen Elizabeth in her
patent to Best and Jackson.
Tilehurst passed like Sir Peter
Vanlore's other property to
his son and daughters as joint
heirs. There are many conveyances by his children
and grandchildren, (fn. 20) but for many years no partition
took place amongst them. Eventually the descendants of the younger Sir Peter Vanlore seem to
have obtained possession of the whole manor and
were in seisin in 1676. (fn. 21) The first Vanlore built
himself a house at Tilehurst, and this seems to have
been occupied by the Zinzan family, who appear
to have held the manor and settled at Tilehurst. (fn. 22) Sir Peter's daughter
Jacoba and Henry Zinzan,
her husband, (fn. 23) were buried
in Tilehurst Church in 1677
and 1676 respectively; they
had several children in 1665,
Henry being the heir. (fn. 24) In
1685 (fn. 25) James Dickenson and
his wife Jane held a moiety
of the manor and in 1686 (fn. 26)
John Jacques, clerk, and his
wife Frances held another
moiety; Jane and Frances
may perhaps be identified as
the daughters of Henry and Jacoba. (fn. 27) In 1687 it
was sold to John Wilder of Nunhide for £1,075. (fn. 28)
The manor is also said to have been in the hands of
the Kendricks of Whitley, Reading, (fn. 29) who were connected with the Zinzans, and had owned land in the
parish since the early 17th century, (fn. 30) but they cannot
have held it for long. By 1706,
however, the manor undoubtedly
came into the possession of Benjamin
Child, (fn. 31) who married Mary Kendrick,
the heroine of the ballad of the Berkshire Lady, the daughter and co-heir of
Sir William Kendrick, the last baronet. (fn. 32)
After her death Benjamin Child sold
it about 1759 (fn. 33) to John Blagrave
of Southcot, who built Calcot House,
which has passed with the manor, the
old Vanlore house having been pulled
down. The manor passed to his
niece and devisee Frances, the eldest
daughter and co-heir of Anthony
Blagrave. She married John Blagrave
of Watchfield, who was, however,
said to have no connexion with the
Blagraves of Southcot. Their descendant, Mr. Henry Barry Blagrave, is
the present lord of the manor of
Tilehurst.
Vanlore. Or a garland in its proper colours.
An estate in the parish known
formerly as Diles and at the present
time as Prospect Hill, (fn. 34) which belonged to Sir
William Kendrick, bart., was not sold with the
manor to John Blagrave but it was inherited by
Benjamin Child's eldest daughter. By her marriage
it passed to James Hill, but it was sold before
1813 to John Engelbert Liebenrood, (fn. 35) in whose
family it remained until Major Engelbert Liebenrood
sold it to the Reading Corporation for a public park.
The Abbot of Reading held view of frankpledge (fn. 36)
and exercised the rights of free fishery in the Kennet
and of free warren. These rights were all exercised
by his successors in the manor. (fn. 37)
The Vachells of Coley, who were free tenants of
the abbey, also had the right
of free warren in their demesne lands in Tilehurst (see
below), a privilege obtained
in 1346 (fn. 38) by John Vachell.
Kentwood of Tilehurst. Or a bend between three crosslets fitchy sable with three cinqfoils or upon the bend.
The manor of KENTWOOD was held of the
abbey of Reading, (fn. 39) and afterwards of Sir Peter Vanlore (fn. 40)
under the manor of Tilehurst,
but its early history is obscure.
