Tours > Royal County of Berkshire Towns > Newbury
Newbury
Newbury is
closely associated with its Race Course.
A major source of income and publicity
for the town, it plays host not only to
race meetings but to many other events
besides. Less popular attractions include
Greenham Common to the south, once home
of the American Forces in Britain and the
anti-nuclear protestors who followed
them; and the infamous Newbury By-Pass
which, despite environmental concerns,
has considerably eased traffic congestion
in the town.
Newbury was built
on the cloth trade of Tudor England and its
fine cloth was made World famous by the
town's local hero, the wealthy merchant
known as Jack O'Newbury. The facade of
his timber-framed house can still be seen
off North Brook Street, the main shopping
thoroughfare in the town. He and his son
rebuilt the enormous parish church of St.
Nicholas in its present form and his
memorial brass rests inside. The building
is normally open to the public, sitting
in a pleasant spot down by the River
Kennet. Jack is traditionally said to
have been married at the 15th century
Litten Chapel of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital in Argyle Road. This complex of
monastic buildings became almshouses
during the reformation, one of several
notable examples around the town. The
present strcutures date from 1618.
Opposite is Bartholomew Manor where Jack
may have died.
Further memorials
of Jack O'Newbury can be found in the
West Berkshire Museum in the bustling
market place. This is housed in a
picturesque old Jacobean building, known
as the 'Cloth Hall'. Chief amongst the
Museum's collections are finds from the
sites of the two Civil War Battles of
Newbury at Speen and Wash Common on the
outskirts of the town. Nearby Donnington
Castle was placed under siege. Its ruins
on a grassy hillside make a popular park
and picnic area for the townsfolk. The
museum building extends down Wharf Street
to become the galleried 'Old Granaries,'
home of Newbury's well stocked tourist
information centre. It reminds us of the
town's past reliance on river trade on
the Kennet and Avon Canal. Barge trips
are still available today from Newbury
Wharf.
Newbury
is a good shopping centre of medium size
with many High Street names and two small
department stores. Don't miss the
excellent second hand book shop hidden
away (but sign-posted) off North Brook
Street. There are a large number of pubs
and several car parks scattered around
the town's centre.
Next Stop:
Hungerford
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