- Kingsclere
infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Kingsclere
latitude= 51.3260
longitude= -1.2442
civil_parish= Kingsclere
population = 3,396 (Civil Parish, 2001)
shire_district=Basingstoke and Deane
shire_county=Hampshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= North West Hampshire
post_town= NEWBURY|postcode_district = RG20
postcode_area= RG|dial_code= 01635
os_grid_reference= SU527588Kingsclere is a large
village andcivil parish in the county ofHampshire , England. Kingsclere is located near to Watership Down. Kingsclere has many shops, like Swan Street Store, McCalls, and a flower shop!Geography
Kingsclere is situated approximately equidistant (13 km / 8 miles) from the towns of
Basingstoke and Newbury on theA339 road .Economy
In 2003, Kingsclere won an award in the
Calor Village of the Year competition, winning in the Business category for the Southern and South East England region.cite web | title=Calor Village of the Year Competition 2003 - Final Results | work=Calor Village of the Year | url=http://www.villageoftheyear.org/england/winners/overall-winners/2003.htm | accessdate= 2006-08-05] The award was controversially placed above the public toilets of the village.Culture
Kingsclere has a primary school. The parent teacher association "Friends of Kingsclere Primary School" organise and run many fund raising events which contribute to village life
Kingsclere has a village club, which was given in memory to the village. Many societies and clubs use the building. It is also the home of the village library and police office. The police office is still identified by the exterior blue lantern, which was notably removed from the building, but returned anonymously after an appeal.
Kingsclere has a film society.cite web | title = Kingsclere Film Club | url = http://www.kingsclerefilm.co.uk/ | accessdate = 2006-10-07]
Kingsclere has a photo club.cite web | title = Kingsclere Photo Club | url = http://www.kingsclerephoto.org/ | accessdate = 2007-11-16]
There are three Christian churches, Kingsclere Methodist Church.cite web | title = Kingsclere Methodist Church | url = http://www.kingsclere.net/ | accessdate = 2006-10-12] , Saint Mary's Anglican Churchcite web | title = Saint Mary's Anglican Church | url = http://www.clerewoodlands.org.uk/ | accessdate = 2007-01-15] and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
The nearby Watership Down is the setting for the
1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams.Administration
The parish council meets in the Village Club monthly, except for August and December.cite web | title = Kingsclere Parish Council | url = http://www.kingsclere.gov.uk/ | accessdate = 2006-10-08]
In 2005, Kingsclere started its Village Plan for the next 10 years to make sure that the village is still kept in a decent condition and is improved, and does not develop into a town-sized settlement.
History
Kingsclere used to have a workhouse.cite web | last = Higginbotham | first = Peter | title = Kingsclere Poor Law Union and Workhouse | work = The Workhouse | url = http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Kingsclere/Kingsclere.shtml | accessdate = 2006-10-07]
Kingsclere was named in the
Domesday Book .Local legend asserts that King John was troubled by a bedbug during a night in a Kingsclere inn, when prevented by fog from reaching his lodge on Cottington’s Hill. He ordained that the Church should erect and evermore maintain upon its tower a representation of the creature which disturbed his sleep. cite web | work = The Bedbug Recorder (Edition One) | title = Kingsclere Heritage Association | url = http://www.kingsclere.org.uk | accessdate = 2008-03-19]
ources
ee also
*
List of places in Hampshire
*List of civil parishes in Hampshire External links
* [http://www.kingsclere.gov.uk/ Kingsclere Parish Council]
* [http://www.kingsclere.org.uk/ Kingsclere: Its heritage and genealogy]
* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/localpages/north_east/basingstoke/kingsclere/index.html Kingsclere] , history from the website of Hampshire County Council
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=2250&st=kingsclere A Vision of Britain through Time: Kingsclere]
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