A family taking their name
from Kentwood, in the north
of Tilehurst parish, were
settled there in the 14th
century, Nicholas Kentwood
being one of the parishioners of the church of
Tilehurst in 1341–2. (fn. 41) He was succeeded by John
Kentwood before 1392, (fn. 42) and in 1434 the latter, or
a younger John Kentwood, (fn. 43) appears in a list of
the gentry of the county. His successor appears to
have been Nicholas, whose wife's name was Maud (fn. 44) ;
it seems probable that he may be identified with
that Nicholas Kentwood who married Maud Sackville
of Fawley, Bucks. (fn. 45) Nicholas died before 1443, (fn. 46)
and was succeeded by a son named Robert and
grandson John. (fn. 47) The latter granted the family
property in Cholsey in 1484 (fn. 48) to Alexander Cheyne
and his wife Florence, who was probably the widow
of Robert Kentwood. John Kentwood died in
1487, (fn. 49) when his manors in this county seem to
have been divided between his two sisters and coheirs. (fn. 50) One of these co-heirs was Elizabeth the wife
of John Swafield, and the other was apparently
Frideswide the wife of Richard
Fettiplace of Maidencote. (fn. 51)
Presumably Frideswide and
Richard had died before
1507, (fn. 52) and their right in the
manor had passed to their son
and heir William. The latter
and his wife Elizabeth seem
to have made a settlement of
their moiety of the manor of
Kentwood in that year, (fn. 53) the
trustees for the settlement
being Robert Brudenell, a
justice of the King's Bench,
and Lewis Pollard, serjeant-at-law. (fn. 54) John Swafield
and his wife Elizabeth, the tenants of the other
moiety of the manor, were in seisin in 1509, (fn. 55) when
they granted their interest in it to John Yate,
Edmund Bury and Robert Hide, (fn. 56) probably trustees
of James Yate and his wife Mary, who owned it in
1526. (fn. 57) James and Mary granted it to William
Fettiplace in that year with a quitclaim from the
heirs of Mary. (fn. 58) From this time the whole manor
of Kentwood was held by the Fettiplace family.
Nicholas the son of William Fettiplace died in
1569, (fn. 59) and the manor passed on the death of his
wife Elizabeth, on whom it was settled for life, (fn. 60) to
his only daughter Anne. (fn. 61) She married Edmund
Dunch, (fn. 62) and her descendants in the male line held
Kentwood Manor until the death of Edmund Dunch
in 1719, (fn. 63) when his property was divided between
co-heirs.
Calcot House Stables, Tilehurst
Fettiplace. Gules two cheverons argent.
The lords of Kentwood apparently held no court
for their tenants in the 17th century, for they and their
freeholders went to the court baron of Tilehurst. (fn. 64) .
The Abbot of Reading had a free warren at
Kentwood appurtenant (fn. 65) apparently to his manor of
Reading.
The farm or manor of PINCENTS takes its name
from a family which lived in Tilehurst in the 14th
century. They came from Sulhamstead and obtained
their land in Tilehurst by an exchange between the
Abbot of Reading and Edmund son of Gilbert Pincent
in 1316, the latter obtaining three messuages, 3 virgates
and 3½ acres of land, 10 acres of meadow and 12 acres
of moor in Tilehurst in place of the land hitherto
held by him in Sulhamstead. (fn. 66) Edmund Pincent is
mentioned as a parishioner of Tilehurst in 1341–2,
but from that date (fn. 67) until the close of the 15th century
it seems impossible to trace the history of the estate.
In 1494–5 (fn. 68) Margaret Sambourne, a widow, died
seised of the manor, which she seems to have held by
inheritance, and not in right of her husband, Walter
Sambourne. Her father's name was Thomas Drew, (fn. 69)
who presumably had been seised before her. She was
succeeded by her son Drew Sambourne, (fn. 70) who held
Pincents Manor at his death in 1506–7 (fn. 71) ; it passed
to his granddaughter Margaret, the heir of his son
William, who had predeceased him. (fn. 72) Margaret
married Sir William Windsor, Lord Windsor, (fn. 73) and
Pincents Manor descended to their grandson Henry
Lord Windsor, (fn. 74) who sold it in 1598 (fn. 75) to Anthony
Blagrave. It descended with Southcot Manor, and
was held in 1708 by Anthony Blagrave, (fn. 76) whose son
John Blagrave was holding it presumably when he
purchased Tilehurst Manor, for it is now in the
possession of Mr. H. B. Blagrave.
