Buckland

A beautiful Roman bracelet, bronze with coiled ends, was discovered in the Thames, just north of the hamlet of Buckland Marsh. Strange to tell, this seemingly insignificant event has given rise to an elaborate Victorian folktale about a supposed Roman villa and its owner who gave the bracelet to his wife on their sixteenth wedding anniversary. While walking by the river one day, she was startled by a pheasant emerging from a nearby thicket and - plop - her present was dropped in the Thames!

The meaning of the name is very simple, being “Book Land”, though perhaps some further explanation is needed. In Saxon times, most land was folkland held through folk or common law. However, some lucky people had their land granted by Royal charter or book. Bookland was exempt from all the usual taxes and could be disposed of as the owner saw fit.

Just south of the hamlet of Carswell Marsh stand Barcote Park and Carswell House, both the sites of lost Domesday villages (1086). Barcote appears to have been the westernmost strip of land in Buckland parish with Carswell adjoining. They were both deserted in the Middle Ages.

The Yates owned the manor - Buckland Park - from Tudor times. Sir Edward supported the King during the Civil War and was later forced to flee abroad. A stone table under the mulberry tree in the old vicarage garden records:

Charles 1st, King of Britain, spent the night at the house nearby  
and, when he was hungry, was entertained by the Vicar of Buckland,
who brought the King to eat at this table,
so that the altar and throne might forever be united in friendship.

Later John Throckmorton of Coughton Court (Warks) inherited the Manor through his wife. He was the man who laid down the bet that led to the making of the Newbury Coat: from sheep’s back to finished garment in thirteen hours and twenty minutes (See Greenham). It used to be kept at Buckland Park, but has since been moved to Coughton (where it is on display to the public). A replica is kept at the Newbury Museum.

See also Gainfield.