Newsletter No. 81 - January 2005

Chairman's Corner

Sadly I have to record the death of Iris Lewis , News Letter Editor and Secretary of the association for some eight years and also of Allan Hanson, the excellent illustrator of the cover of the News Letter many times.

It would be wrong to say they are irreplaceable but those so generous with their time and talents will be very hard to find. Our sincere condolences to their families.

The December meeting of the Executive Committee was attended by our President, Professor Collins when the importance of obtaining a Local Heritage Initiative Grant to enable the association to proceed with the plan to produce a Data Base of Local History Records, held by Societies and individual members, was discussed in some detail. John Chapman, the initiator of the project is still confident that a grant is possible but his efforts have been delayed by the Christmas holidays and the illness of his contact.

Joan Dils is going ahead with arrangements for an open day for the association to acknowledge the achievements of W.G.Hoskins. Joan prefers an Autumn date for the occasion and the venue, the old university buildings in London Road, Reading, under the auspices of the Department of Continuing Education and combining with the Berkshire Record Society. This should be a great day.

Michael Bayley and Brian Boulter have been working on the history of the association from its' original concept in 1922 to the reformation in 1974 and we intend to make this available to members when printed.

I hope to see many of you at our Annual General Meeting on Saturday the 5th. March, at the Wokingham Town Hall. The election of the Executive Committee and the Officers for the coming year is now a very pressing matter so please let me have your proposals.

Best wishes, Peter Johnson.

Important Correction

In the notice for the AGM, it was stated that the car park called 'Paddocks' in Elms Road, was free. This is not so. The first car park on the right in Elms Road is free on Saturdays. The High Rise car park on the right of this road carries a charge as does 'Paddocks'. Another free car park on Saturdays is accessed from the District Council Offices along the A329 at Chute End. There are 'walk throughs' to the Town Hall from each of these parks.

Requests for Information

From Dorothy West. "My great, great grandparents were the inn keepers of the Fox Inn at Foxcombe Hill, Berkshire during the late 1800's. My great, great grandfather was Frederick Cotmore who according to trade directories of the time, was the innkeeper from around 1860/70 until his death in 1878. He was followed in this post by his widow, Sarah Cotmore until her death in 1902.

I believe they also carried on a business as market gardeners possibly from the same premises. I am not sure if they were owners or tenants of the inn but I know from the trade directories that by 1915, the inn was being run by someone outside the family.

Whilst passing through the area this year I found it still a thriving business, now a 'Chef & Brewer', hostelry. I should be grateful for any photographs taken in the time that my ancestors were in residence as it has been altered in recent years. Any historical details would be very welcome. Many thanks, Dorothy West". Please send replies to dwest@f2s.com

Mrs. Thelma Couzens requests information about her husband's uncle's butchers shop in the Village of Knowl Hill, on the Bath Road, just West of Maidenhead. The shop is now called Hunts Tools but was George New's Butchers in the 1950's but although we have many pictures of the Bath Road through the village, none include that shop, just by the Seven Stars public house. Can you help? Mrs. Couzens, 10, Ashley Close, Whitley, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8RH.

Website Enquiry. "I am researching the history of the miniature railway which ran on or near the Thames side promenade in Reading at the end of WW2 and the early 1950's. The railways were owned by Harold Judd from Spencers Wood. Any information of these railways or Harold Judd would be very welcome.

Does anyone know the actual date Lorenzo Quelch died (it was in 1937). He was a well known socialist and was the first Socialist town councillor in Reading and apparently encouraged the setting out of the Promenade as a public place. Any information would be welcome".

Responses to Emily Tarrant at webdesigner@blha.org.uk or by post to 17 Anna Pavlola Close, Abingdon, OX14 1TF.

Derek Ward of Tadley LHS is looking for information on Jemima Drew who was living at Hillside Cottage, Rhysh Green, Spencers Wood, in 1923. Jemima Drew, nee Piper was born in Reading in 1857 but spent most of her life with her farmer husband, Thomas Drew, in Urchfont, Wiltshire. There were three children of the marriage, Kathleen Matilda,b.1888, Winifred Sarah,b1892 and Elsie Gwendoline,b.1885, all born in Urchfont. Derek Ward can be contacted on - Dgward@bigfoot.com.

