Newsletter No. 88 - May 2007
1976-2006
Celebrating 30 years
Chairman's Corner
It was a great pleasure to meet and chat with so many local history friends and colleagues at the AGM on St Patrick's Day. It was, as usual, a very happy occasion, not least because there were no worries about the election of officers for the coming year. A good deal of the relaxed atmosphere was due to the chairmanship of our President, Professor Ted Collins, who always brings his own inimitable style to our meetings. While thanking him and all officers and executive members who served so efficiently in 2006-7, I'm sure you would like me to welcome our new Treasurer, Dave Lewis who already has considerable experience in managing the accounts of another local history society.
Dave takes over from Peter Johnson. Peter served BLHA both as Chairman and Treasurer and now, as one of the vice-presidents of BLHA, he is still on the executive and has agreed to act as our 'roving ambassador' in Berkshire. I hope he will be able to come to some of your meetings to strengthen the ties between local societies and the executive.
A glance at the programme for society meetings during the past few months shows the wide and varied nature of the talks you have all enjoyed. Would some of these be suitable for our very own day school on 3rd November? So far the response to the request in the last newsletter for speakers to give a 20- or 30-minute talk has been disappointing. Please don't be bashful. The audience will be us, members of BLHA like yourselves, and not only interested but sympathetic. It will be a great chance to give an already completed talk to a wider audience, or to discuss some new research. What about the suggestion from Professor Collins about a project on the environmental history of a locality? Is anyone researching this or thinking of doing so? Whatever your interests, do contact Margaret Yates if you would like to talk about it in November. Whether you do or not, please put the date in your diaries, Saturday, 3rd November at MERL. More details in the next newsletter.
Further away is another day school arranged in association with the Berkshire Record Society and the School of Continuing Education at the University, Religious change in Berkshire from the Middle Ages to the Victorians. Make a note in your diaries now, 23rd February 2008 at the University of Reading, London Road.
Meanwhile, I hope you have a pleasant summer with lots of sunshine and enough rain to stave off any hosepipe bans.
Joan Dils, Chairman, BLHA
Words from the Editors
 For those of you who were unable to attend our AGM in March you missed out on a piece of our celebratory birthday cake, the design from which I have included here. The cake was cut by our president Ted Collins and tasted every bit as good as it looked. Once again it was nice to be able to put a face to the name to some of those who send me copy.
Our Special Feature is also about another celebration, the awarding of the Judith Hunter Prize for the best journal article for 2006. Awarded annually, it is one of the Associations most pleasant activities and one, which we hope will encourage more of you to consider writing up your research.
Our Diary insert this time reflects the fact that many of you do not meet during the summer, but as you will see I have included this time events that will be taking place at MERL. I would particularly like to point out the Summer Spectacular that takes place on 4 August, when visitors will be able to view the newly finished gardens.
Margaret Simons
Michael Smart RIP
It is with great sadness that we report the death on 24th January 2007 of Michael Smart. A former planning officer for the Southern Region of British Rail, Michael's many interests and activities in retirement belied his 85 years. He and his wife, Pax, were keen members of the History of Reading Society and for many years he was Treasurer of the Wokingham and District Branch of the WEA. In addition he recently took over as Treasurer of BLHA, a post he held until last year. He was also an active member of the Wilderness Road Neighbourhood Watch Scheme where he could regularly be seen checking up on houses whose occupants were not at home.
I and many others will miss his efficiency, his cheerful conversations - it has been said that he always had a twinkle in his eye, and his sound advice. We send our sincere condolences to his widow, Pax, and to both their families.
Joan Dils
Anthony John (Tony) Simpson (23.5.1925 – 7.11.2006)
Tony and his wife Eleanor moved to Goring in June 1955 where they were founder members of the Local History Society. Tony was for many years the Society Secretary and last May he agreed to serve as its Chairman for 2006-2007.
Sadly, Eleanor died earlier in 2006, not long after they had celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Tony was coping well and taking pride in learning new skills, such as pastry making, when his unexpected death occurred. He is survived, and very much missed, by Judith, his son-in-law Andrew and his sister Olga.
My thanks to Janet Hurst for arranging permission from Tony’s daughter Judith to reproduce this shortened version of the obituary which first appeared in the Goring Gap News.
Margaret Simons
Requests for Information
Jane Kingsbury is researching her family history and wonders if any of our members have any knowledge of the Milne family who lived in Lambourne in the mid 1800s. Her great grandfather, Robert Milne, was a gardener who came from Aboyne and may have previously been a gardener at Balmoral. He was married to Lucy Louisa and they had a daughter Minnie, sons Robert, John and William and also her grandmother, Mary Emma, in the 1860s. They subsequently moved to Cheshire where he became head gardener for Lord Delamere at Vale Royal.
