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Beenham Church

Beenham Church sits at the top of a hill overlooking the surrounding West Berkshire (Wessex Downs) countryside and is at the end of a lane that trickles out into a bridleway. There is a footpath to the rear that looked like a great option for a future walk. It commands a peaceful spot, where only the whispers of the breeze may be heard, stirring the dancing grasses that grow tall during the summer days. The only sound punctuating this idyll was the call of a Buzzard flying overhead, announcing it's presence as it soars in the meandering wind.

Us Tombstone Tourists continue our study of the local resting spots, an endless fascination for my wife and I. We often scribble down notes, finding incredible names, some that sound like they were inspired by a Dickens, Austen or De Maurier novel. The Benney family, a name that wasn't that unusual but the story behind this couple, very interesting. Read on to learn about them!

We will continue our research well into the distant future amongst many other topics that we wish to cover across many Hive communities but these posts will always feature as part of the #worldmappin and #churchproject projects I am involved in, mainly to record history like this on the blockchain.

You can also find this location via Google Maps and What3Words.

<img src="https://i.ecency.com/DQmUhhqTMpW2bmHTAvdC62iwGSFqxWGyAvgs9TZoqoQ3Cdr/img_9075.jpg" alt="I think these graves have a headstone and can you call it a "foot" stone at the front? Very ornate and just initials on them. Suspect these date back to 1700's making them the oldest here." />

The resting place of silver and goldsmith Gerald and Horse Trials organiser Janet Benney

Gerald Benney, a renowned British gold and silversmith, was born in Hull in 1930. He studied at Brighton College of Art and the Royal College of Art, where he was awarded the Prince of Wales Scholarship. Benney’s innovative designs, including the “Benney bark finish,” and his business acumen, notably his work with Viners of Sheffield, established him as a leading figure in the industry. The only craftsman in any field to hold four royal warrants simultaneously.

Janet Benney, organiser of the Highclere horse trials for over 20 years, passed away at 76. A passionate eventing supporter, she produced horses with Mark Corbett, including Society Spice, who placed 15th at Badminton in 2010. Her funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, Beenham, on 17 April at 2pm.

War Memorial Cross. The numbers lost in the First World War were quite staggering for a village as small as this. Less men lost in the second but the remaining population would have likely been too old or too young for service at the time. Hard to determine how old this grave might be and the engravings were impossible to make out

<img src="https://i.ecency.com/DQmReU1H5ebk8suqkGDunua1fXtpBZQDveLiytz5hPFEQNg/img_9083.jpg" alt="A mystery gravestone, no idea who lies beneath but the carvings are very interesting, they appear to represent the "passion flower" common during Victorian times and often carved by stonemasons to represent the resurrection" />

I wander how many photographer's ghosts take countless photos of this view over time with their boney hands?

Bibliography

  • Find out more about this church here

  • Another interesting document on the Church was written by archaeologists from Oxford University, that you can find - here

  • George Benney obituary - here - Janet Benney obituary - here

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