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HER Number | MWB3464 |
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Record Type | Place |
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Name | SPEENHAMLAND, Newbury |
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Summary
Area to the north of Newbury's historic core, once a settlement within Speen parish that was important in the coaching era, and later a suburb of Newbury
Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status
- Conservation Area: Newbury Town Centre
Other Statuses and Cross-References
- Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01390.00.000
Monument Type(s):
- SETTLEMENT (13th century to 16th century - 1220 AD to 1600 AD)
- SUBURB (17th century to Early 21st century - 1601 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
Gelling <1> has the first mention of 'Spenamland' in 1220, with 'Spenhamelund' in 1225; she suggests the name means land of the people of Speen. The settlement originally lay within Speen parish and seems to have been part of the manor of Speen <2> <6>. A separate ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1844 out of the civil parish of Speen <6>, and ultimately Speenhamland became part of the expansion of Newbury, although it had been viewed as part of the town since the 17th century <12>. Although Speenhamland in the 21st century is taken to mean an area around The Broadway in Newbury, 19th century usage of the name seems to have covered a wider extent. On both Stukeley's <3> and Rocque's 18th century maps <4>, 'Spinham Lands/Spinhamland' is the settlement along the London Road, with the name Newbury centred on buildings to the south of the Kennet. However, it seems that a small stream, the Speenhamland Water (or North Brook) was the dividing line between the two parishes. On the map of Speen Manor <5>, a distinct difference in the layout of burgage plots can be differentiated north and south of this stream.
The increased use of the London to Bath Road from the 18th century led to Speenhamland assuming a greater economic importance <2><10>, with many coaching inns serving passing travellers, although a certificate of inns in 1577 had already recorded 5 in Speenhamland <17> (not 2 inns as quoted in Hunter <9>). In total there were 13 licensed premises in Speenhamland by 1577 <17>, indicating the early importance of the road (London to Bristol). Amongst the recorded names of the 18th century inns are The George and Pelican, The Cross Keys, The Chequers, The Angel and The Lamb and Flag, Speenhamland being the customary overnight stopping point for travellers from London. The Pelican theatre in Speenhamland was renowned but was demolished in the latter part of the 20th century. However, many historic buildings survive, particularly around the Broadway.
The settlement also achieved prominence due to the 'Speenhamland System', a scale of relief for the poor first conceived in 1795 during the Quarter Sessions held at the George and Pelican Inn, and adopted nationally. Berkshire magistrates decided that parishes should supplement wages from poor rates on a scale dictated by the price of bread and the size of the family <8><9>. The system was unpopular as it effectively encouraged employers to pay low wages and hence threw more people onto poor relief.
Sources and further reading
<01> | Gelling, M. 1973. The Place Names of Berkshire - Part One. English Place-Name Society Vol XLIX. p259. [Monograph / SWB10003] |
<02> | Astill, G G. 1978. Historic Towns in Berkshire: an archaeological appraisal. P49;51. [Monograph / SWB10869] |
<03> | Stukeley, W. 28/06/1723. Plan of Newberry and Spinae. Marked 'Spinham Lands'. [Map / SWB147333] |
<04> | Rocque, J. 1761. Rocque's Map of Berkshire. 1:35,000 (approx). [Map / SWB7242] https://www.rct.uk/collection/700042/rocques-map-of-berkshire (Accessed 09/02/2021) |
<05> | Commissioned by the Duke of Chandos. 1729/30. Map of Speen Manor. [Map / SWB12939] |