Melanie Winterbotham writes. ‘I am organising a reunion of the 'Micklem' family who hail exclusively from Bisham and Hurley. Our common ancestors are John Micklem and Elizabeth (daughter of William Lee) who had children in Bisham from about 1560. It is possible, but not clear, that there was one other Micklem family in Bisham at the time. John and Elizabeth's descendants lived in Bisham and Hurley, with a few branching out to Bray, Cookham and Reading, until the latter part of the 19th century. I wonder if you have members who could help me with the local history and landmarks of the area.’
John Glanfield has written asking for help with the following. ‘I am a military historian and author, and am at present researching Second World War PoW camps headquartered in Guildford. These included a hostel for Italian working parties at Winkfield. It served local farms and was operational in 1943.
I should be immensely grateful if you could cast any light on this, however slight, and perhaps also suggest possible sources of further information and even photographs.’
Please contact the editor if you have any information.
Notice Board
Berkshire
Old and New
If you have an interesting article or proposal for an article and would like it to be considered for publication in the Association’s journal Berkshire Old and New, please contact the editor Jonathan Brown either by email j.h.brown@reading.ac.uk or write to him at the Museum of English Rural Life, The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. The word count for contributions has been extended, but should be no more than a maximum of 4,000 words. Please note that the editor’s decision is final on all contributions.
If you or any society, association, library or museum would like to advertise in the journal the rate for a full page is £60 and for a half page is £40. If anyone is interested would they please contact Jonathan.
We invite anyone interested in presenting a paper or giving a talk on group or individual research interests to please forward a short resume to our Secretary, Margaret Yates. There will be a cost of £10 for the day, tea and coffee will be included, but own arrangements will be necessary for lunch. A booking form will be included in the September issue of the Newsletter.
We are very pleased to announce a day school on 23 February 2008 on religious change in Berkshire. The day will be hosted jointly by ourselves, the Berkshire Record Society and the Department of Continuing Education and will be held in the recently refurbished Gyosei lecture theatre at the University’s London road site. Once again we are looking for speakers for the occasion, would anyone interested in giving a paper please contact our Secretary, Margaret Yates.
In our January issue Brian Boulter asked for information about the Copped Hall in Maidenhead. Michael Bayley has penned this response.
The Copped Hall lay on the High Street side of the Market House, which in 1751 became the Town Hall. One of the Copped Hall shops is supposed to have been a wine shop until the 18th century rebuilding, when the licence was retained in a new building for the use of the Bridge Master – either in the Town Hall or in the “Hand & Flowers” adjacent.
One needs to look further back than the O.E.D. and the Anglo Saxon Dictionary for a meaning as from local oral history we know that the uneducated farm labourers and river men still spoke the Lowland British Language (but never wrote it) until the mid 19th cnetury. In this language COPA-DY-HEOL is “The House of the Wine Shop Hostess of the Road”. The road being the Bath Road; here Maidenhead High Steet. A more risqué derivation is from COPA PEGH HEL LLE, that is, “the collecting or gathering place of the wine shop hostess of sin”. The red light district of coaching Maidenhead!
Newsletter
If anyone is interested in having information included in the newsletter, flyers and inserts, then we will be happy to provide this service at a small cost. (This helps offset the cost of postage and production of the Newsletter). The rate for a single one off inclusion of a flyer costs £50 and for inclusion in three newsletters the cost is £100. If anyone is interested could they please contact me, all details available on the back page.
Margaret Simons
A request from the Centre for Ephemera Studies, the University of Reading
Polly Harte of the Centre would like to hear from you if you have any local ephemera you are willing to donate to the Centre's collection. She has begun to build up a local collection to complement the general one. The Centre already has some superb items including many designs for Huntley and Palmer biscuit tins but now they want more personal items dating from before 1950, and, if possible, before 1900.
The topics they are interested in include shopping, transport, health, clubs and pubs, eating out, Reading Football Club and many others. So hunt out your old theatre programmes, menus from office or works Christmas parties, bus timetables, tickets, invitations, postcards etc. etc. and contact Polly Harte at the Centre for Ephemera Studies, Dept. of Typography, University of Reading, 2, Earley Gate, PO Box 239, Reading RG6 6AU or e-mail p.j.b.harte@reading.ac.uk
As some of you may know the Association is undertaking the compilation of a bibliography of all the published works on the history of Berkshire. It is hoped that eventually the database will be available via our website, but but before this can happen we need your help.
Sue Burnay is running the project and will give help and assistance to anyone kind enough to offer their services; experience of Microsoft Access or Excel would be useful, but not essential. If you are interested please contact me and I will forward your details to Sue.