William Noone possesses letters written by two brothers to their two sisters at a girls school in Windsor, called Girls School, 'Queens Villas', Windsor and dated from 1868 to 1871.

The girls gave the same address in their replies. The boys address was given as Crescent School, Margate. The family name was Todd. Can you give any help to identify family or schools. Please reply to - Liamno@wanadoo.fr.

Recent Publications

Tudor and Stuart Shrivenham by Joan Dils and Deirdre Schwartz

This A5 book contains 122 pages packed with facts and figures of life in this country town and surrounding villages and hamlets of Northern Berkshire in the 16th.- 18th. centuries. There are useful tables and charts to highlight the changing fortunes, tragedies and movements of those in all walks of life in this area of 'half a hundred'. References are given chapter by chapter at the end of the book and there is an index of names. Well printed on good quality paper.

Price to members for single copy, £5.00. 5, copies or more, £4.00. each, normal retail price, £6.50. Obtainable from Joan Dils, 47, Ramsbury Drive, Earley, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 7RT.

The Worst Jobs in History by Tony Robinson

For those interested in the old British language this book records many words and names still used by those engaged in the most menial tasks and pastimes in Britain. Michael Bayley, who has long been interested in this seemingly unwritten language, says that the book may not be for the squeamish but should remind local historians of the fact that 'old British' is not only preserved in the names of our rivers.

Published by Pan Mcmillan, printed by Boxtree, price £18.99.

Reading Museum

Reading's cultural community is celebrating the award of a grant of almost a million pounds to the Museum of Reading by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

More communities, people across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire will be able to enjoy the hugely successful Reading Museum of Reading's Loan Box Service with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £957,500.

Founded in the early 1900s the Loan Box Service currently offers schools over 1,500 themed boxes from Ancient History to Biology and contains over 20,000 real museum objects for a hands on learning experience. Children can touch and explore objects from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, helping to bring history lessons to life.

The announcement of the HLF grant will allow Reading Museum Service in partnership with 18 museums, art galleries, heritage and archive facilities in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to improve and extend this popular Loan Box Service over the next four years.

Through the project 255 existing loan boxes will be upgraded and repackaged to ensure that the historic objects are conserved for generations to come and updated interpretation cards will be developed to extend the learning capacity of each box. The project will also involve the creation of 100 new boxes based on the collections of the partnership institutions, which will bring in new subject themes such as Ronald Dahl (Buckinghamshire Museum) and Ancient Greece (Ure Museum, University of Reading).

A new Reminiscence box service will also be developed using 20th century material, to be used with elderly people in care homes and falls in line with current research into the benefits of reminiscence for elderly people. Loan boxes will also be used to help bring people's memories alive, by providing handling material at community venues and events.

Bracknell Forest Heritage Centre

In accordance with the Bracknell Forest Borough Council's new Heritage Strategy, I have recently undertaken to create a heritage database. The borough has no central museum, so the database will provide the the accessible heritage resource which is currently lacking.

The Museum of Reading and the Berkshire Record Office have substantial collections of objects, documents and photographs relating to the Bracknell Forest Area. I will be approaching these and other institutions such as the Bracknell & District Local History Society, local libraries and smaller museums to establish exactly what they hold. I will also be contacting local businesses with a history in the area to find out what relevant information is contained in their archives.

Rachel Smith, Heritage Officer, Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Tel. 01344 351 754, rachel.smith@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Society News

Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group

Coming meetings of the group to be held at the Suttons Bowling Club, Chalfont Way, Lower Early, Reading, Monday evenings, starting 7.30 pm.

Members free, non members £2.50. including refreshments.

In addition, members of the BIAG are invited to the meetings of the Thames Valley Region of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Bracknell & District Historical Society

The September meeting was addressed by Harry Leonard on the History of Newbold College and why the Church of the Seventh Day Adventists came to Binfield, Bracknell in 1945, and settled in the large house, Moor Close. The second part of the evening was devoted to a description and photographs of the beautiful gardens and the occupants when this was a private house before the war. We hope to pay a visit in 2005.

