A Description of Benham in 1801

THE BEAUTIES OF ENGLAND and Wales by James Norris Brewer was first published in 1801 and gave meticulous descriptions of the most notable country seats and mansions in each county. 

Benham near Newbury from the European Magazine 1808

"BENHAM HOUSE the seat of Lord Craven is about one mile west of Speen. The entrance to the park from the high road is by a gate with a handsome lodge on each side hence a spacious way through a wood leads to the open grounds where a variety of pleasing views are presented.

On the south beyond the vale which is intersected by the Kennet is a fine prospect of Hampsted Marshal Park and its woody accompaniments. The grounds on this side are agreeably varied in appearance and decorated with clumps of stately trees whose deep shadows playing on the water give animation and contrast to the contiguous scenery. The high grounds on the west are crowned with extensive woods whose back ground is formed of bold projecting tracts of the Wiltshire Downs Towards the east the eye ranges over a large district of well cultivated country interspersed with wood and diversified with a tract of prolific meadow land.

The house is a regular building of the Ionic order composed of free stone with an elegant portico to its south front It stands on a sloping bank embosomed in a deep and solemn grove where uniformity of tone has been judiciously prevented by the intermixture of trees of various colored foliage. A handsome sheet of water supplied by the silver Kennet and bounded with agreeable lines flows before the mansion in the vicinity of which is a small wooden bridge of three arches built after a Chinese design. The north side of the grounds is ornamented by woods which extend to the western gate and conceal the termination of the park which is here confined by a sweep of the Bath road. The general character of the place is simplicity and beauty but the effect is considerably heightened by its contrast with the sedgy marsh that occupies the centre of the valley."

We also find detailed accounts of nearby country houses.

      "Nearly opposite this village [Speen] on the north is Donnington GROVE the residence of William Brummell Esq. The house is a handsome modern building pleasantly seated on a sloping lawn under a ridge of woody hills which screens it from the north and forms a rich back ground where the ruined towers of Donnington Castle breaking the line of trees enliven the scenery and contribute to form a prospect of much beauty.

     It was erected by the late Miles Petit Andrews Esq but considerable improvements were made by the late W. Brummell Esq. who was Secretary to Lord North. A portrait of this Nobleman and another of Sir John Macpherson are preserved in the library. The Lamborn stream enlarged into a handsome piece of water flows through the vale in front of the house having its banks decorated with clumps of trees and its bosom studded with islands where the feathered visitants of the lake reside in full security. Near the lower extremity the water is crossed by a wooden bridge of one arch the outlet of the stream being judiciously hidden by plantations. The contracted channel at the up per end is concealed by stately groves so that only a broad and clear expanse of water is presented to the eye...

DONNINGTON CASTLE rears its lofty head above the remains of the venerable oaks which once surrounded it on an eminence north east of the grove This was formerly a place of much importance and by commanding the western road gave to its possessors a considerable degree of authority. When it was originally built is uncertain but from a manuscript preserved in the Cotto nian Library it appears that it belonged to Walter Abberbury who paid C shillings for it to the King. Towards the latter end of the reign of Richard the Second, Sir Richard Abberbury obtained a license to rebuild it and from him it descended to his son Richard, of whom it was purchased by Geoffrey Chaucer the parent of English poetry. Hither about the year 1397 in the 70th year of his age the bard retired in order to taste those sweets of contemplation and rural quiet which the hurry and fatigues of a court had before prevented his enjoying In Gibson's edition of Camden it is asserted that au oak was here standing till within these few years under which Chaucer penned many of his famous poems .

This tradition is in all probability a mistake as most if not all of Chaucer's poems were written before his retirement and even forty years ago not the least remains of it could be found after the strictest search and most diligent enquiry among the neighbouring inhabitants That he composed his pieces under an oak of his own planting is a story that has likewise been current but is an absolute impossibility as he was not in possession of the estate more than three years.

SHAW HOUSE is about the distance of a mile east of Donnington Castle It is a large edifice built with brick mixed with a quantity of stone and became celebrated through having been the head quarters of King Charles at the time of the last battle of Newbury. In an old oak wainscot of a bow window in the library is a hole at about the height of a man's head .This aperture according to tradition was made by a bullet fired at the Monarch as he was dressing himself at the window by a musqueteer belonging to the Parliament's army. The shot narrowly missed him and the wainscot has been carefully preserved as a memorial of the transaction."

     Another contemporary description of Donnington Grove is found in Encyclopaedia Londinensis
(Volume 16, 1819). 

"At a small distance from Speen on the north but in the parish of Shaw is Donnington Grove late the feat of William Brummell efq The house which is pleafantly fituated under a ridge of woody hills was built by the late James Petit Andrews efq., author of The History of Great Britain, and was for fome time his refidence. On an eminence north east of the Grove are the remains of Donnington Caftle which was formerly a place great importance and by commanding the western road gave to its poffeffors a confiderable degree of authority. It is faid to have been built by fir Richard Abberbury in the reign of Richard II, About the year 1397 Geoffrey Chaucer the father of English poetry became poffeffed this caftle and fpent the clofe of his life in retirement here. From the Chaucers the caftle defcended by marriage to the dukes of Suffolk. In the reign of James I it belonged to the family of the Packers whofe heirefs married Dr Hartley the ancestor of Mr Hartley the prefent poffeffor, During the civil wars this caftle was a post of great confequence being fortified as a garrifon for the king and entrusted to the command of colonel Boys who bravely defended it during a long siege, Camden in whose time the castle was entire defcribes it as a fmall but very neat place feated on the brow of a woody hill having a fine profpect and lighted by windows on every fide, The walls nearly fronted the cardinal points of the compafs the entrance being at the east end was defended by four round towers placed on the angles. The length of the east end including the towers was 85 feet the extent from east to west 120 feet. All this part is deftroyed the remains confift of the ftone gatehoufe with its two towers and a small part of the east wall The gateway is in good preservation and the place for the portcullis is ftill visible." 

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