Margaret Simons
Special Feature
The Judith Hunter Prize is awarded each year for the best jounal article submitted and published in the Associations journal Berkshire Old and New. The recipient for 2006 prize was Dick Barnes for his article: Fitzharris Manor, Abingdon: from gentleman’s residence to demolition.
Dick was invited to receive his prize by Jonathan Brown, the journal’s editor, at MERL on 11 January 2007. A small group of journal and executive committee members gathered at lunchtime to meet Dick, who was accompanied by his wife. Rip Hunter, Judith’s husband, kindly came along to present the award, which took place in the rather grand surroundings of the main entrance hall.
Before awarding the prize Rip spoke of Judith’s involvement with the BLHA and of her commitment and dedication to the Association. Having just reached our 30th year this was a timely reminder of the importance of the freely given time and effort that is the lifeblood of the Association. After receiving his award Dick spoke of his delight in seeing his article in print and complimented the editor on the professional presentation and the quality of the editing.
After the formalities, Jonathan and his wife provided a light buffet in the relaxed atmosphere of the visitors’ room, which was enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to Jonathan Brown for supplying this photo of Dick and for the front cover.
Margaret Simons
Society News
Goring & Streatley Local History Society
In September a packed hall heard about the history of Reading hospitals. Lionel Williams, of the Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre, narrated a beautifully illustrated story starting with the infirmary at Reading Abbey in 1121 and ending with the recent demolition of Battle Hospital.
After the dissolution of the monasteries, little care was available for the sick poor. In 1802 a dispensary opened in Cheyne Lane, but it was not until 1836 that Richard Benyon gave £1,000 towards a hospital and Lord Sidmouth donated the 4-acre site on London Road. It cost £9,000 to build, had 50 beds and 70 operations took place in the first 5 years, with a 50% mortality rate. King William became the patron, hence the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
A large audience gathered at our October meeting to hear a talk on a rather different aspect of history from usual. Local resident Professor Julia Slingo is also Director of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at Reading University. She spoke on ‘Climate change: past, present and future’. We learned that patterns of human behaviour over the millennia follow environmental conditions and that civilisations are not simply the product of human progress. After touching on the medieval warm period – the age of the Vikings – and the Little Ice Age of the 16th and 17th centuries, we arrived at the present day.
The November meeting saw another large audience enjoying a fascinating talk on the history of the Thames Valley Police from Ken Wells. As the curator of the Thames Valley Police Museum at Sulhampstead, he went through the history of the five separate forces: Reading Town, Oxford City, Berkshire County, Oxfordshire County and Buckinghamshire County – all of which merged in 1974. With a series of humorous anecdotes he traced the development and change in police equipment, training and crime solving techniques over the past 100 years. His best surprise, however, was to dress a member of the audience in the uniform of a 1900 policeman – including a very heavy cape, truncheon, handcuffs, whistle and a weighty flashlamp!
The January meeting looked back to the late Victorian and Edwardian era when our speaker, Jean Heward, told us about the leisure activities of mainly the richer members of English society on the River Thames. Boating and ‘being seen’ on or near the river was of great social importance. The correct dress (cotton frocks, long gloves, a large hat and a parasol for the ladies; blazers, flannels and a straw boater for the men) was critical. There were balls, parties and rowing races. Around 1900 luxurious houseboats started to appear. Sadly World War 1 put an end to this unique and indulgent lifestyle.
In February nearly 60 members enjoyed our annual lunch, which was held in the Morrell Room. In March, we were back at the Village Hall to hear Dick Greenaway’s enigmatically titled talk ‘If you go down in the woods today …’ The ‘big surprise’ he revealed was not a teddy bears’ picnic, but the fact that many archaeological treasures are preserved in woodland that cultivation would likely have destroyed if they were in the open landscape. Such sites include the banks and ditches of fortifications, deer park boundaries, field systems, burial mounds, pits of varying kinds (saw-, chalk- and potash-), brick kilns and even whole cave complexes. Surrounding vegetation is often used to date the features. For example if the tree on top of a bank is 500 years old, then the site must be at least of similar age. Findings on the ground are confirmed buy documentary evidence. Dick and his team of volunteers are surveying 131 woods in the North Thames Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. More helpers are always welcome.
New members and visitors to our meetings are always welcome.
Janet Hurst (10491 871183 Evenings only)
Mortimer Local History Group
We had a most interesting talk in November by Don Kemp and his brother who remembered their boyhood in Mortimer. They were particularly pleased with the education they received at the village school, which fitted them well for later life. Their talk inspired many reminiscences by members and this was followed in December by a meeting concentrating on recollections of the war. This was very successful, so successful indeed that when our speaker for February was unable to come at the last minute we continued with this theme, and we hope to collate the information received, possibly into a booklet or part of a book for future publication.
