Berkshire History for Kids: Shaw House

King Charles' HQ

Shaw House is a Tudor mansion in West Berkshire. It is near Newbury.
It was built for Thomas Dolman in 1581. It is an Elizabethan E-plan house. Thomas was a rich wool merchant from Newbury.
People made fun of him because they thought big houses were for lords and ladies, not businessmen.
The Dolman family supported the King during the English Civil War. King Charles I made it his headquarters at the 2nd Battle of Newbury.
There is a plaque inside the house marking where an enemy soldier tried to shoot him. He missed.
In Georgian Times, the Duke of Chandos bought the house. While his son was staying there, he bought himself a wife in Newbury!
For years, the house was part of a school. Now it belongs to West Berkshire Council.