Shaw House, Berkshire facts for kids

View of Shaw House

Shaw House is a very old and important house located in Shaw, a village near Newbury in Berkshire, England. It was built a long time ago, during the Elizabethan era, which was when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. The house is famous for its special "H" shape when you look at it from above. It's considered a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic place. Its gardens are also special, listed as Grade II.

History of Shaw House

Shaw House - showing the side view of the house

Shaw House was built by a rich cloth merchant named Thomas Dolman. It was finished in 1581. This grand house has seen many important moments in history.

Royal Connections and Battles

The house is well-known for its connection to King Charles I during the Second Battle of Newbury. People used to think the King used it as his headquarters during the battle. However, recent studies show that even though the fighting happened all around the house, the King never actually went inside.

Other important people have visited Shaw House, including Queen Elizabeth I herself!

Changes in Ownership

In the 1720s, a very grand person named James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, bought Shaw House. Even though it wasn't his main home, his family spent time there. His son, the second Duke, had an interesting story. He met his second wife, Anne Wells, in Newbury. She was a chambermaid who later became the Duchess of Chandos.

Anne Wells, a chambermaid from Newbury, who became the second wife of the second Duke of Chandos

After the first Duke passed away in 1744, his wife lived at Shaw House until 1750. Her stepson then sold the house to the Andrews family. It was the childhood home of a historian named James Pettit Andrews. For many years, Shaw House was even used as a school!

Today, West Berkshire Council owns and manages Shaw House. It's used as a place for events and is open for people to visit.

Restoring Shaw House

Shaw House went through a big restoration project to bring it back to its former glory. This work started in 2005. The project received over £4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from English Heritage and Vodafone, making it a £6 million effort.

Visiting Shaw House Today

After the restoration, Shaw House opened to the public in 2008. Visitors can now explore the house, see exhibitions, and enjoy a special family corner. The house also hosts many events and activities throughout the year. It is usually open on weekends and during some school holidays. It is also home to West Berkshire's Registration Service, where important life events like births, deaths, and ceremonies are recorded.