Pincents Manor was held under the Abbots of
Reading for an annual rent of 18s. and suit of court
once a year. (fn. 77)
The so-called manor of BEANSHEAF, now in the
parish of Theale, was held under the Abbot of
Reading (fn. 78) by fealty, and after the Dissolution under
the manor of Tilehurst in free socage. (fn. 79) The rent in
1514–15 was £1 9s. 8d., and the tenant paid 12d. a
year to the abbot apparently to be quit of suit of
court. (fn. 80) It took its name from a family living in
Tilehurst in the 13th century. Robert Beansheaf (fn. 81)
and his wife Joan held a messuage and 1 carucate
of land in Tilehurst, for their lives, of John de
Drokenesford, clerk, (fn. 82) with reversion to John and his
heirs. In 1316 (fn. 83) John Beansheaf granted land in
Tilehurst to John Stonor, who was already a tenant
of other land in the parish. Whether this grant
included the whole of the Beansheafs' holding does
not appear, but their name is not found again
amongst the tenants at Tilehurst. John Stonor,
chief justice of the Common Pleas, (fn. 84) died in 1354 (fn. 85)
seised of one messuage and 1 carucate of land held
of the Abbot of Reading. He was succeeded by his
son John, (fn. 86) who died in 1361 (fn. 87) also seised of land in
Tilehurst, but the name of Beansheaf is not given
to their property until 1390, (fn. 88) when Ralf Stonor
granted the manor of Beansheaf to William Sutton
of Campden, and John Frank, clerk. The latter
afterwards released his right
in the manor to Ralf, (fn. 89) and
the Stonors held the manor
throughout the 15th century.
Sir William Stonor, son of
Thomas, died seised of Beansheaf in 1494, (fn. 90) and it passed
to his son John, (fn. 91) who
died leaving no children. (fn. 92)
The manor passed to his
sister Anne the wife of Sir
Adrian Fortescue. (fn. 93) Part of
the Stonor inheritance passed
to a younger branch of the
family, represented by Sir Walter Stonor, and there
appears to have been some difficulty in settling the
respective rights of Sir Adrian Fortescue (fn. 94) and of
this younger branch in Sir William's estates. Beansheaf Manor, however, was retained by Sir Adrian
Fortescue and his wife (fn. 95) and was held by a lessee
at an annual rent of £7 8s. 4d., and it descended
to their daughter and heiress Margaret. (fn. 96) She
married Sir Thomas Wentworth, who was created a
baron in 1529. (fn. 97) Their son and heir Thomas
second Lord Wentworth (fn. 98) succeeded his father in
1551 and sold the manor in 1562 (fn. 99) to John Bolney
and Ambrose Dormer; from them it seems to have
passed to the Vachell family, (fn. 100) who had been settled
in Tilehurst parish certainly
since the 13th century. (fn. 101)
Thomas Vachell died seised
of Beansheaf in 1610 (fn. 102) and
was succeeded by his nephew
Sir Thomas Vachell, kt. At
the present day Beansheaf
Farm belongs to Mr. H. B.
Blagrave.
Stonor. Azure two bars dancetty or and a chief argent.
Vachell. Bendy ermine and azure.
Calcot Mill, now in Theale
parish, was held by the abbey
of Reading, apparently as
parcel of the manor of Tilehurst. (fn. 103) After the dissolution
of the abbey it came into the hands of the king, who
in 1543 leased it to John Drewe for twenty-one
years. (fn. 104) Two years later, however, Calcot Mill was
granted with the manor to Sir Francis Englefield, (fn. 105)
Drewe's lease being safeguarded, but after the forfeiture of Englefield's lands it does not seem to have
been leased with the manor. Queen Elizabeth
granted a water-mill in Tilehurst to Robert Earl of
Essex in 1593 on a lease of twenty-one years. (fn. 106) It
appears to have been included in the grant in fee of
the manor of Tilehurst to Henry Best and Francis
Jackson in 1599–1600, (fn. 107) for in 1613 (fn. 108) James I made
a grant of a reserved fee-farm rent to William Whitmore and Jonas Verdon, payable to the manor for
the water mill for three 'Eights,' containing 1½ acres,
for fishing there and for perquisites of the court
of the manor. At the present day Calcot Mill is
the only mill in Theale parish and there is no mill
in Tilehurst.
CHURCHES
The parish church of ST. MICHAEL consists of a chancel, nave,
north and south aisles, west tower,
north vestry and south porch.
The only ancient portion of the present church is
the south aisle, which apparently dates from the late
13th or early 14th century. The tower is of the
18th century, and before alteration must have resembled closely the towers of Basildon and Brightwell
Churches. The whole of the rest of the church was
rebuilt, and a west door and windows were inserted
in the tower in 1856, from the designs of G. E.
Street. With the exception of the tower, which is
of brick, the walls are faced with squared flints with
Bath stone dressings and the roofs are tiled.
