NEWBURY

NEWBURY, a town in the county of Berks in England, 16 miles from Reading, and 56 from London, arose on the decay of Spinham-Land. Notwithstanding its name signifies New-Borough, it is as old almost as the Conquest. It made so much broad cloth formerly, that in the reign of Henry VIII. here flourished John Winscomb, commonly called Jack of Newbury, one of the greatest clothiers that ever was in England, who kept 100 looms in his house; and in the expedition to Flowden Field against the Scots, marched with 100 of his own men, all armed and clothed at his own expence; and he built all the west part of the church. Also Mr Kenric, the son of a clothier here, though afterwards a merchant in London, left 4000l. to the town, as well as 7500l. to Reading, to encourage the woollen manufactory. It makes a great quantity of shalloons and druggets, but not near so much broad cloth now as formerly; yet it is a flourishing town, with spacious streets, and a large market place, in which is the guild-hall. In the neighbourhood, on the banks of the Kennet, there is a stratum of petrified wood dug out for firing, where they frequently find trunks of large oaks yet undecayed, with petrified hazel nuts, fir cones, &c. with the bones and horns of stags, antelopes, &c. tusks of boars, and heads of beavers. The river Kennet, which abounds with excellent trout, eels, and cray-fish, runs through the town. It was made a corporation by Queen Elizabeth, and is governed by a mayor, high steward, aldermen, &c. The population in 1811 was 4898.