In October our chairman was billed to give a talk entitled, 'A Tale of Banburyshire'. We did not know what to expect. Bernard Slatter told of two villages near Banbury in the early 19th.century. In one, lived a farmer with a large family, including three sons. In the other, lived a miller also with a large family including three daughters. In a matter of months, the three daughters married the three sons; an unusual event and further, one of the couples was among Bernard's ancestors. Not fairy tales but family history.

The November speaker was Luke Over, his subject, 'Taplow and Cliveden'. Luke Over told us of the extent of the excavations and the Bronze and Iron age finds and these added to the well known Saxon burial mound makes the whole area important to any student of early history. Coming back to more recent times, Cliveden, Taplow Court, the churches and other old houses were shown on slides and the progressive re-building over the years was explained in detail. Altogether, a most instructive evening.

Sadly I have to announce the death of Alan Hanson, artist and oral historian. We remember his excellent illustrations on the front of past BLHA Newsletters.

Forthcoming meetings:

Finchampstead History & Heritage Group

The Autumn season began with a talk by Michael Bayley entitled, 'The Survival of British Dialect Words'. Michael gave examples of words which have survived many centuries and their sounds and meanings which have lasted to the present day. He also brought along some interesting artefacts including an early spear head which he had been given when a young boy by road workers and an early stone axe, mounted in an antler. He also had an intriguing piece of wood, shaped and incised to form a calendar by which annual events could be recorded. He named it a 'Cog's Almanac'.

In November, Dennis Johnson gave a talk entitled,' Brickworks in Berkshire'. He illustrated the geology of the Thames Valley, its clay rich areas and then the variety of kilns that were used to produce different types of brick. He also mentioned a late 19th,C. building near Burghfield which was built of cast concrete and must be one of the earliest of this construction in Berkshire. In December, Joan Betts OBE gave us a photographic tour of Finchampstead, illustrating past scenes of the village alongside those of the present day, highlighting the changes which have taken place.

Future meetings:

January 19th - Trevor Ottlewski will talk about some of the readily sources that can be used when 'Tracing the History of your House' and will include some local examples

March 2nd - Peter Johnson will talk about 'The History of Hare Hatch and Kiln Green and its association with the Bath Road'.

April 13th - John Harrison, a well known church bell ringer will illustrate the historic developement of church bells, their different peals and how bell ringing became such an established part of English life.

Trevor Ottlewski

Goring & Streatley Local History Society

Our new season of meetings began on 20th. with a talk by Dr. Kate Tiller on changes in the life of rural workers in Benson and Ewelm in the 19th. C.

The big changes in Benson, then known as Bensington occurred when the London road through the village was turnpiked. By 1829, there were seven daily coaches to London and there was a considerable number of coaching inns, stables and coach builders to cater for this traffic. After the coming of the railway, this trade was considerably reduced and in 1850, the local vicar was complaining that there was much poverty due to loss of employment. there was also a decline in the numbers of agricultural workers and in 1899, significant numbers of young men were joining the armed services. The average farm wage at this time was fourteen shillings per week. Census returns show that population numbers were almost static during this period.

In October we had a talk by Hugh Compton on the History of the Oxford Canal, aide by evocative slides of life on the canal barges and the activities dinvolved in handling the coal and other commodities transferred by water. He traced the construction of the canal from Birmingham to Oxford via Banbury during the 18th. & 19th. centuries and its links with other waterways such as the Grand Union canal and the river Thames. After the decline of commercial river traffic due to the competition of the railways and roads, the canal had a new lease of life from leisure boating which continues.

The November talk by Dr. Margaret Houlbrooke, 'Parsons in their Parishes', was based on a study of the visitstions of the Bishop of Oxford to Berkshire parishes between 1902 and 1936. These were occasionally conducted by the bishop personally but usually took the form of a questionaire to be completed by an incumbent. The replies revealed many complaints by the clergy about their situation, e.g. low stipends, the cost of maintaining large pasonages and the difficulty of obtaining a transfer; some had been in the same post for forty years. They also complained about falling congregations, the indifference of the inhabitants and increasing secular activities on Sundays. The bishops seldom seemed to take much action.

