Weekend in West Berkshire

We travelled just a few miles down the M4 for a stopover in Newbury, which is just far enough away to be 'new' to us. The main attraction were the snowdrops at Welford Park, which a few of you have Blipped. They are just starting to go over, but still an impressive display.

Extra of more snowdrops, the church with its distinctive round tower, church interior and nearby Combe Gibbet.


The Gibbet was erected in 1676 for the purpose of gibbeting the bodies of George Broomham and Dorothy Newman and has only ever been used for them. The gibbet was placed in such a prominent location as a warning, to deter others from committing crimes.[5]
Broomham and Newman were having an affair and were hanged for murdering Broomham's wife Martha, and their son Robert after they discovered them together on the downs. Unfortunately for the lovers, the murder was witnessed by "Mad Thomas", who managed to convey what he had seen to the authorities. The pair were hanged in Winchester before being gibbeted at Combe.[5][6][7][8]
After the 1676 gibbet rotted, a total of 7 replica gibbets have stood in its place, the most recent having been erected in 1992.