Bagshot & Windlesham, Surrey
Bagshot
From "The Year Book of Daily Recreation and Information" by William Hone, 1832 [source 1]
Bagshot, formerly called Bacsiet, is a hamlet to the parish of Windlesham, and is well known for good posting houses and inns. The manor of Windlesham was given by Edward the Confessor to the church of Westminster, and Henry VIII. granted it to St. John's College, Cambridge, which still holds the lordship with a court-leet and court-baron. [1]
The earliest mention of the manor of Bagshot is, that, in the reign of Henry II., one Ralph held it, in fee farm, as of the king's demesne. Since then it had distinguished possessors. Edward III. gave it to his uncle Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent, who was beheaded by the intrigues of Mortimer, and whose son Edmund, by restoration of blood, obtained restitution of his father's estates. Edmund was succeeded by his brother John, whose heir was his sister Joan, called the "Fair Maid of Kent," who married Edward the Black Prince. The manor of Bagshot returned to the crown, and, in November 1621, James I. granted it, with other possessions, to Sir Edward Zouch, by the following service, that Sir Edward on the feast of St. James' then next, and every heir male of Sir Edward on that feast, next after they succeeded to the estate, should carry up the first dish to the king's table at dinner, and pay £100 of gold coined at the royal mint, in lieu of wards and services. By failure of issue male. Bagshot reverted, and Charles II. granted it for 1000 years, in trust, for the Duchess of Cleveland and her children by the king. It was afterwards sold, and now belongs to the Earl of Onslow. [1]
The village of Bagshot, once full of hotels and posting-houses, is now almost as desolate as the great road that passes through it. Close to it is Bagshot Park, a hunting seat of the Stuart kings, which since the accession of William III. has been the hands of various grantees .... The rhododendrons and azaleas, in the American garden here, are of remarkable size and beauty. The peat and sandy soil is especially favourable to them; and there is a large nursery-garden near the village belonging to one of the Messrs. Waterer, and entirely appropriate to their growth. [2]
The workhouse on Bagshot green was erected in 1761, at the expense of J. Butler, Esq. [3]
The Bourne brook, which rises near Bagshot, passes by Chobham on its course to join the Wey at Weybridge. [2]
Windlesham
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It is alleged that the tree was planted in the time of William the Conqueror, and has existed while three churches successively raised their walls beside it. [1]
Windlesham church is about a mile and a half from Bagshot. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and a record in it states that the breaking off a branch from the old yew subjected the trespasser to a whipping at the cart's tail, or pillory and fine. The trunk of the tree, as it now appears, is twenty-one feet high, and, at a yard from the ground, measures twelve feet in circumference. [1]
The Rev. Thomas Snell, who has been rector from the year 1807, placed a strong ash prop to support its venerable remains. [1]
From "A handbook for travellers in Surrey, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight" by Richard John King & John Murray, 1858 [source 2]
The Ch. of Windlesham, 2 m. from Chobham, dates from 1680, when the older building was destroyed by lightning. It was considerably altered and added to in 1838, at which time the extraordinary N. aisle was built. The stained glass in the E. window is by Willement. [2]
The village of Windlesham, nestled among trees in the midst of the commons ... [which] are here nearly level .... About 1 m. from Windlesham they are traversed by the old London and Exeter road, once notorious, in this part of its course, for highway robberies, but now so deserted as to be hardly worth the attention of the most humble successor of Dick Turpin. ... [2]
From "A History of the County of Surrey" by Thomas Allen, 1831 [source 3]
Windlesham is a large parish, situated at the northern edge of the county. It adjoins Egham, on the east; Frimley and Sandhurst, on the west; Sunning hill and Old Windsor, on the north; and Chobham, on the south. [3]
There are several manors in this parish. The manor of Windlesham was given by Edward the confessor to the church of Westminster. At the dissolution, Henry VIII. granted it to St. John's college, Cambridge, who are the present lords. The manor of Fosters belongs to Earl Onslow, as does the manor of Bagshot. [3]
The church of Windlesham, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a rectory in the deanery of Stoke, valued in the valor of Edward I. at twelve marks, in the king's books at £10. 9s. 7d. It is in the patronage of the king. The church stands about a mile and a half from Bagshot. The ancient building was burnt by lightning, June 20, 1676, and was rebuilt in 1680, as appears by an inscription on the west wall. The whole is built of bricks, and consists of a nave and chancel, with an embattled tower at the west end. [3]