<06> | Money, W. 1892. Collections for the History of the Parish of Speen. online. p22-24. [Monograph / SWB11824] https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=JokLAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PR8&hl=en_GB (Accessed on 09/08/2024) |
<07> | Willis, John. 1768. Willis' Map of the Country ten miles round Newbury, with a plan of the Town of Newbury and of Speenhamland, 1768. 2 inch to mile?. Town Map Named. [Map / SWB8040] https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/50263734041 (Accessed 16/09/2021) |
<08> | Tolman, S. 1994. Newbury, History and Guide. p55. [Monograph / SWB13972] |
<09> | Hunter, J. 1995. A History of Berkshire. p78, 95. [Monograph / SWB146882] |
<10> | Higgott, A R. 2001. The Story of Newbury (2001 edition). p64-6. [Monograph / SWB13961] |
<11> | Various. 1738-1858. Berkshire Enclosure Maps - online as New Landscapes. https://www.berkshirenclosure.org.uk. Speen 1780. [Map / SWB14663] https://www.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/default.asp (Accessed 01/10/2024) |
<12> | Astill, G G. 1978. Historic Towns in Berkshire: an archaeological appraisal. p49. [Monograph / SWB10869] |
<13> | CgMs. 2008. Land at Guildgate House & The Furniture Store, Pelican Lane, Newbury. [Unpublished document / SWB147513] |
<14> | Thatcham Historical Society. July 2007. Journal of Thatcham Historical Society. Volume 1, Number 1. p19-43 Survival and Loss: Buildings of the Coaching Trade in Newbury, Part 1 by Sue Broughton. [Article in serial / SWB147687] |
<15> | Watts, W. c1750. The Newbury to Hungerford Roads. [Map / SWB147931] |
<16> | Homer-Wooff, G H R. The Postal History of Newbury. [Monograph / SWB13975] |
<17> | Wood, P. 2012-. Correspondence between Phil Wood and archaeology service on Newbury's breweries and inns. [Unpublished document / SWB148356] |
<18> | Wessex Archaeology. 2010. 4 Oxford Street & 24-26 The Broadway, Newbury, Berkshire - Historic Building Condition Survey. report ref 58640.02. [Unpublished document / SWB148503] |
Related Monuments
MWB18769 | 34 London Road, Newbury (formerly Speenhamland Manor) (Building) |
MWB15989 | Adnam's Brewery (previously Gale's Speenhamland Brewery) (Building) |
MWB15946 | George and Pelican, The Broadway, Speenhamland (Building) |
MWB10160 | IN PELICAN LANE, NEWBURY (Find Spot) |
MWB9900 | In Pelican Yard, Newbury (Find Spot) |
MWB15789 | In Speenhamland, Newbury (Find Spot) |
MWB16739 | In the peat at Speenhamland - unknown exact location (Find Spot) |
MWB3465 | Possible chapel, Speenhamland (Monument) |
MWB16451 | Saddler's Court, Speenhamland, Newbury (Building) |
MWB21996 | Site of cattle trough, The Broadway, Speenhamland (Monument) |
MWB21458 | Site of Golden Jubilee Clock, Speenhamland, Newbury (Monument) |
MWB21273 | Site of St Mary's Mixed National School, Newbury (Monument) |
MWB16728 | Site of The Angel, Speenhamland, Newbury (Monument) |
MWB16726 | Site of The Bear, Speenhamland, Newbury (Monument) |
MWB16732 | Site of The King's Arms, Speenhamland, Newbury (also The Dower House) (Monument) |
MWB16731 | Site of The Lamb and Flag, Speenhamland - approximate (Monument) |
MWB16124 | Site of the Pelican Theatre, Gilder's Square, Newbury (Monument) |
MWB16478 | Speenhamland School, Newbury (formerly St Mary's Infants' School) (Building) |
MWB16729 | The Bacon Arms, Speenhamland, Newbury (Building) |
MWB16727 | The Chequers, Speenhamland, Newbury (Building) |
MWB16450 | The Clock House (or Clock Tower), Speenhamland, Newbury (Building) |
MWB16730 | The Cross Keys, London Road, Newbury (formerly Speenhamland) (Building) |
MWB17390 | Site of Speenhamland Farm (Monument) |
MWB4831 | SPEEN VILLAGE (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
EWB1025 | Land at Guildgate House & The Furniture Store, Pelican Lane, Newbury (Ref: DH/KB/9946) |
EWB1123 | 4 Oxford Street & 24-26 The Broadway, Newbury: Historic Building Assessment, Survey and Recording (Ref: Report Ref 58640.03) |
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