The chancel has a five-light east window, one
window and a doorway in the north wall, and two
windows in the south wall. The pointed chancel
arch springs from corbels. The nave has a north
arcade of three bays of pointed arches carried on
quatrefoil piers and a south arcade of two low pointed
arches supported on an octagonal central pier and
semi-octagonal responds, the north aisle being longer
than the south. There are three windows in the
north wall with a doorway to the west of them, and
one window in the west wall of the north aisle. Over
the doorway in the east wall of the north aisle leading
to the vestry is a rose window.
The east window of the south aisle is of late
13th or early 14th century date. It is of three
uncusped lights with intersecting mullions under a
pointed head, and has both internal and external
moulded labels. In the south wall is an original
window of two uncusped lights under a pointed head
and high up in the west wall is a single pointed light.
The 18th-century tower, which is built of red and
purple bricks, is of three stages with a crowning
parapet surmounted at the angles by pinnacles. The
modern Gothic doorway and windows were inserted
in 1856. Over the tower is a modern octagonal stone
spire with four projecting lights. The tower arch is
pointed and in the west wall of the ground stage is a
modern pointed doorway. The two-light window in
the north wall was inserted in 1906. The ringing
stage is lighted by three trefoiled openings, and in
each face of the bell chamber is a two-light window
with moulded brick jambs under a pointed head.
In the floor at the east end of the south aisle is a
brass of Gavin More and Isabella his wife, both of
whom died in 1479. Gavin was the son of Richard,
one of the marshals of the king's court. Above the
inscription are the figures of the man and his wife and
below it those of three sons and two daughters kneeling.
At the east end of the south wall is an elaborate
altar-tomb commemorating Sir Peter Vanlore, a native
of Utrecht, who died in 1627, and his wife, with their
life-sized recumbent effigies. The base is panelled in
black marble and has a moulded plinth and carved
capping. In the back of the recess which contains
the tomb is a black marble slab with a long rhyming
epitaph. On either side of the recess are flat pilasters
with arabesque ornament, at the bases of which kneel
two small figures, at the east that of a man, and at
the west that of a woman. In front of the plinth
kneel eight small figures of daughters in groups of
three, two, and three, all holding skulls in their left
hands. In the folds of the dress of the centre figure
of the third group, of which the head is lost, lies a
chrisom child. The spandrels of the arch of the
recess are of black marble, and above the cornice of
the monument are three shields of arms, the central
one displaying (1 and 4) Vanlore: (2) Gules a lion
passant argent, (3) Argent a cheveron between horseshoes sable, and surmounted by a crest of a negro's
head. The shield at the east is (1 and 4) Dodington: Azure a fesse between two molets in the chief
and a cheveron in the foot, all or, (2 and 3) Argent
a lion gules. That at the west is Vanlore impaling
Dodington. The group of shields is flanked by
obelisks above the pilasters.
There is a ring of eight bells, the first six being by
Henry Bagley of Reading, 1723; the seventh and
tenor are modern.
The plate consists of a silver-gilt chalice with a
cover paten stamped with the date letter of 1573, a
silver-gilt flagon of 1737, and a silver-gilt almsdish
of the same date.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: in the
first volume the names are partly entered in alphabetical
order: (i) all entries 1630 to 1715, also a loose page
containing entries of all names beginning with 'F'
from 1559 to 1641; (ii) all entries 1716 to 1754,
baptisms and burials to 1775; (iii) marriages 1754 to
1786; (iv) marriages 1786 to 1812; (v) baptisms
and burials 1776 to 1812.
The church of ST. GEORGE, now within the
borough of Reading, consists of a chancel with
an apsidal termination, north organ chamber and
vestry, a nave in four bays, a north aisle and a northwest porch. Surmounting the east gable of the nave
is a bellcote containing one bell. The church was
built in 1881, but the chancel was enlarged in 1893.
The building is of red brick with a tiled roof and is
lighted by lancet windows. The north arcade of the
nave has pointed arches, carried on circular red sandstone pillars, while built into the south wall is a
similar arcade, to be utilized when a south aisle is
added at some future date; the archway at the east
end of this prospective aisle is already built. Over
the chancel is a wooden vault, while the nave has an
open-timber roof.
The Jacobean pulpit was originally in St. Andrew's
Church, Sonning, from which church it was rejected
some years back when a modern one was built. It
was eventually found in a stable in a very dilapidated condition and given to St. George's, where it
was again put to its original use. It is hexagonal
with arcaded arabesque panels and has been very
much restored, the base on which it stands being
modern.
