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SindleshamConflict over Christian Worship Often called 'Sinsham' in centuries
past, this area is best known for its three-storeyed mill, now a hotel,
night-club and leisure complex. The
old church here was originally a chapel-of-ease. It was built by Robert of
Sindlesham, in 1220, because he didn't think much of the muddy trip he had
to take to the mother-church at Sonning.
The Vicar of Sonning, however, protested for he lost all the revenue from
his Sindlesham parishioners. The matter was eventually settled when Robert
agreed that the chapel should only be used for himself, his family and
servants. The peasants would have to walk to Sonning. This building has,
however, long disappeared and Sindlesham has since been served by St.
Catherine's at Bearwood. A new chapel was built near the Georgian
Sindlesham House in 1964. Bearwood
House stands at Sindlesham. This
vast Victorian Jacobean-revival mansion was built as the family home
of John Walter III, proprietor of the Times newspaper at the height of its
reputation, in 1864. The architect was Robert Kerr. Since 1921 it has been
a school, originally for boys wishing to enter the Merchant Navy. The
estate was original purchased by John Walter II, the paper's founder,
around 1830. He built the church of St. Catherine on the edge of the
village. It was named after his daughter. |
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