Coming events:

The History of Reading Society

All meetings of the society take place at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, adjacent to the rear of Reading Central Library except where indicated, usually, Wednesday evenings from 7.30-9.30pm. Guests are welcome but a small charge of £2.00 per person is made for non members. At indoor meetings, refreshments are normally provided.

Forthcoming meetings:

Wed. 19.01.05 - Victorian Policing, Ken Wells
Wed. 16.02.05 - Thackray's Way, A Reading Family in Road Transport, Paul Lacey
Wed. 16.03.05 - Annual General Meeting, Followed by - Weather, Climate and History, John Starr
Wed. 20.04.05 - Prison, Schools & Outwards from Central Reading, more from the Peter Southerton Collection, Bent Weber
Wed. 18.05.05 - The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Margaret Railton

Maidenhead Archaeological & Heritage Centre

Monthly evening meetings are held at King George V1 Club, York Road, Maidenhead, 7.30pm. for 8.00pm., for further information, contact Mrs. P. Fowler. 01628635 156. For further details of membership, contact Mrs, K. Fergusson, 01628 630 869. Chairman and Newsletter Editor, Mr. T. Jones, Tel. 01628 672 196.

Meetings in 2005:

Wed. 26.01.05 - Museum of London Archaeological Services. 'Archaeological Investigations at Ludgate Hill, London
Wed. 23.02.05 - Luke Over, The Archaeological Monuments of Southern Ireland
Wed. 23.03.05 - Richard Poad, Maidehead Heritage Centre, Maidenhead's Royal Connections, 1000 years of History
Wed. 06.04.05 - The Societies' Annual General Meeting. Followed by Members' Presentations
Wed. 27.04.05 - Sir Peter Downward, 'The Berlin Airlift'

Mortimer Local History Group

For our summer outing we joined with another village club and went to Hermitage to visit Priors Court School, which is privately run for severely autistic children. There is much emphasis on the arts, painting and sculpture, to which the children can relate, and much has been donated or loaned by famous artists such as Elizabeth Frink. As well as having a tour of the house and refreshments, we also had a sunny walk in the grounds which have many bright and interesting sculptures. A day to remember.

We were hoping for a talk on family history in September, but our speaker was unable to come so one of our members, Peter Stone, stepped in at a few days' notice and gave us a talk on local birds. This was accompanied by his excellent slides. We were very surprised to learn that he had seen quite exotic birds in the vicinity over the years, and we resolved to look to the sky more often.

We were entertained in October at the Mortimer home of Air Vice Marshal Newton, who is a gentleman usher to the Queen. He spoke of his duties which he much enjoys, although he assured us that it is demanding work. Mrs. Newton also told us of how she volunteered to be sponsored standing on the wing of a flying aircraft in aid of her preferred charity which provides entertainment to ex-service men. Her bravery was rewarded by a very substantial contributions to this good cause.

Margot Pymen, one of our members, and Mike Targett, both of whom were teachers in Burghfield, came in November and spoke on the history of Burghfield. Mike told us that he was encouraged to do more research on Burghfield knowing that he was to speak to us, and this has made him want to extend his knowledge. Margot also told us of her researches and we now know a great deal more about our neighbouring Village.

June Woodward

Project Purley

Our Autumn programme opened in September with an interesting talk given by Kerr Kirkwood. Kerr's subject was the life and times of Arthur John Bucknell, a farmer of some repute in the Berkshire area.

Born in 1877 Bucknell was a man of forward looking disposition and in his chosen career as a farmer worked hard. In the first half of the 20C he reared sheep and was up against fierce competition from New Zealand but continued to farm taking on a herd of Tuberculin - Tested Shorthorn cattle. He was a good employer and was well thought of in the County. In 1940, having bought Home Farm in Purley some years earlier, Bucknell continued to farm successfully there until the 1960's, when upon his death, he was succeeded by his son John Bucknell.