The church of the HOLY TRINITY, Theale, consists of an apsidal chancel, with an octagonal vestry on
the north, nave, west porch and a detached tower at
the south-east. The church, which is an interesting
example of the early Gothic revival, was consecrated
in the year 1832. A few years subsequently the tower
was added, and in the year 1892 the present apsidal
termination of the chancel was erected from the
designs of Mr. J. Oldrid Scott. The design of the
west front was based on that of Salisbury Cathedral,
the detail of which has been copied throughout the
building.
The apse is semi-octagonal, and is lighted by lancet
windows. The colour decoration was designed by the
late G. F. Bodley. The nave is ceiled with a plaster
vault in six bays, springing from stone vaulting shafts,
carried down to the floor. In each bay of the walls
on either side are coupled lancet windows. At the
west end is a gallery supported by two rows of stone
columns, with moulded capitals and base, the eastern
or front row having clustered shafts, from which
spring pointed arches. The soffit of the gallery is
groined in plaster.
The tower is in three stages, the belfry being lighted
by triple lancet windows. Crowning it is a moulded
parapet, with pinnacles at the angles. The tower is
connected with the south wall of the chancel by a
narrow range of buildings of similar height, lighted
on the east and west sides respectively by two lancet
windows.
On the north side of the chancel is the chantry of
William of Wayneflete, the founder of Magdalen
College, Oxford, removed hither from the chapel of
that college in 1830, and now inclosing the cenotaph
of Mrs. Sophia Sheppard, at whose expense the church
was erected. The chantry is a long, narrow structure,
about 9 ft. in height, roofed by a four-centred barrel
vault with moulded ribs. In the south side are two
windows, the eastern of five and the western of two
cinquefoiled lights with tracery within square heads.
The doorway has moulded jambs and a straight-sided
four-centred arch within a square head with traceried
spandrels. On the west side is a traceried panel
similar to the windows. Above this is a shield of
Wayneflete's arms.
The doorway to the vestry and a doorway built
into the interior face of the north-west wall of the
nave appear to be of similar date, and were probably
brought here from Magdalen College chapel at the
same time.
ADVOWSON
The church of Tilehurst was
probably granted to the abbey of
Reading at the same time as the
manor, but the first evidence of the gift is a charter
of Hubert Walter Bishop of Salisbury (1189–93),
confirming various churches to the abbey. (fn. 109) The
vicarage had been instituted before the date of the
charter. (fn. 110) The rectory belonged to Reading until its
dissolution, but the last abbot had granted it, together
with the tithes, on a lease of sixty-one years to
Richard Tomyowe. (fn. 111) In 1540 (fn. 112) the lessee obtained
from the Crown a new lease of the tithes, together
with a fishery in the Kennet which had belonged to
the cellarer. The rectory was purchased at the same
time as the manor (fn. 113) by Sir Francis Englefield,
(Tomyowe's lease being safeguarded), and he is said to
have given back the rectory to the church of Tilehurst
for the celebration of masses and obits. (fn. 114) Being returned
as appropriated to superstitious uses, the rectory was
forfeited to the Crown in the first year of Elizabeth's
reign, but in 1586–7 she again conveyed the tithes to
the living, (fn. 115) from which they have not since been
separated.
