A large audience gathered for tonight’s meeting (27th April 2009) to listen to a talk given by local historian John Trigg on the topic of “Squires of West Berkshire and their Estates.”
Mr Trigg noted that localism is what made the squires and that the coming of the railway disrupted this. However, many Squires such as James Blyth of Woolhampton and Ben Buck Green of Midgham embraced the new opportunities that became available.
There were few people that owned land in 1873. Mr Trigg referred to a “new domesday survey” of the nineteenth century which showed that 50% of Berkshire was owned by only 55 families. Many of these families had land in other counties and even countries.
Mr Trigg noted that at this time, Squires tended to inter marry. That is they would marry in to the families of other Squires. Many inherited and gained additional lands and wealth. The younger children of the Squires often became Clergy, whom at the time held a great deal of power within the local community.
Many of these families were large and to cater for both the families and the estates a large number of staff were required. Richard Benyon for example had 23 servants which did not include gardeners. Some Squires, the Mounts for example, believed they had to do good and indeed West Berkshire would not be what it is today if it was not for people like this.
One anomaly that Mr Trigg mentioned was that he had never found James Blyth on a census. This is perhaps due to many of the Squires using different residences at different times of the year.
A vote of thanks was given by committee member Alf Wheeler and refreshments followed.