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Caves, Castles, Convictions &
Clashes
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- Romans living at Caversham are
known to have been Christian. They left behind a lead font (for
Christenings) decorated with 'Chi-Rho'
symbols.
- Caversham has lots of underground chalk caves. They mostly date
from the 17th century when the chalk was dug out for building stone.
Some people think they may be Saxon.
That's why it's called the 'Cavers' Home'.
- In Norman times, a small group of monks from Notely Abbey in
Buckinghamshire came to live near the church in Caversham. They set
up a chapel with the 'Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham' (the Virgin
Mary). It became a very important place for pilgrims
to visit & made the monks very rich.
- The pilgrims would also visit St. Anne's Holy Well at the top of
the hill.
- In Medieval times, Lower Caversham had an important castle:
- It was the home of William Marshal
who ran the country for the young King in the early 13th
century.
- Later, the Earls of Warwick lived there when they weren't at
Warwick Castle.
- The most famous Earl of Warwick was Richard
Neville. His support put kings on the Throne during the War
of the Roses. He asked his wife to marry him on Caversham
Bridge.
- John London dissolved the shrines in 1538.
- During the Civil War, King Charles I
& his army tried to relieve the Siege
of Reading. He stayed at Caversham
Park and his troops in the village. They lost the Battle of
Caversham Bridge, but Reading had
surrendered anyway.
- Caversham became part of Berkshire in 1911.
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