I am sure that our memories don't go back that far, but this seemed to be the most obvious place for this request:

Sir,

I am writing Vol 2 of my biography of Sir Thomas Fairfax. I know that he brought the army to Newbury on 27 April 1646. The author Tony MacLachlan recently described him as "travelling in semi-Regal style".

My question is a simple one; can you identify a 'semi-regal' house where he might have stayed?Please?

Kind Regards John R

It is unlikely that he would have stayed over in a pub so that doesn't leave many locations.

Shaw House seems to be the only "regal" abode as most of the houses in Donnington had been pretty well knocked about during the civil war that was still running its course. The town of Newbury was between the two marauding armies and it was not uncommon for the local farmers livestock to be stolen by one army, bought back only to be stolen again by the other side.
Jack o' Newbury's house in town was probably by this time fairly well run down and would not be considered regal even though in the past many royal personages had been entertained there.
Donnington Castle was really a fortified house and was probably still standing in 1646, a little more complete than we see it today, so that could also have been used as a stopping off point.
Failing that, Sandleford Priory was a royal stop off in earlier days. Who knows, there's a good pub close by.
There was a fairly prestigious house at Benham-Valence in about 1630 although not the house we know today as that was built in about 1770. There must also have been some sort of house in Hamstead Park (Hamstead Marshall) It was certainly there in 1620 and was burned down in 1720 or there abouts.
If one travels a little further west, the Littlecote House was also standing in all its glory at that time, built in the sixteenth century.

The house in Hampstead Park was more of a palace than a country house - built for a queen (Elizabeth of Bohemia, sister of Charles I).  Couldn't really classify it as semi-regal - unless you'd classify Hampton Court as semi-regal.  I doubt that Fairfax would have been very welcome either.

Nor would he be welcome at Shaw House - not that that would necessarily stop him - an army can be very persuasive.  There must have been other country houses of substance - the Winchcombe's at Bucklebury for a start. Closer to town Sandleford and Donnington Priories are possibilites but other visitors, including royalty stayed in local tradesmen's houses (eg Charles I at Gabriel Cox's house prior to the 1st Battle) - perhaps that would have suited Fairfax.  There are also the inns, some of which were probably pretty good, more than 'above a pub'.

Quoted from Administrator

I am sure that our memories don't go back that far, but this seemed to be the most obvious place for this request:

Sir,

I am writing Vol 2 of my biography of Sir Thomas Fairfax. I know that he brought the army to Newbury on 27 April 1646. The author Tony MacLachlan recently described him as "travelling in semi-Regal style".

My question is a simple one; can you identify a 'semi-regal' house where he might have stayed?Please?

Kind Regards John R

I think you might look at Benham House!

Why not write to Tony MacLachlan (via his publisher maybe) and ask him where he got his information from. Seems strange that the guy who developed the New Model Army would travel that way though. (dissention in the ranks etc...) Wasn't Waller in charge of the Army though?

Might also be an idea to ask what 'semi-Regal style' means.


Threep.

Why do people keep on about a pub; there was no mention of one in the original posting.

Any large house would have had its own supply of wine and ale, and in many cases its own brewery, so there was no need for the Lord General of the New Model Army to nip out to an alehouse for a drink.

Quoted from Brewmaster

Why do people keep on about a pub; there was no mention of one in the original posting.

Any large house would have had its own supply of wine and ale, and in many cases its own brewery, so there was no need for the Lord General of the New Model Army to nip out to an alehouse for a drink.

Most people - and Fairfax certainly doesn't count in that category - would stay at an alehouse or an inn.  Even in the 1640s Newbury had a good number of inns where your average gentry would stay when travelling through - I see no real reason for Fairfax not to stay at an inn.

Quoted from dodgy

I think you might look at Benham House!

In 1646 it would have looked like a field.

Quoted from Threepwood

Why not write to Tony MacLachlan (via his publisher maybe) and ask him where he got his information from. Seems strange that the guy who developed the New Model Army would travel that way though. (dissention in the ranks etc...)

I take it you refer to the term 'semi-regal' - Fairfax was the son of an Lord and probably well used to life at court etc., by 1646 the war was pretty much over so he would be able to travel in bit more style knowing that he was not likely to face any force that could offer more than a token resistance.  

27 April was about the time that Donnington Castle surrendered - his arrival may well have brought that on. I guess Shaw House would be his obvious billet while besieging the castle.

Quoted from Threepwood

Wasn't Waller in charge of the Army though?

Not in 1646 - he commanded one of Parliament's armies 1642-1645. Fairfax commanded the lot from 1645.

Quoted from blackdog

In 1646 it would have looked like a field.

I assume we are talking about Benham Valence which had a building there in 1630 which was rebuilt in 1775 having been burned down in 1774.

I think the pub thread started with a flippant remark I made. Obviously not seriously though.

Quoted from blackdog

27 April was about the time that Donnington Castle surrendered - his arrival may well have brought that on. I guess Shaw House would be his obvious billet while besieging the castle.

No no no. (sorry to be so pendantic)

The original post says April 1646 (quite specifically). Donnington Castle was relieved by the King October/November 1644. (and that was the second battle of Newbury). (The first being September 1643)

The only way Fairfax could have been here leading the NMA in 1646 was if he was on his way down to the West Country (which resulted in the eventual siege of Exeter.)


Threep.

Quoted from blackdog

Not in 1646 - he commanded one of Parliament's armies 1642-1645. Fairfax commanded the lot from 1645.

It was called the 'New Model Army' and in June 1646, he led that army into Oxford, which was the headquarters of the Royalist army after being in Truro in March 1646 so he could well have been in the Newbury area but it certainly took a long time to get to Oxford if the April date is correct.

[quote=9]

I assume we are talking about Benham Valence which had a building there in 1630 ]

No.. Benham House!

Quoted from brian

I assume we are talking about Benham Valence which had a building there in 1630

No.. Benham House!

Where is that then, I'm a bit lost.

Quoted from Threepwood

No no no. (sorry to be so pendantic)

Feel free - be better to be right as well (says he, being pedantic).

Quoted from Threepwood

The original post says April 1646 (quite specifically). Donnington Castle was relieved by the King October/November 1644. (and that was the second battle of Newbury). (The first being September 1643)

The only way Fairfax could have been here leading the NMA in 1646 was if he was on his way down to the West Country (which resulted in the eventual siege of Exeter.)

Donnington Castle was relieved by the King in 1644 - while Fairfax was up north having recently given Rupert a pasting at Marston Moor.

18 months later the castle was in tatters having been seriously bombarded. Fairfax had by this time been appointed as commander in chief of the Parliamentary forces - the New Model Army. In 1645 the New Model annihilated the King's main army at Naseby and all that remained was the mopping up.  Fairfax took the surrender of the Royalists in the west in March 1646 and headed for Oxford, the King's capital. If he got here in late April he was actually too late for the siege as the Castle surrendered on 1 April.