Kerr told us of the diaries, meticulously kept by Arthur Bucknell on a daily basis.These recorded all that his employees had done on the farm, what equipment and feed etc had been purchased and any other event in connection with the farm. These diaries , kept over many years, are of some importance, as they give an insight into farming in all its aspects in the first half of the 20C. The diaries are kept in the University of Reading.

October brought the welcome return of George Fielder, Lock Keeper at Mapledurham to speak to us about the management of the Thames. George brought along his excellent collection of slides showing Locks up and down river in days gone by. The slides showed the Locks, beautifully kept by the Lock Keepers in the heyday of boating, with the river being thoroughly enjoyed for leisure activities.

Long before those times the river was virtually managed by the Millers who controlled the flow of the water and had charge of the weirs. This caused much conflict with other river users as the Millers controlled the flow to their own advantage for the running of their mills.

As time went on there was more river traffic with the transportation of coal and all manner of goods, and it was necessary to improve the situation at the weirs. The Thames Conservancy took over in 1857, and from then on improvements were made and the Locks with Lock keepers in charge were introduced. George gave us much interesting information on how the systems work up and down river, and how the water levels are monitored at all times.

Questions invited gave rise to much discussion, which included the flooding of Purley in 2003. In November Ros Downing entertained us with her telling of two life stories from the 19C. Firstly there was William Pleydell-Bouverie, 3rd Earl of Radnor, born 1779 into a distinguished family. As Lord Radnor he was the wealthy land owner of the Coleshill Estate near Faringdon, which in those days was in Berkshire.

Lord Radnor was an MP in the Commons for some twenty years, and devoted his time there to important issues of the day such as Civil Rights for Dissenters, Parliamentary reform and many other matters of public concern.

In retirement Lord Radnor took up pig farming, and established a model farm with all manner of labour saving devices. The Estate Cottages, to be seen to this day were built to a superior design Lord Radnor died in 1869, and eventually the house was requisitioned in the second world war, then sold and burnt down at a later date. The Estate still functions in an Agricultural capacity.

Ros then turned to Joseph Fuller born in 1827. Joseph's father worked on the Estate, so it followed that Joseph should do so. He married Christiana who worked in Coleshill House and Joseph worked his way up to be Head Coachman to Lord Radnor and lived on the Estate with his wife and family.

Eventually they moved to London to work for Lord Radnor at his London home. It seemed that after Lord Radnor died, Joseph and family moved elsewhere, and upon retirement settled in Kent where Joseph died in 1910.

And there it was, the story of a Master and Servant, both stories well researched by Ros as she pursued a family history quest. A most enjoyable talk.

Millie Bordiss

Future Meetings:

Swallowfield Local History Society

The society enjoyed its usual full program of meetings in the Autumn and a highlight was the luncheon reception at Swallowfield Park, hosted by Girlings Retirement Options Ltd. who are keeping the park and house, in outward appearance, much as Mary Mitford would remember it, as an ideal retirement home. Mr. Peter Girling, the Managing Director has been very generous indeed by keeping in close touch with local history and by purchasing and accommodating a purpose built cabinet in the Russel Room, to house the Swallowfield Societies' archives.

Incidentally, January the 5th. was the one-hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the death of Mary Russel Mitford whose grave is in the park.

Forthcoming events:

Thatcham Historical Society

This society under the active chairmanship of Nick Young, now produces a comprehensive newsletter with coloured photographs and an intriguing enquiries page. The membership fee is £6.00, which includes refreshments at meetings, held in the Kennet School, Thatcham. Visitors are welcome at £1.50, including refreshments. There did not appear to be a list of forthcoming meetings in this newsletter.

Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society

In August, our member James Baker arranged a visit to the Fawley Railway Museum in the grounds of Sir Robert MacAlpine, below Fawley village. The standard gauge railway follows a 'Y' route and the most important train operation is the transversing of the 1 in 13, gradient up to the main station which is the steepest incline in the British Isles worked by manual adhesion. The museum contains an amazing collection of railway memorabilia and an '00' gauge model railway. There is so much to see that a return visit would be dsireable.

