Ruscombe

History

Reports from the late 1800s provided summaries of the status of the village; in 1876, the population was 200 and that increased to 349 by 1895. The village was served by a National school. The primary landowners were TC Garth and Rev. A Barker. St James the Great church was described as "a building of flint and brick, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch, and an embattled western tower". A history of the parish published in 1923 provided extensive coverage of the previous centuries. At that time, the settlement included "a few modern cottages" as well as the manor and church.

Parish church

Main article: Church of St James the Great, Ruscombe

The Church of England parish church of St James was built in the late 12th century. Its Norman chancel survives but its nave and west tower were rebuilt in 1638–39. Additional modifications were made in the 1800s. The church has been a Grade I listed building since 1967. St James' is part of a united benefice with St. Mary's, Twyford. The benefice is in turn part of a local ecumenical partnership with Twyford United Reformed Church. In March 2020, the partnerships included St Mary's Twyford, St Nicholas Hurst, St James Ruscombe and Twyford United Reformed Church.

Manor

The manor of Southbury was the home of William Penn from 1710 until his death in 1718. The house was torn down in 1829.

Notable people

• William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, lived in Ruscombe from 1710 until his death in 1718.
• Dennis Price, co-star of the film Kind Hearts and Coronets, was born in Ruscombe in 1915.

Amenities

Ruscombe Football Club plays in the Reading Sunday League.

References

Bibliography

• {{cite book |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wpenn.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308191011/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/wpenn.html |archive-date=8 March 2019 |url-status=live

References

1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Office for National Statistics.
2. [https://books.google.com/books?id=N5Qk_XcTf3QC&dq=Ruscombe%2C+berkshire+Rev.+A.+Barker&pg=PA506 Royal County Directory of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire]
3. [https://ukga.org/england/Berkshire/towns/Ruscombe.html Ruscombe, from The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England & Wales, 1894-5]
4. [https://ukga.org/england/Berkshire/towns/Ruscombe.html Ruscombe, Berkshire Historical description]
5. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2MBCAAAAYAAJ&dq=Ruscombe%2C+berkshire+garth+family&pg=PA126 Kelley's Directory, Berkshire]
6. {{NHLE
7. Archbishops' Council. (2010). "Ruscombe and Twyford". [[Church of England]].
8. "Welcome to Our Churches". Ruscombe and Twyford LEP.
9. [https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/239/ Ruscombe, St James the Great]
10. [https://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/ruscombe.html Ruscombe (Royal Berkshire History website)]
11. ''[[The Times]]'', 25 October 1949, p.1