History
West Ilsley was also the original home of the Morland Brewery – which now lives on only in the brands of beer (Morland Original and Old Speckled Hen) which are brewed by Greene King plc.
Farmer John Morland set up a brewery in1711, and the local ale and porter was sought after in London’s pubs, until the West Ilsley operation relocated to Abingdon in 1887.
West Ilsley had a tough time when Italian Archbishop Marco Antonio de Dominis arrived in the village in 1616 after a row with the Pope in Rome. He scoured local leases for loopholes, extracting £1600 from tennants untill villagers complained to the Church. He left for Rome, but was tortured by the Inquisition.
When not clearing the Highlands of rebel clans after the Jacobite rising, The Duke of Cumberland, or ‘the Butcher’. trained horses in West Ilsley from Kates Gore. Although the house has now been demolished, it contained many works of fine art.
Both the leys have strong connections with horse racing, although there are only three stables left these days. Two major stables belonging to Hugh Morrison (East) and Mick Channon (West) and an smaller (but growing) stables in West Ilsley run by Denis Coackley. In the 19th century, champion racehorse Lord Lyon was trained in East Ilsley and went on to be one of the most successful horses ever.