In September, Les Moody, a retired police inspector, gave a graphic account of the G.W.R. Railway's history, it was an inspiring story of the way it affected the growth of Twyford and the surrounding towns and villages from Bristol to Paddington.. We shall look forward to hearing the second part of his talk in the near future.

In October, Paul Lacey spoke of the History of the 'Thames Valley Traction Company, 1931-45'. An enthusiastic speaker whose love of travelling by bus began at the tender age of 11 years. He has written many books on the subject and his talk was well illustrated with excellent slides.

The History of Caversham Park and the BBC's Monitoring Service was the subject for November and Dr. Brian Rotheray gave an excellent talk. We plan to visit the park in the coming months. Betty Cossey.

Forthcoming meetings:

W.E.A. Course

Tudor and Stuart Gentry Families in Berkshire

Joan Dils and Sheila Ephraim, Fee £18.00. Saturday Day School, 19.03.05 at, Early Crescent Community Centre, Warbler Drive, Lower Early, Reading. We shall explore the family and public life of Berkshire gentlemen, some of whom were catholic recusants and among whom were included magistrates, politicians, country house builders, ambassadors and combitants in the civil war.

The Wargrave Local History Society

The Hannen Room was packed for the September meeting, when Ann Bushnell spoke about the Piggott Infant School. Ann had been Headmistress at the old infant school, a very happy place. The building was 'awesome' - a very dark entrance and cloakroom, only cold water in the sinks, whilst high up windows meant the classrooms were dark. There was no electricity - classrooms being lit by paraffin lamp hanging from the ceiling. The 'heat' came from a small coal fire in each classroom and there were 'outside toilets'. Reading was originally taught by the 'Radiant' method (with 'rhyming' words like cat, rat and mat), later the 'Janet and John' books, and then 'Ladybird' books. Children copied from the blackboard, and learnt mathematics by rote, with communal chanting of the 'times tables'. Victorian style desks could be moved for 'music and movement' 'accompanied' by old records on a wind-up gramophone! Daily, at 11.50, the pupils marched to the Junior School for lunch. The children enjoyed Nativity play rehearsals in the warm Woodclyffe Hall, with its proper lights! The school however, had a leaking roof, and was literally 'falling down', so the Oxford Diocese approached Berkshire County Council about building a new school. This was agreed, and on 23rd October 1963 the infants moved to their bright, airy, clean, warm new school buildings in Beverley Gardens. Originally there were 3 classrooms and a hall - arranged on an 'open plan' pattern - for the 60 pupils. Eventually, changes in education meant that the task of a Head became more 'administration' than 'teaching', so Ann decided to retire - having been Head for 32½ years. The pictures shown ranged from the 'old' school to the 'new', with many former pupils being identified by the audience!

Patrick Fennessey gave an interesting illustrated talk about the Skiff Racing Association in October. In the late 18th century and through the 19th, three sports developed on the Thames and were taken up enthusiastically by the Victorians. Whilst rowing became a world-wide sport, punt racing and skiff racing did not seem to move successfully from the Thames Valley, and although a 'nursery' for oarsmen and women, remains relatively unknown. By the end of the 19th century, the whole river at events such as Henley Royal Regatta would be covered by boats - some canoes and punts, but mainly skiffs. The racing skiffs were similar to these pleasure skiffs, lacking the ornate back and support under the seat. They were clinker built, with a fixed seat and the fixed pins were strung across to prevent the oars rising out - whilst a racing skiff could be used for pleasure boating, the reverse was not true. From the 1860s skiffs were available either for individuals to use, or for boatmen to hire out. Thames village regattas began with such, based on the local boatyards. The Victorians liked to 'organise' these, and formed the 'Amateur Rowing Association' - but anyone who was in 'manual labour' was barred from taking part - the National Amateur Rowing Association was formed later without this restriction. Patrick also showed two films - the 1952 punting championships, held at Maidenhead and a recent Thames Ditton Regatta.

