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Begbroke was mentioned in the Domesday Book when it was valued at 100 shillings,
but the name is much older, a possible joining together of two Anglo-Saxon words
‘beck’ and ‘broc’, both meaning a small stream. ‘Becca’s stream is another
interpretation. Rowel brook which runs from the Spring Hill and flows under the
A34 to join the Oxford Canal, is a development of an Old English word ‘ra-wella’
or ‘roe-stream’. Round Castle, a plateau hill fort, is nearby and may date from
the Iron Age; while flints, scrapers, arrow-heads, a polished axe-head and a
piece of 2nd century pottery indicate early settlement in the area.
For nearly 500 years Begbroke Hill Farm was owned by only two families, the
Giffords and the Fitzherberts, the present fine stone house being built by the
latter in the early 17th century. This is on the site of a previous medieval
building, only the cellar of which remains. It stayed in private hands until the
middle of the 20th century. During the Partridge occupancy it was known as
‘Brewing’ or ‘Barley’ Farm as George Partridge won international recognition for
his barley crops. This enterprising man also introduced steam ploughing to
Begbroke and was one of the first farmers to advertise the sale of Christmas
turkeys. From 1960 until the mid 1980s the farm was popularly known as ‘Weeds’
because it was the home of the Weed Research Organisation — continuing this
modern development, its new occupants are to be the research scientists of
Cooksons industrial group.
The Royal Sun has been a holstelry since the days of Charles II. In 1723 one
Hannah Graves, the wife of the landlord, was placed in the stocks for causing a
disturbance in the village. Her husband John was ordered not to sell wine, and
was fined £40 for being disorderly. Nowadays it is an attractive meeting place
for villagers and passing trade alike.
Two of the larger buildings on the west side of the A34, which in effect divides
the older part of the village from the newer, are St Philip’s Priory and Solid
State Logic. The neo-Georgian house occupied by the latter has been used for a
variety of purposes — among them a retirement home for elderly clergy, a convent
school for 45 years, and a now a centre for sophisticated recording systems. The
Priory, home of the Servite Order of Friars since 1896, and given to them by
Charles Robertson, was the original manor house dating from 1610. During the
Civil War it was occupied by Colonel Butler, one of Cromwell’s commanders.
It is unusual to find churches of two religious traditions next to each other in
a small village — so near the busy A34 yet they form an oasis of peace in their
attractive rural setting. St Michael’s retains the simplicity and charm of a
small Norman church although it was extensively restored in the 19th century.
The third level of the tower with its saddleback roof was added in the 14th
century. The arch of the south doorway is in a zig-zag pattern and like the
chancel arch it is unusual in being supported by shafts of two different
designs. The octagonal font has a 15th century base inset with quatrefoils. Also
15th century is the aumbry in the north wall of the chancel which has the
original door, beautifully carved with vine leaves. The more recent stained
glass is mainly heraldic in design, but Old and New Testament scenes are
depicted in roundels, those of medieval date being Flemish in origin.
There is no school in Begbroke today, most children going to Woodstock, but in
the hundred years from 1786 there were several of widely differing types,
starting with the ‘Begbroke Boarding School for Young Ladies’ in what is now St
Philip’s Priory, which lasted until 1819. By this time there was also a dame
school and Sunday school for the poor children, and by 1820 the curate had
succeeded in establishing Begbroke Free School. To do this he had to ‘persuade’
an unwilling Widow Parker to become the schoolmistress under threat of eviction
from her home! And while encouraging the teaching of reading (and sewing for
girls) he believed it would be fatal to teach writing and arithmetic to the poor
as ‘these accomplishments would raise them above their station’. The school
closed by 1884 after running into debt. The schoolhouse was demolished in the
1960s and the school tablet is now incorporated into the wall of a family house
built on the site. The next (and last) time Begbroke had a school in the village
was in the Second World War, when St Juliana’s Convent was evacuated from Bognor
Regis to Begbroke Place, and stayed for 40 years.
The cricket club was established in 1934. They first played in the dairy field
opposite Hall Farm and then moved down the lane to the field behind Orchard
Cottage. They played mostly against college teams, who would arrive by taxi with
crates of beer on the roof. Teas were prepared in the stable block. Present day
amenities on the eastern side of the village include a garage, a small, friendly
post office/stores, playing field and village hall.
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