CAVERSHAM

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The Legend of Jack of Newbury:

Jack O`Newbury was a poor runaway who became an apprentice clothier in this town. He eventually married his boss's widow and became so rich that he was able to build the first true factory in Britain. The façade of his house, still called Jack O'Newbury`s House can be seen in Marsh Lane, down the side of Marks and Spencers. He and his son totally rebuilt St. Nicholas' Church and his insigniae can be seen throughout the roof bosses. It is similar to the elaborate churches of Suffolk also built by local cloth-merchants.
The church has an interesting font cover and Jack`s brass can be seen under the tower. That of his son has disappeared.

The best reminder of Jack O`Newbury`s benefaction in the town is St. Nicholas` Parish Church. It is a fine perpendicular building of huge proportions built, with money given by Jack and his son, between about 1500 and 1532. It stands on the west side of Newbury`s main street, Northbrook Street, just at the point where it changes to Bartholomew Street.
Jack's memorial brass is inside, attached to the wall beneath the great tower. It shows him in a long fur-lined cloak of the time, with a belt and a money-purse. Alice stands alongside him, with their two sons and one daughter below. He also features in the "Good Shepherd" window which is the second one as you head east from the south door; his monogram appears twelve times on the roof bosses.

Much more personal than the church, however, is Jack O`Newbury`s House which stands on the opposite side of the road a bit further down Northbrook Street. Unfortunately only one gable end survives, but it is a beautiful example of 16th century brick and timber domestic architecture. The upper storey retains its superb oriel window. The main façade of the building is now shops, but once it spread all the way back to Victoria Park. It is easily found just off Northbrook Street in little Marsh Lane. A large sign is fixed to the front of the building.

The Litten Chapel where Jack and Alice were married stands at the opposite end of the town in Newtown Road, adjoining the old Grammar School. The chapel was once much larger, but it was reduced in size when the Newtown Road was built in 1825.
St. Bartholomew`s Hospital is not far away, at the junction with Argyle Road. Opposite this is the medieval Bartholomew Manor which was leased to Jack shortly before he died. It was here that the trial of the Newbury Martyrs took place. Three Protestants were convicted of heresy during Bloody Mary`s reign and burnt at the stake off the Enborne Road.

The town museum is housed in the Old Cloth Hall. It is a beautiful Jacobean three-storeyed building with a first floor overhang and carved woodwork. It houses some fascinating exhibits including a replica of the Newbury Coat made in an hour quicker than the original.
Stretching back along Wharf Street from here are the Old Granaries. They are an interesting group of Charles II buildings with a galleried upper storey, one of the few of this type remaining in the country. (Newbury supported the Parliament during the Civil War.)