»Bridge Ends Distinguished prisoner Notes and queries John Edmonds th Pearson’s more suitable pulpit of 1852 Our late President occasionally contributed to our 18 century. In 1806 two unmarried ladies, Newsletter with topical or historical articles. His Miss Matilda and Miss Frances Rich, lived pieces demonstrate the range of his interests and the depth of his love for our villages. Reprinted there. Being the cousin and daughter of Sir here, particularly for the benefit of newer mem- Thomas Rich, retired Admiral, may explain bers of the Society, is his article from Issue 5 on the suitability of The Grove. The arrange- Admiral Villeneuve, who after his defeat by Nelson in 1805 was paroled in Sonning. ment appears to have been approved by Henry Addington, Prime Minister 1801-04, • Winter 2015 45 Issue The bicentenary of Nelson’s victory at later Viscount Sidmouth, who lived briefly Newsletter of the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society Trafalgar has a particular significance at Woodley Park. for Sonning. The defeated French The naval tradition of treating defeated Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Pierre de Vil- opponents with respect was warmly »Eye on Sonning leneuve, was billeted here for four months, upheld for Villeneuve, who never concealed Hocus-pocus in the pulpit “on parole”, having given his word that he his low opinion of Napoleon. Apparently at Diana Coulter a view from the Bridge would not try to escape. He resided at The his own request Villeneuve was permitted Probably the most reviled Archbishop ing nicknames, such as “The shrimp”, Mike Hart, Chairman Grove in Pearson Road to attend Nelson’s of Canterbury in English history was a “The little urchin” and “The little med- The Remembrance Service has just taken (formerly Sonning funeral in London. tailor’s son born in Broad Street, Read- dling hocus-pocus”. He was imprisoned place at St. Andrew’s in which we remem- Street), opposite the One of Nelson’s ad- ing in 1573. William Laud was a major and impeached in 1640, and eventually ber with gratitude so many who fought and High Street. mirals found him “a influence on King Charles I. They lost his head in 1645. died in conflicts. It is especially a sad time The Jacobean pulpit in St Andrew’s Throughout Trafal- very pleasant and shared a passion for order in religion Laud’s interest to us in “Sunninge” as we also recall not only the death of our (see page 1) was initially replaced with gar Villeneuve had gentlemanlike man”, as well as politics. Laud favoured the is that he preached a sermon here on President, John Edmonds, in August but the one above. This was transferred stood on the quarter- and he was a great primacy of the sacra- Sunday 31 August also of Christine Clarke, wife of our Vice to All Saints in Dunsden in 1876 and deck of his flagship social success in ments in worship. The 1623. He was friends President Canon Chris Clarke. Our sympa- replaced by the current, grand timber the Bucentaure. The Sonning, being small step of moving with Robert Wright, thies go to Chris and his family. pulpit still used in St Andrew’s. only remaining officer, “much in demand the communion table one-time vicar of By the time this edition is distributed we Berkshire Family History Society uninjured, he surren- for dinner parties”. from the nave to the Sonning and also a will have had our 12th AGM. Our thanks go For budding family historians, the dered to prevent In April 1806 an east end, protected by Royal Chaplain, who to our after-dinner speaker Peter van Went Reading branch of the BFHS arranges further bloodshed, exchange of prison- rails, smacked too much became Bishop of for giving us an insight into the history of a series of monthly meetings and complaining that Fate ers was arranged. of popery for fervent Bristol in 1623. Holme Park. We are justifiably proud of an annual summer outing to a place had not reserved one Villeneuve returned Puritans. Relaxation of When Canon the history of our villages and we are very relevant to family, social and local his- musket ball for him. to France under a rules about pastimes on Pearson came to lucky to have Peter to tell us the Holme tory. The branch meets at the Church Brought to England in flag of truce. He a Sabbath was equally Sonning in 1844, the Park story - an expanded version can be of Latterday Saints, 280 Meadway, the British frigate Euryalus, Villeneuve was landed in Brittany, lodging in Rennes. unpopular. Charles’ sup- pulpit from which Laud read on page 3. You can also read about Tilehurst RG30 4PE. All are welcome transferred to Reading on 30 December From there he wrote a long, highly critical port for these changes had preached was the old St. Andrew’s pulpit now in Tilehurst! – free entry, but