RBH Home
  Maps & Travels
  Articles
  Legends
  Towns & Villages
  Castles & Houses
  Churches
  Biographies
  Gentry
  Family History
  Odds & Ends
  Mail David

Midgham was anciently part of Thatcham parish. It was given to the Pinkney family after the Conquest, but they divided it into three sub-manors: Erley's Manor and two others of unknown name but which, for identification purposes, might be referred to as Midgham Chenduit and Midgham Everard. Erley's Manor was the most important and is represented by the present Midgham House. It was originally owned by the widespread Earley family of Earley Whiteknights, near Reading. Its most famous owner was the diplomat, Stephen Poyntz, who became governor and steward to the household of the young Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. The prince spent quite a lot of his childhood at Midgham House to which accommodation, still called the Duke's Rooms, was added. Poyntz' panelling from the house now graces the walls of Brimpton Millhouse, while Midgham's Dower House was lost in a game of cards and re-erected as a gatehouse at Aldermaston Court. A fourth manor-house, called Hall Court, became the vicarage in 1857.

Midgham had its own chapel from at least 1309. It stood a little to the north-east of the present building, nearer Midgham House. The present church, of 13th century style, was erected by the architect John Johnson in 1869. There is an old story that it was built as the twin of Brimpton Church, so that two sisters could plant themselves in the towers and wave to each other across the Kennet Valley!

A second famous Midgham resident was the poet, William Crowe. He was born in a carpenter's cottage here in 1745. His fine voice enabled him to attend Winchester College and then New College, Oxford where he became a fellow and public orator of the University. His best known poem, on Lewesdon Hill (Dorset), was much admired by Coleridge and Wordsworth.

See also Thatcham.