The November meeting was also packed to hear Dr Sandra Swan give a most enjoyable talk about the many changes in her 30 years at The Wargrave Surgery. Sandra said that looking at the audience was rather like looking at the surgery waiting room again ! Dr Mc Crea, doctor here in the 1930s and 40s, was noted for having a definite tremor - especially obvious if he was trying to insert a needle into his patient! Dr Black joined him in the practice, and when Dr McCrea retired, Dr Black had a house built complete with a surgery attached.. In 1953, Dr Paton joined him, and for the next 20 years each took surgery every other evening, and was on call alternate weekends. Eventually they decided they 'needed some young blood' in the practice. Dr Swan was taken on (the practice was unusual in having a female doctor at that time) at the small surgery, with a tiny waiting room - the patients moving round as their turn approached to see the doctor. She was very much the 'junior partner' - always on duty on a Friday evening! The surgery 'equipment' was minimal - a stethoscope and a pen - but the doctors did have time to talk to each other. There were 'branch surgeries' at Waltham St Lawrence village hall, and at Knowl Hill in the Seven Stars pub. Things have changed greatly medically - then heart problems were treated with 'rest', and no 'intervention'. In 1976, the doctors moved to the New Surgery, and wondered what they would do with all the space - having 2 consulting rooms. Record keeping has also changed dramatically - a simple note to record 'chest infection, no penicillin' would not suffice now, as more defensive notes are required. Sandra felt it is a shame that doctors no longer do their own night work, for although they work harder during the day, the 24 hour care of the 'Dr Cameron' type is what general practice was all about.

December saw the traditional 'Christmas party', with a quiz based on photographs of parts of the village - some needing much thought to be identified!

Wokingham Local History Society

Last September, Roger Barnes, a member of the Pewter Society, enlightened us on "Pewter through the Ages". Little is known about the use of pewter in Britain until the early 14th century when the Pewterers' Company was founded. Surviving items of this period are mainly church pieces and tiny pilgrim badges. The 17th century was the "golden age" of pewter as the prestige in owning cast domestic utensils increased. However, by 1800 the industry was in decline as fashion shifted to imported china and pottery. It was most interesting to see 19th century pewter mugs from two Wokingham pubs in the displayed exhibits.

In October, Jill Greenaway literally demonstrated "Hand-axes to Cannon-balls", in both samples and illustrations. As the curator of archaeology at Reading Museum, her knowledge of these precious objects seemed intimate. From prehistoric tools, pottery and skeletons to the Silchester Collection and Civil War finds, each item had its own social history aspect. New research techniques are being applied to many old artefacts with surprising results.Of particular interest to us was the "Wokingham Hoard", found some twenty years ago, with its numerous coins of six Roman emperors, and counterfeits.

In November, Brian Eighteen showed us aspects of "Rural Life" from his postcards of the early 1900s. The photographic reality well illustrated agricultural methods of the time, particularly the dependence on horses, and the skills of the men, and women, working on the land. With his first-hand experience of farming, the commentary was as nostalgic as the images.

Barbara Young

Forthcoming Meetings 2005:

Windsor Local History Group

The officers of the Windsor Group are as follows:

President, John E. Handcock, CVO. DL. LLB.

Chairman, Hester Davenport

Secretary, Dr. Brigitte Mitchell, PhD

We are pleased to welcome the following to our list of speakers:

Hestor Davenport
The Royal Windsor Tapestry Manufactory and Stained Glass, (with slides if a projector is available)
Fanny Burney at the Court of King George 111

Brigitte Mitchell
Nineteenth Century Windsor; with reference to the army, schools or the town's social history

Margaret Gilson
History of a Village, Old Windsor
History of Women's Clothes, illustrated by dolls

Report from BLHA Website

The 'hit counter', gives the overall total hits as 4664

I have recently been trying out a new free web statistic tool, - (http://www.statcounter.com/) and am very happy with the results it shows which I believe to be more accurate than the original statistics I was gathering.

From now on I will provide statistical reports from this new tool as from August 2004.

Unique Visitors*

* Unique visitors means it is not counting when a visitor returns to the site.

Geographical Breakdown

The statistical analysis shows that the most popular pages on the website, (apart from the home page) are the links and the Journals.

Emily Tarrant, websitedesigner@blha.org.uk