donations gratefully 1805. letter to Napoleon, telling him that, “Eng- contributed in part to still in place: “it was Many of you will have already purchased received. Visit www.berksfhs.org.uk or Villeneuve was 42, five years younger land is too wise and too powerful to sign the Civil War and subse- of oak, of the reign the recently published first volume of pop into the Research Centre near the than Nelson. The Royal Navy described a fresh treaty with a man who she knows quent events. of James I, and of not Gordon Nutbrown’s A Thames Parish Berkshire Record Office. him as follows: “5ft 8ins. Hair very dark. is more dangerous to her in peace than in Laud was well edu- very bad design. We Magazine, which presents the Sonning (and YouCaxton Publications Eyes light grey. Body well made. Marks & war.” cated. From Reading School he went to thought, at first, of retaining it, but sometime Woodley, Charvil, Dunsden and Wounds none.” His servant, Jean Baptiste Soon afterwards, Bacquè found Ville- the newly founded St John’s College in when it was cleaned from the yellow Earley) Parish Magazine over the period The editor at YouCaxton has ap- Bacquè, was recorded thus: “Age 20. 5ft neuve dead in bed. The official verdict was Oxford, first as a student and then as a paint, and brought back, it contrasted 1869 – 1945 in an abridged format. It proached the Society in case members 5ins. Mulatto. Hair woolly. Body slender. suicide, but there were six stab wounds in Fellow. His rise through the ranks of so unfavourably with the new work, is a fascinating read, covering historical have local history projects that they Marks & Wounds none.” his chest; many believe he was murdered the Church was meteoric. He became that we found it necessary to replace it and often truly parochial matters over may wish to publish. The editor, Bob The Grove belonged to the Rich family, on Napoleon’s orders. Royal Chaplain to James I in 1611. with one more suitable to the restored the past century and a half. If you haven’t Fowke, would be pleased to hear from owners of large parts of Sonning in the Within five years he was Bishop of St church.” (Memorials) See the replace- yet bought a copy it is available from you on [email protected]. DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES April 2016 [Date tbc] David’s and in 1626 became both Dean ment pulpit on page 4 of this issue. various outlets including St Andrew’s and Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 8:00 pm of the Chapel Royal and Bishop of Bath “Stowed away in a stable loft”, the Brighton’s newsagents. Members are welcome to attend Executive meetings. and Wells. In 1628 he was appointed Venerable George Pott, Pearson’s suc- Bridge: Newsletter of the Sonning June 2016 [Date tbc] 9 December 2015 Bishop of London, and when he was 60, cessor, found the pulpit and presented and Sonning Eye Society Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 8:00 pm Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7:30 pm Archbishop of Canterbury. it to St George’s Church in Tilehurst, Education & Social Panel August 2016 [Date tbc] February 2016 [Date tbc] A man of small stature with a quick built in 1885-86 by S Gambier Parry, c/o Red House Cottage, Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 8:00 pm Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 8:00 pm temper, apparently he was inclined to the son of Henry Woodyer’s great Pearson Road, RG4 6UH 8-11 September 2016 Spring 2016 [Date tbc] irritability and impatient of contradic- friend, Thomas. The pulpit can be seen tel: 0118 9692132 Heritage Open Days Weekend - S&SES contribution, if Future Events Talk on bees tion. These characteristics and high there, and it is indeed a fine piece of email: [email protected] any, to be agreed churchmanship led to various unflatter- Jacobean timberwork still in use today. web: www.sonning.org.uk Bridge newsletter • Issue 45 • Winter 2015 Bridge newsletter • Issue 45 • Winter 2015 »Executive Committee & Panels: breaking news Holme Park in historical perspective Andy Bell, Pauline Simmonds, Patrick Hamblin New Executive 2015/16 many, full of very useful information! fund it. The Panel continues to investi- Peter van Went At the AGM held on 21 November, Planning applications gate other suitable locations. Two centuries after St. Birinus brought to Hurst landowner, Richard Palmer, features are its marble floored entrance Mike Hart, Bob Hine, Andy Bell and Christianity to the Thames Valley, whose rapid ascent of the social ladder hall and fireplace and an impressive Written comments were submitted on Impact of gravel extraction in Sonning Eye Alan Furness were elected to the roles Crown lands from Windsor Forest coincides with his employment as panelled staircase.