We held our annual party in January, which was, as usual; a very happy occasion and well attended with members each bringing a contribution of food and demonstrating their knowledge of local history during the quizzes.
For the February meeting, Carolyn Owen, one of our members, brought maps of the perimeter of the village. We have a description of an eighteenth century perambulation of the bounds. An ancestor of our treasurer, Denis Nickless, was one of the participants. We endeavoured, with some success, to trace the thirty-mile route taken at that time. Carolyn hopes to divide this into a series of walks. We do not feel strong enough to take part in a two-day twenty and ten-mile marathon as the hearty villagers did at that time!
Our book of Nineteenth Century Mortimer has been out of print for some years, we propose to update it and add information which we have acquired since it was published. This is a fairly long-term project, but a worthwhile one.
June Woodward
Project Purley
The first meeting of 2007 was Members evening, when all were invited to bring their family heirlooms and tell us something of the history of the items. A wide variety of interesting things were brought, ranging from a family Bible dating back to 1634, to memorabilia of the First World War, together with items of jewellery and a sampler worked in 1880 by a child of nine. All these, together with many other items of interest made for an interesting evening. Of such are the treasures of future years, to be passed from generation to generation.
In February our member Jean Debney gave a talk on Purley through the ages, beginning with Purley’s origins in Saxon times, and mention in the Domesday Book as Porlei. Then through the middle ages into the 15C with its Probate records of the important families, and details of the religious life of the Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Through the Civil War times and the 17C when roads and farming were shown to be thriving. At the end of the 18C Purley Park was built by the Storer family, followed in the 19C with the coming of the railway, and the village school providing education for Purley children.
Jean had brought along old maps and various records of the inhabitants of times past for members to browse through and discuss.
In March it was the AGM, conducted by our Chairman John Chapman. After the business meeting was concluded John welcomed Mrs Sandy Mathieson from the Dogs for the Disabled Charity, who would give us an insight into the work involved in the training of the dogs for their work with their disabled owners.
Along with Sandy came Lorna, who in turn brought Justin, a beautifully behaved Labrador who had been with Lorna some years, and through training is able to give Lorna more independence in her daily life. Sandy also presented a short video showing the training taking place at the Training Centre at Banbury, and also showing dogs with their disabled owner, and the amazing things they do to make life easier for their owner. Project Purley were pleased to welcome Sandy, Lorna and Justin, as The Dogs for the Disabled was the charity who benefited from the proceeds of the “Rain and Shine” presentation given in the Barn last Summer.
Milly Bordiss
Sandhurst Historical Society
Our meetings are held at the Sandurst Community Hall, usually on the last Thusday of each month, commencing at 7.30 p.m. The Society’s website cand found at www.sandurst-historical-society.org for futher information. Alternatively, please ring Jean Baker on 01252 843309.
Our January speaker, Julian Pooley of the Surrey History Centre, got 2007 off to a good start by giving us an informative talk, accompanied by slides, on the history of Surrey’s mental hospitals from 1770 to c1900. In February Tony King treated us to a talk on Victorian Shopping. This was made all the more interesting with his excellent selection of slides. Quite an insight to us all!
March brings a talk on Farnborough and Cove in pictures by David Cleeve. Who knows, some of us may see ourselves in one of these!
There is no meeting in May but we hope to arrange an outing to the Army Museum at Aldershot, the date for this yet to be fixed.
Mark Corney is coming to give us a talk on “25 years in the Fontline” in June. The “Frontline” is a reference to archaeology not war as some may imagine!
We are running our photographic competition for the second year running but this is open to Sandhurst residents only. Details of the competition should be on our website.
If you are interested in local history why not join us one evening when we feel sure you will not be disappointed.
Janice Burlton
Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society
Centuries was the subject of our first talk of 2007. Mr Peter Halman showed by talk and slides how this title was justified. An easy river ford had influenced the siting of amny villages and town and although many bridges had been built, a great number of them no longer exist. Whilst Days Lock near Dorchester is the oldest lock, Thame was the oldest stronghold of the Church.
At the February meeting Mrs. Val Pretlove gave a very interesing account of The Tudor City of London. Her talk was extremely enlightening and the slides were also excellent, Mrs Pretlove obviously knew and enjoyed her subject.
Tudor London was a busy, bustling place with a population of between 60 to 80,000 inhabitants. From maps and drawings it was shown to be crowded with dwellings and shops and had the great landmarks of the Bridge, the Cathedral and the Tower of London all within the Roman city wall. The buildings were often made of bricks within wooden frames and the streets and alleyways were very narrow and there were at least 100 parish churches in the city. The widest street in the city was Cheapside with the church of St. Mary-le-Bow and one of the Eleanor Crosses outside the church of St. Peter Cheap.