The advowson of the rectory and vicarage was forfeited
with the other possessions of Sir Francis Englefield on
his leaving the country. (fn. 116) Queen Elizabeth granted
it to Thomas Crompton, Robert Wrighte and Gelly
Meyricke in 1589. (fn. 117) It passed (see East Ilsley) into
the possession of Uriah Babington, who died seised of
it in 1605–6, (fn. 118) leaving his son Uriah as his heir. The
younger Sir Peter Vanlore claimed to be patron of
the living, although the advowson is not mentioned
in the quitclaim (fn. 119) given by the younger Francis
Englefield. Sir Peter, the father, however, is said to
have obtained it from Crompton, Fuller and Brewster,
who conveyed to him the manor. No opposition
was offered by the Crown to Sir Peter Vanlore's
obtaining the advowson, but many complications (fn. 120) and
a long lawsuit arose owing to the rector, Dr. Bowle,
holding the living 'in commendam' after becoming
Bishop of Rochester. (fn. 121) On his death the Crown
in consequence claimed the right of presentation and
Dr. John Littleton was appointed. (fn. 122) At the same
time the younger Sir Peter Vanlore, the patron,
presented one Andrew Blackwell, (fn. 123) who appears to
have been instituted. The case was taken to the
House of Lords by Sir Peter, since he could not
obtain redress, as he said, in the court of Common
Pleas. (fn. 124) Blackwell was dismissed from the benefice
before 1644 (fn. 125) and Dr. Littleton was put in possession,
but owing to his delinquency during the Commonwealth Blackwell again obtained possession of the
living in 1644. (fn. 126) He was, however, not recognized by
the heirs of Sir Peter Vanlore, who claimed the right
of presentation, and in 1658, a year after the death
of Dr. Littleton, they appointed Simon Louth, (fn. 127)
although the bishop could not institute him. In 1660
both claimants petitioned the Crown for the confirmation of their respective titles to the living, (fn. 128) and Simon
Louth was successful, being apparently presented a new
by Thomas Levingston and others, as co-heirs of Sir
Peter Vanlore and by the Crown. (fn. 129) On the death of
Simon Louth the Crown again presented, (fn. 130) but about
that date the advowson came into the possession,
presumably by purchase, of a Mr. Walker. (fn. 131) In 1743
William Best, D.D., presented, and in 1769 Edward
Wise and Benjamin Walker. (fn. 132) Thomas Walker was
rector and owner of the advowson and sold it to his
brother-in-law, John Taylor. The latter sold it before
1799 (fn. 133) to the Rev. Thomas Sheppard, D.D.,
who presented both in 1799 and 1810 (fn. 134) ; on the
second occasion the living was given to his brotherin-law, Dr. Routh, (fn. 135) the President of Magdalen
College, Oxford. By his will Dr. Sheppard provided
that the advowson should pass to the President
and Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford, unless
otherwise devised by his widow. She died intestate,
so that it passed to the college, to which it now
belongs. (fn. 136)
The new ecclesiastical parish of St. George, Tilehurst, was formed in 1882, parts of Tilehurst and
Theale being assigned to it. (fn. 137) It was endowed out of
the Common Fund with £50 a year at the time of its
formation. The benefice is a vicarage, in the gift of
the Bishop of Oxford, but in 1889 the parish was
incorporated with the borough of Reading. A chapel,
probably that of St. John Baptist at Theale, is mentioned in 1291, (fn. 138) when it belonged to the nunnery of
Goring and was worth £8. Probably it existed early
in the reign of Henry III, when the prioress held
land in Theale. (fn. 139) At the later date her land was said
to be at Tilehurst instead of Theale. It was connected with Englefield Church, to which a payment
is still made from the estate. At the time of the
Dissolution it seems possible to recognize the chapel
in the following entry amongst the Goring property:
'Sullam Ferme … with the Freholde Chappell
grounds and tenamentts there yn ye parychys
of Sullam, ye Vele and Nyffylde.' (fn. 140) The nunnery
also received the yearly offering of 12d. to 'Seynt
John Baptyst at ye Vele yn ye cownty of Bercks.' (fn. 141)
In 1542 the manor of Sulham, with its appurtenances
in Tilehurst and elsewhere, formerly belonging to
Goring Priory, was granted to Richard Andrews
and Leonard Chamberlain, and although there is no
mention of the chapel (fn. 142) it was included in the grant,
since in the following year Richard Hayles and Leonard
Chamberlain granted it to the Burgoyne family for
three lives. The Burgoynes sold it in 1545 to Richard
Bartlett, and in 1587 Richard Bartlett of East Compton
sold the chapel property to Humphrey Foster of
Aldermaston. Sir William Foster sold the lands in
1609 to Anthony Blagrave of Sonning and the Wilder
family purchased it in 1632. The chapel is last mentioned in 1675, (fn. 143) but it afterwards fell into decay and
had disappeared in the beginning of the 19th century. (fn. 144)
Foundations, however, have been found near the
entrance gates of the churchyard. (fn. 145)
The present church of Holy Trinity at Theale was
built by Mrs. Sheppard, while her brother, Dr. Routh,
was vicar of Tilehurst. The living is in the gift of
Magdalen College, Oxford.
