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At the dawn of the twenty
first century West Hagbourne still retains its essential rural
character, despite the growth of nearby towns and the increased
traffic. Several working farms are still active within the parish,
their fields providing a swathe of green around the village.
West Hagbourne has its share of picturesque thatched cottages
and listed buildings. It once had its own mill, village stocks
and cob walls. A small section of one still exists. The Horse
and Harrow public house dates from at least 1754.
The
seat under the chestnut tree in the Square provides a shady resting
place at the heart of the village whilst the village pond provides
an oasis of calm and an attraction for children intent on feeding
the resident ducks.
Beneath this tranquil surface lies a fascinating and, at times,
turbulent history. The story of West Hagbourne starts with a Bronze
Age settlement, continues with manorial links to William the Conqueror,
intrigue at court in the fourteenth century and royal patronage
during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Great national events have touched the lives of the people who
lived here. West Hagbourne's past is truly woven into the history
of England and can be discovered in Windsor Hakeborne - the
Story of West Hagbourne, written, researched and published
by the Village History Group.
Click here to find out more about
Windsor Hakeborne.
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