
In the Shadow of the Abbey
Explores the unique history of Bisham Village, telling the story of those who lived in and around Bisham Abbey in Berkshire. Each episode recounts the history, a personal story or the impact of an event; based on interviews with people who lived here all their lives, local knowledge and documents from the last 300 years. The War Years episodes recount life in the village after the Great War from 1918-1924 based on the delightful Bisham Parish Reports. The Abbey History episodes tell the story of Bisham Abbey and the Vansittart Family who were the Lords of the Manor of Bisham for 200 years, they sold the whole village in 1965. The Village Stories, based on interviews with people who grew up in Bisham in the 1940s and 1950s, tell tales of ordinary families who lived in the shadow of the abbey. Researched and written by Sheila Featherstone-Clark.
Episodes
20 episodes
Bisham Church in 15 minutes
This track guides you round the highlights of Bisham Church in 15 minutes. All Saints Bisham sits on the banks of the River Thames by an ancient river crossing with a clunch chalk Norman tower and significant extensions from 1566, 1849 an...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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15:16

Bisham Church pods- Brasses
Audio description of the Creckett and Brinkhurst brasses in Bisham Church. Featuring Thomas Creckett a Fishmonger and John Brinkhurst a Merchant Venturer and local philanthropist.Part of a series of mini-pods for the church by Sheila Feathe...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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4:13

Abbey History 1885 - 1892 Edward the Co-Operative Philanthropist
Unexpected inheritance funds the co-operative movement, Henry and Florence finally marry, the opening of the Bisham institute, new road and profitable development for wealthy residents. On November 4th 1885, 200 people attended GHV...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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17:40
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Abbey History: 1825 - 1885 George Henry Vansittart the Younger, Infant to Popular Landowner
The turnpike the train and the bridge, MP for the pocket borough of Bisham, ghostly copybooks? Victorian Gothic makeover and new chapel for the Church, selling land to fund lavish lifestyles .George Henry the Younger was the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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19:50
Abbey History 1780 - 1825 The Vansittarts and Indian Money
Daring merchant adventurers seize the day. East India Company fortunes save Berkshire as the Nabobs arrive. Georgian lavish lifestyle contrasts with fighting in France threatening the succession The time of the Hoby fam...
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13:46
Abbey History 1609 - 1780 The Final Hobye Chapter
The shape of the village and tudor brickmaking, From parliament to the church, illegitimacy saves the day, the start and end of the Hoby Baronetcy of Bisham, the succession finally falters and fails.The Bisham estate passed t...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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12:23
Abbey History: 1565 - 1609 Lady Hobyes Legacy (Aka Dowager Lady Russell)
Haunting the Abbey, nearly a countess, Pomp and ceremony for Queen Elizabeth in the Royal Progress, no chance for Shakespeare’s Globe and the Dowager's Magnificent monuments. Elizabeth Cooke had married Sir Thomas Hobbye on 27 ...
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16:13

Abbey History: 1553 Two worthye Knights (Hobbies both by name)
The Hobbyes come to Bisham. Sir Philip, the King and the Stonor connection, Sir Thomas, the Courtier and the wedding, Princess Elizabeth under arrest. Religious turmoil. Diplomacy after death.Sir Philip Hobbye took over the Bisham ...
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16:01
The War Years; 1924: Farewell Squire and Parson
In remembrance of Henry James Vansittart Neale KCB, Lord of the Manor of Bisham, lover of the river, deeply involved in his village community with a sense of duty and service, remembered by Reverend Farrer, for 25 years his pars...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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11:51

War Years; May 1924: Death of Sir Henry
New regime at the school, Mrs Young’s Guinea prize, wireless lessons, new houses built, the tin shed appears, Women’s Institute fete plan, Miss Phyllis steps up and Farewell to Sir HenryWriting my 25th Annual Letter reminds me t...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:33

The War Years; 1922/3: Measles Epidemic
General election landslide, Church heating crisis, death of old friends, sale of the cricket pavillion, monitoring the weather and the registers, early close for the school and successful inspections. (note the Bisham Parish Report f...
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13:13

Abbey History; Episode Zero (Bondig to Bisham)
The Abbots curse, Margaret’s dovecote, the spring bird, the Brinkhurst brasses. Why Anne of Cleves did not want to live at Bisham and Sir Philip Hobbye did.Bisham Abbey is well known as a National Sports Centre ; however i...
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8:21

The War Years; 1921: War Memorial Tablet 'Eternal Honour to their Names'
Burial of the unknown soldier, Bisham Memorial Tablet unveiled, start of the school bus from Hurley, carving class delivers, no bathing in July.Life was taking longer than expected to get back to normal; “In my last letter <...
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13:34

The War Years; 1920: Inaugural Dinner at the Institute
The first 2 minutes silence, Women’s Institute comes to Bisham, football club success, Expansion of the Bisham Institute New Billiard table and ladies join club.Revd Farrer reflected on Winter 1919 in his repor...
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13:47

War Years; 1920: Peace Day Celebrations
Change in the Church, the Bishop visits, Peace Day festivities in the rain, design of the war memorial unveiled, and Bananas for the school treat. “I spoke last year of the noble way in which the men of Bisham answered the cal...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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10:49

The War Years; 1919: Victory and Peace at Last
Victory, remembering the sacrifices made by local families, another change at the school, finance and War Savings, no dances at the Institute, an April blizzard. The War news was positive by May 1919; “From July to November ca...
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12:09

Abbey History; 1918 Influenza Strikes
The impact of the influenza pandemic following WW1 was felt by millions of people in all walks of life. The Abbey family did not escape, especially Phyllis who served as a VAD nurse in France. It was estimated that 50 millio...
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9:58

The War Years; 1918: The Abbey Wedding
Hoping for the end of the Great War, local boys missing in action, great work at the school, death of the good greyhead from Temple and a cause for celebration.Revd Farrar is optimistic in May 1918 as he reflects on the past year a...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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8:36

The War Years: Episode Zero (Context)
The War Years episodes are part of the series In The Shadow of the Abbey, telling the stories of the Bisham Estate . They recount life in Bisham Village in the difficult aftermath of WWI (1918 – 1924). They are based mainly on the delightful Bi...
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Season 1
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Episode 0
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4:25