CHARITIES
It was recorded on the table of
benefactions, dated in 1731, that a
Mr. Wheat had given a rent-charge
of £1 10s. out of land known as Halls Farm, Silchester,
for the purchase of great-coats. The rent-charge is
paid by Mr. Henry Welch Thornton, the owner of
the property charged, and is expended in the purchase
of reefer coats, which are given periodically to aged
men past work.
Church Lands.
— It appears from the recital in a
deed dated 16 November 1597 that in the reign of
Henry VIII, at the cost of the parishioners, two almshouses, one church-house, a house for the parish clerk,
a smith's forge, and two other houses had been built
upon a parcel of land upon the south side of the
parish church. In 1850 the site of two cottages was
added to the churchyard. The trust property now
consists of a parish room, four cottages of the annual
value of £28, which together with the rent of 3 r. 24 p.
at North Street, Theale, known as the Church
Pightle, let at £1 5s. a year, is applied towards the
church expenses.
The Poor's Land containing 28 a., or thereabouts,
was acquired by an award, dated 26 February 1817,
made under an Inclosure Act, (fn. 146) the rents and profits
to be laid out in fuel among the poor residents
occupying lands and tenements under the yearly
value of £10; the net income, averaging £50 a year,
is distributed in coal among the poor of Tilehurst
and Theale who come under the necessary qualification.
By the same award certain allotments containing in
the aggregate 1 a. 2 r. 27 p. were made for public
purposes.
Tilehurst School.
—The school building bears an
inscription under the date of 1819 recording that it
'was erected by Sophia, widow of Thomas Sheppard
D.D. of Amport, on land given by the Rector of
Tilehurst for the use of a National School, to be
supported by charitable subscriptions and has an
annual benefaction of £36 10s… . to be paid by
Magdalen College Oxford.' The college in addition
holds a sum of £568 8s. 5d. consols in trust for
Tilehurst School, producing £14 4s. a year.
Mary Lyne's Almshouses.
—In 1851, by indenture
dated 11 January (enrolled), Mary Lyne gave a
piece of land, on which she erected six cottages to be
used as almshouses, which the founder endowed with
£4,000 consols. The inmates were to be chosen,
three from the parish of Burghfield and three from
the parish of Tilehurst, and were to be widows
without encumbrances, or unmarried, of sixty years or
upwards belonging to the Church of England and of
respectable character. The endowment now consists
of £4,940 16s. 6d. with the official trustees (including
a gift in 1884 by the Rev. John William Routh of
£200 consols), producing an income of £123 10s. 4d.
Each inmate receives an allowance of 5s. a week with
an additional 30s. a year for clothing, three-quarters
of a ton of coal, and is expected to attend divine
service regularly.
Ecclesiastical district of Theale: The School.
—
In 1814 the Rev. Thomas Sheppard, D.D., by a
codicil to his will proved in the P.C.C. 23 March,
gave the annual sum of £20 for ever for the establishment of a school at Theale in the parish of Tilehurst
'to learn poor children to read …and to instruct
them their duty to God as taught by the church
catechism, and our excellent Liturgy.' The annuity
is received from Magdalen College, Oxford, and applied towards the repairs of the school buildings.
Under a deed of 14 May 1889 the college also holds
a sum of £88 9s. 4d. Bank stock, producing yearly
£7 19s. 2d., as a repair fund for the church of the
hamlet of Theale.
Ellerton's Charity.
—The Rev. Edward Ellerton,
D.D., curate in charge, who died in 1851, is supposed
to have purchased land containing 8 a. 2 r. 38 p. let
as garden allotments. The charity is now governed
by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 21 April
1899. The rents of the allotments, averaging £11 a
year, are applied in accordance with the scheme in
aid of the coal and clothing clubs and in prizes to the
holders of the best cultivated allotments.
On 30 March 1835 a sum of £55 was deposited in
Reading Savings Bank, given by an unknown donor,
for a charitable society. The sum with accumulations
of interest now amounts to £117 14s. 11d., and the
interest is distributed in tea among the poor by the
rector, 1 lb. to each recipient.
There is also a sum of £30 in the same bank,
left by will of Edward Allen, proved in the P.C.C.
20 December 1836, the interest to be distributed in
bread about Christmas among the poor
The parish is in possession of two cottages near the
church, which are let at £14 6s. a year, and the income
is applied in aid of the general fund of the parish
council.