Edna Bowman
Wargrave Local History Society
In January, Tony Weston revealed The Secrets of the Box - a family writing box from the 1820s. Having inherited the box from his mother, he decided to have it restored. There was a secret compartment, which was found to be stuffed with papers, neatly folded, tied with pink ribbon and undisturbed for over 120 years. The search began to discover who they related to. Many were shop receipts, along with letters and other documents - such as a list of presents the owner had received aged 12 -- dated 1825. Having been folded for so long, they were difficult to read. The receipts, most with 1d stamps for duty paid, were from tradespeople in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Notably, most goods were bought ‘on account’, and often only paid for some months after receipt. Tony revealed much more social history from the Victorian era - and also showed how the hidden compartment could be opened - but we will keep that secret!
“Researching Your Ancestree” - on tracing family history - was presented by members of the Society in February. Asking relatives is a good start to research, but the main ‘sources’ of information are in the archives - locally or nationally, including birth, marriage and death certificates, census returns, parish registers and wills. Examples were shown, and various ways to find them were explored (along with some of the problems that may be encountered). Such ‘official’ records only tell part of the history, and many other sources are useful - to add detail to the ‘story’ or confirm the information relates to the ‘correct’ family! Organisation and storage of a large range and quantity of material, possibly using files and index cards or dedicated computer programs, becomes essential. Members were able to sample a range of sources and books, and were given a sheet of hints and suggested internet sites - a copy is on the Society’s www.wargrave.net/history web pages.
The AGM was held in March, following which part 2 of the “Wargrave Then and Now” presentation was shown. Using a mixture of restored old photographs and modern views, this illustrated some of the changes that have taken place in Wargrave. One notable feature was the way in which the extensive gardens of several of the larger houses had been developed. The changes in shops was also apparent - there having been several grocery stores, for example, in the village, where there is now only one. The routes into Wargrave were also explored, showing the old cars and telegraph poles of a previous age.
All are welcome toour meetings, which begin at 8 pm in the Hannen Room, Mill Green, Wargrave.
Peter Delaney
Winnersh and District Historical Society
The end of 2006 found us very busy. Our local J. Saninsbury’s store allowed us to have a display of photographs in their foyer, and also to promote our second booklet Exploring Winnersh Now and Then. Many people showed their interest, and we also learned some new facts.
At the December meeting we enjoyed a ‘Seasonable Entertainent’ by the Camellia Singers, followed by a buffet supplied by memers.
In January, Brian Boulter gave us a slide show on Victorian Millionaires and their Thames-side homes, mostly from Sonning to Maidenhead. It is interesting to note that the majority are now hotels or conference centres.
At the end of the month, Wokingham Council put on a “Winneresh Winter Festival” at the Forest School – a free event directed mainly to activities for young people. Many local groups and the Parish Council took part, and we put on a display to promote the history of the area.
In Februay we had a full house for “Winnersh from Above” by Colin Wells (a member). This showed a photographic record of Winnersh over the last 62 years, and also as it was in October, 2006. At the current rate of development, any spaces will soon be few and far between.
Our Speaker in March was unable to be with us, so our chairman stepped in with a slide show on the “Mills on the River Thames”, including Abingdon to Maidenhead. Very few are still working, most of of them have been demolished or converted into dwellings.
Stella Young
Wokingham History Group
In January, Peter Johnson gave us "A History of Hare Hatch and Kiln Green". The biggest influence on these two small hamlets was the Bath Road, which made it possible for the gentry to reside in the country and still be in easy travelling distance for London. They built prestigious mansions overlooking the road, dominating the landscape for all to see. Some of these still stand.
In February, Tony King, a quantity surveyor who knew his buildings, took us "Shopping in Victorian England". The Great Exhibition of 1851 brought consumerism, and started the novelty of browsing without buying merchandise from across the Empire. Next, the arrival of plate glass led to large shop windows with tempting goods on display. With improvements in trnasport, shoppers could get around more and products be delivered from further afield. A large number of inventions were made by chemists, many of their brand names are still with us - Lever, Coleman, Terry, Cadbury, Clarke, Boot etc. Catalogues were introduced and good service was the order of the day.
In March, Brian Eighteen well illustrated "Reading Then & Now" using contemporary postcards of the town centre and recent photographs for comparison. Much has gone but many places or facades can still be recognised, like Jackson's corner. Amusing anecdotes added interest. The predominance of street furniture in the modern views was an amazing contrast.
