Calcot Park

About

Calcot Park is a country house, estate, and golf club in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated between Calcot and Tilehurst, suburbs of the town of Reading, and within the civil parish of Tilehurst. It is north of the Bath Road (now part of the A4).

History: Calcot Park was originally the manor house of Tilehurst manor, and the estate was significantly larger than at present. A fore-runner of the present house is thought to have been built by the merchant and moneylender, Sir Peter Vanlore (1547–1627). Later, it was the home of the famous "Berkshire Lady," Frances Kendrick, who married her husband, Benjamin Child, after challenging him to a duel. It is said that when, as a widower, Child sold up to John Blagrave, he changed his mind and the lead from the roof had to be removed to force him to leave. The resulting damage to the house forced Blagrave to build the present house in 1759. The house is a Grade II* listed building.

In fact, Child did not sell the whole of the Calcot Park estate, but retained the easternmost section, where the duel was said to have been held. Here he built himself a new mansion, the centre-piece of what is now Prospect Park. The western part...