ST JUDE'S CHURCH
2009
is the 150th anniversary of the building of St Jude's Church.
Situated in the centre of the village the church is an important
part of village life. The Vicar of Egham, the Revd James Bewley
Monsell was the driving force behind the building of a
church in Englefield Green, begun in 1858 and consecrated in 1859. The
architect was Edward Buckton Lamb and the building in mid-14th
century style was completed by James Oades & Son, builders of
Egham. Outside it is of Kentish rag and Bath stone dressing and inside the
walls are of coloured brick with black and white courses. The font is of Caen
stone. The design of bricks on the inside walls caused derision and criticism when
first built but the mellow, unusual brickwork and beautiful
stained glass windows (including a "rose window")
now attract many visitors. Free concerts, exhibitions, etc. are being held this
year to commemorate the church's 150th anniversary. Details may be found
on the website www.stiudeschurch.info The church is also open to visitors every
Saturday from 2p.m - 4p.m
Opened
in 1873 as a training college for engineers on Coopers Hill, this is a large
Victorian building in use until recently (apart from the years between 1937 and
1946) as an educational college. During the war years it was used by London
County Council as a wartime administration centre (the statue of Eros was
brought here from Piccadilly Circus to keep it safe from the blitz). In 1980 it was purchased by Brunei
University for its Faculty of Education and Design. The Cooper's Hill estate
has now been sold to a development company but the original 19th
century building will provide residential accommodation for Royal Holloway
students. Cooper's Hill overlooks the Thames with Windsor Castle in the
distance. The panoramic view was immortalized by Sir John Denham in 1643
in his poem "Cooper's Hill"
The
six acre site for this memorial was donated to the Imperial War Graves Commission
in 1949. The architect was Edward Maufe who also designed Guildford
Cathedral. In contrast to the two buildings above this is a quiet, modern
building exactly suited to the purpose of remembering the dead. Above the
entrance are the words of the Royal Air Force motto "Per Ardiia Ad
Astra". Inside the memorial are kneelers and chairs for
quiet contemplation. Incised on the walls are the names of the 20,455
air crew from the Commonwealth with no known graves, who operated from bases in
the UK and North West Europe and lost their lives during the Second World War.
The memorial was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and was awarded the
Bronze Medal of the R.I.B.A. for the best building erected in the South
of England during the 8 years ending in 1955. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful
view over 300 acres of National Trust land overlooking
Runnymede "the birthplace of English liberty", including a beautiful
stretch of the Thames, and, in the distance, Windsor Castle
This
magnificent 19th century building was built by Thomas Holloway, manufacturer
of patent medicines and philanthropist. After he had completed building
the Holloway Sanatorium in Virginia Water (a gift to the nation) his wife
suggested that he build a college for the further education of women. This was
to be only the second academic institution in Britain where women could receive
as good an education as men. He commissioned the architect, William Henry
Grassland, with instructions to base his design on the 16th century Chateau
at Chambord in the Loire Valley. The resulting building was opened by Queen
Victoria in 1886 (sadly after Thomas Holloway had died) and is a lasting
memorial to his wife Jane. It was opened to students in 1887 (all 28 of them!)
and became part of the University of London in 1900. Male undergraduates were admitted
in 1965. Bedford College, another University of London college for women,
merged with Royal Holloway College in 1985 and the college is now called Royal
Holloway, University of London, with over 7000 students.
When
built in the 18th century Sir John Elvill's house was the principal
house on Englefield Green. It was one of the first houses to be
completely built in the Gothic style. The mansion was greatly extended during
the 19* century and its name changed to Castle Hill. After
Sir John died the house was occupied by his son-in-law the
Rt. Hon.William Freemantle and his wife Lady Selina Harvey, described as
"a lady eminently virtuous and kind ". Sir William held important
posts in the Government during the Napoleonic wars, and was later awarded the
unusual honour of the Knight Grand Cross of the Guelphs - a personal gift of William
IV
2. St Jude's
Church, Englefield Green, n.d.
2a. St Jude's chancel c.1930. The unusual brickwork
can be seen behind the choir pews
on the right
3. Royal Indian
Engineering College, Coopers Hill, Englefield Green
4. Royal
Indian Engineering College, Coopers Hill, Englefield Green Postcard dated 1904
5.
Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial, Coopers Hill, Englefield Green
6. Royal
Holloway College. The photograph of the Picture Gallery shows in the foreground
portraits of Thomas Holloway and his wife Jane painted by William Scott in 1845
7. Sir John
Elvill's House on Englefield Green. An engraving by Paul Sandby of the N.E. view in 1775
8.
Engraving of the house and part of the grounds of Sir John Elvill's
House 1784
Joan
Wintour
January
2009