Barbara Young
Heritage, Family History, Museums and Libraries
Royal Borough Museum at BRO
We are very pleased to announce that the archive collection of the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum is now available for research (reference D/EX1915). The archive contains some lovely items, including a fine large scale plan of Windsor from 1881, and a splendid collection of architectural plans for local buildings from the firm of Edgington and Spink. Also in the archive is a memoir by S T Mann, stationmaster at Windsor 1903-1925. The memoir was written in his old age in 1941 and contains lots of interesting stories. We have picked out two below for you to enjoy:
On an encounter with Mark Twain:
We had one of these garden parties at Windsor Castle... and at one of them Mark Twain was invited and when he arrived he asked me how to get to the Castle. I told him to take one of the carriages; in fact I took him across the yard & put him in one, and off he went. About half an hour afterwards I went to the front of the Station and saw him still in the carriage, so I said "Have you been to the Castle?" and he said "Oh yes, but they sent us back for another run round." I often wondered what he made of this after he got back to America.
The next day I asked Capt Hickey, the Superintendent of the Mews why this was done, and he said our trains came in so fast that they could not unload the visitors and get the empty carriages out of the way, so they had to send some of them back to make room.
On watching Gustav Hamel looping the loop in an aeroplane over the Castle in 1908:
On the Royal Family's next visit to the Castle M. Gustav Hamel came to loop the loop before King Edward and other members of the Royal Family, and Sir Derek Kepple phoned to me to ask if I would like to see it; if so he would give instructions for me to be admitted to the East Terrace. Of course I said yes, & made my way there, where I found a little group assembled and the Royals on the Links waiting for his arrival. We saw a plane arriving and when some distance away something fell from the Machine. He managed to land and found it was a bit off the tail, and unless it could be found he would not be able to do it, so several of us started off to look for it, and after going some distance we met a man who had found it & was bringing it to the Castle. Hamel repaired it and gave a wonderful performance. He was the first to loop the loop.
After having refreshments he made off again. He was a German and his father was a Dr in London.
Some time afterwards he was lost & never heard of again. Some thought he fell in the Sea, but it was never cleared up.
Celebrate the abolition of the Slave Trade!
The BRO holds a list of slaves at the Blagrove estates in Jamaica in 1774 (document reference D/EX1271/1). The list is part of a volume containing information on the Blagrove family and their estates and also includes an inventory of the goods of John Blagrove, including slaves, 1767. We also have a list of slaves belonging to John Estridge in St Kitts in 1815 (D/EX292/E1), which recently featured on ITV's Thames Valley Tonight. Both documents are fairly sober reading as you realise people are listed as commodities.
Such material is of great interest at the moment as 2007 marks the bicentenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. For more information on the history of slavery The National Archives online exhibition on the subject, which is well worth a visit: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/rights/abolition.htm
Two stars for BRO
The National Archives has recently announced a sort of 'league table' for local archive services. Offices like us are scored and then awarded anything from zero stars (not a good thing) to three stars (wonderful). We were very pleased to hear that we had been rated a two-star service. This recognises that we can, and should, look to improve, but that our performance is recognised to be good. Obviously we are keen to build on this and if you have views on what we should be trying to do, please let us know.
Mark Stevens, Senior Archivist
Maidenhead Heritage Centre
We now have planning permission to convert the former "Cricketers Arms" and building work should start soon. In the meantime, the Heritage Research Group is cataloguing the deeds, which came with it. There are over 50 documents tracing the history of the building. It all began when a local coal merchant bought a plot of land and erected a beerhouse, with £200 borrowed from a Cookham farmer. In the 20th century the pub was owned successively by four brewers: Hewetts, Dymore Brown, Morlands, and Greene King. We hope to open to the public this autumn, watch our website!
Brian Boulter
Museum of English Rural Life
Now newly displayed and located on Redlands Road in central Reading, the Museum of English Rural life is about life and work in the countryside over the last 200 years. The main gallery houses thousands of fascinating objects, presented in a new and innovative way that helps visitors discover and think about how people survived and thrived in this now, lost world.
MERL offers a different experience to the traditional museums you may be used to. It is designed to spark your imagination, allow you to simply enjoy a fascinating collection of wonderful objects and encourage a new way of thinking. You might be surprised to discover how countryside issues are relevant to modern, urban life! This summer will also see the opening of our new garden which will provide plants for use in our craft workshops, a setting for some beautiful commissioned works of art including a willow sculpture by Sophia Gabbitas and Hawthorns School, and a Pond Life bench by Philip Koomen as well as an oasis of calm in central Reading.
So what can you do at the Museum of English Rural Life?
Guided Tours
If you haven’t been to the Museum before and would like to be introduced to the collections, why not start with a free Guided Tour? Tours are available every Wednesday at 2.30pm and on a Saturday and Sunday at 3pm and last 45 minutes. You will be made welcome by our fully-trained guides. You don’t have to book, but to avoid disappointment it is advisable to call 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merl@reading.ac.uk in advance. After your tour you can visit the temporary exhibition – currently ‘Personal Expressions’, a collection of photographs by Derbyshire Young Farmers depicting the joys and hardships of rural life. Or if you are feeling creative, try your hand at brass-rubbing on the Farming Cycle floor or add your views on current countryside issues to our wall.
Family Activities
There is also plenty to keep younger members of the family interested. Children can follow a trail around the museum, looking out for the rats hidden amongst the objects. We encourage children (and adults) to look closely at the displays by providing ‘Ways of Seeing’ activity bags containing a range of activities using kaleidoscopes, magnifying glasses, torches etc. to do around the exhibition gallery. At the end of the visit, there are pictures and crayons for colouring in activities. Younger children will enjoy our ‘Magic Carpet’ activities with farm animal puppets, jigsaws and card making.
During the school holidays we always offer free activities for families. Our artist in residence provides art and craft workshops related to the collections or the temporary exhibitions. You will sometimes need to book a place, but some workshops are on a drop-in basis.
If you enjoy your visit, why not let your local school know about the activities we offer? Teachers can bring classes to enjoy similar workshops and to take part in sessions from our Learning Programme, tailored to fit in with National Curriculum requirements. Just pick up a leaflet at the Museum and take it to school!
Library and Archives
Your visit to the Museum may inspire you to want to find out more about certain objects in the collection, rural crafts or issues. One of the special features of the Museum is that it also houses one of the nation’s largest collections of archives relating to rural life and the countryside. It also houses a comprehensive library. The archives include over a million photographs and extensive film, including many relating to the local area. Whatever your level of interest, you are welcome to come and explore them in our Reading Room. The library and archives are open to the public. The only requirement is to register your details with us.
Events
We have a regular programme of events, including our new Lunchtime Network talks, Seminars and Exhibtions. Full details can be found at www.merl.org.uk/news. If you would like to be kept in touch, please e-mail merl@reading.ac.uk and we will let you know about forthcoming events.
Entrance to the Museum, which is open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm and at weekends from 2pm to 4.30pm, is free. The library and archives are also open on Mondays. For details of where to find the Museum and how to get there see www.merl.org.uk or call 0118 378 8660.
Alison Clare Hilton, Marketing Officer
Reading Central Library
The purpose of cataloguing the images in the local studies collection and digitising them so they could be seen on the Library’s website was to enable anyone with Internet access to see what we had, without the need to come into the Library, and without the need to handle the original photographs, prints, or drawings. One unforeseen result has been a doubling in the demand for copies of the images.
Interestingly, the pictures that most people want are ones showing pictures of their houses – or of the houses in which their ancestors lived.
A few years back, we were given a box of over 2,000 postcards, the samples of Reading photographer Harold Augustine Giles. Mostly, the pictures were taken in the years between the world wars, and on the face of it, a lot of them were very dull. They showed streets of houses, some of the houses newly built at the time, and very unremarkable. Mr. Giles would sell them to sub post offices and corner shops, so that people could buy postcards of their street – if not their house. So now, eighty or so years later, Mr. Giles’s rather boring postcards are enjoying a second round of popularity.
To see the images, and order copies, please visit the Library website – www.readinglibraries.org. If you go to the catalogue, you can search on the name of the street – or search on H. A. Giles, to see those of his pictures that have so far been catalogued. Prices for prints have recently been increased, but are still comparatively cheap - £2.00 on photographic paper, or £1.50 on plain paper.
Over the past few weeks, the approaching centenary of the two oldest branch libraries in Reading has been in my thoughts – especially since a local publisher has expressed interest in publishing a book about them in time for the centenaries. Council committee minutes, and the letter-books of the Caversham Urban District Council are not the most riveting of reading, but one or two extraordinary happenings caught my eye – such as the man who was sentenced to two months in jail with hard labour for stealing a newspaper, or the caretaker who locked a naughty boy in the cupboard under the stairs to teach him a lesson on a Saturday, but then forgot what he had done, and left him in there until Monday!
Both of the libraries – the West End Branch (now called Battle) Library, and the Caversham Library, are now “listed” buildings, which were paid for by Andrew Carnegie. Before starting the research, I hadn’t realised that Carnegie also gave a grant to Reading Corporation to eliminate the debt on the Central Library building – which is now part of Reading Museum. So, all three of the buildings he paid for are “listed,” still in good condition, and being put to good use. The book is expected towards the end of this year.
David Cliffe, Local Studies Manager
Reading Museum Service
These are just some of the events that may be of interest to BLHA members. For details of all our forthcoming events and exhibition details please go to www.readingmuseum.org.uk/news
To receive our latest ‘what’s on’ diary why not join our free mailing list, call us on 0118 939 9800.
Exhibitions
John Soane: Reading’s Architectural Hero
5 May – 2 September
Sir John Soane (1753-1837) is regarded as one of England’s finest architects. He grew up and went to school in Reading and designed the Simeon Monument in the Market Place. This exhibition celebrates the restoration of the Monument and highlights Soane’s links with Reading and the Thames Valley. In association with the Sir John Soane Museum and supported by Peter Brett Associates.
Talks
John Soane (1753-1837): Portrait of an Architectural Visionary
Wednesday 23 May, Museum of Reading
William Palin, Assistant Curator at the John Soane Museum, will give an account of the life and work of the most innovative and original English architect of the early nineteenth century. The lecture will look at Soane’s remarkable house at Lincoln's Inn Fields in London and his masterpiece, the Bank of England.
Suitable for adults
1 - 2pm
Free, booking essential
Architecture Week - Discovering Soane
Thursday 21 June, Victoria Hall, Town Hall
Ptolemy Dean, architect, artist, writer and star of BBC's 'Restoration',
talks about his favourite architect and the two books he has written
investigating Soane's hundreds of architectural commissions.
Suitable for adults
1 - 2pm
Free, booking essential
Restoring the Simeon Monument
Friday 17 August, Museum of Reading
Julian Harrap, architect to the Soane Monument Trust, will discuss the challenges and rewards of restoring John Soane’s monument.
Adults, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Free, booking essential
Matthew Williams, Senior Curator
University of Reading’s Short Courses in History
Courses are run on weekdays, mornings, afternoons or evenings, for ten sessions and on some Saturdays, generally in the university buildings on London Road. Courses are friendly and informal, designed to interest the general public as well as the academic student and the subjects covered are very wide. We have not included any flyers in this newsletter concerning summer courses being run by the School of Continuing Education at Reading University, for further information check www.reading.ac.uk/ContEd or call 01183788347.
The Oxford University Department of Continuing Education also have a number of part-time courses in their 2006/7 prospectus that may be of interest to members. For more information on these and other courses please call 01865 270360, email pp@conted.ox.ac.uk or look at the website on www.conted.ox.ac.uk
Course Title |
Start Date/Duration |
Tutor |
Tudor Reformations |
18/04/2007 - 10 meetings |
Dr Christine Jackson |
Small Towns of Oxfordshire |
17/04/2007 – 10 meetings |
Trevor Rowley |
The Local Church |
19/05/2007 – 1 day |
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History Societies
Arborfield Local History Society: Mrs P Steed, The Old Post House, Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, Reading, Berks, RG2 9PG
Berkshire Archaeology Society: Andrew Hutt, 19, Challenor Close, Wokingham, Berks, RG40 4UJ
Berkshire Archaeology Research Group: Mrs Catherine Petts, 71 the Causeway, Abingdon Oxon 0X13 6SQ or www.berkshire-archaeology.info or www.barg-online.org
Berkshire Family History Society: Research Centre, Yeomanry House, Castle Hill, Reading, RG1 7TJ. chairman@berksfhs.org.uk
Berkshire Industrial Archaeological Group: Secretary, Peter Trout, 7 West Chiltern, Woodcote, Reading, RG8 OSG or Mr. Weber, bentwebershops@waitrose.com
Blewbury Local History Group: Audrey Long, Spring Cottage, Chruch Road, Blewbury, Didcot, OX119PY
Bracknell & District Local Historical Society: Geoff Wood, 1 King Edwards Road, Ascot, SL5 8PD. 01344 883325
Burnham Historians: Mary Bentley, 38 Conway Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 0LD. 01628 665932 bhme@gme.prestel.co.uk
Cox Green Local History Group: Pat Barlow, 29 Bissley Drive, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 3UX. 01628 823890 weekends only.
Datchet Village Society: Mrs. Marjorie Clasper , 3 Riverbank, Southlea Road, Datchet, Berks. 01753 545110 www.datchet.com
East Ilsley Local History Society: Dr Sue Burnay, White Hollow High Street, East Ilsley, Berks, RG20 7LE
Eton Wick Local History Group: Mary Gyngell, 47 Colenorton Crescent, Eton Wick, Windsor, SL4 6WW. 01753 861674 www.etonwickhistory.co.uk
Faringdon & District Historical Society: Rosemary Church, 1 Orchard Hill, Faringdon, SN7 7EH. 01367 240885 www.faringdon.org/hysoc
Finchampstead History & Heritage Group: Miss Joan Betts, OBE. 134 Kiln Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 3PB. 0118 9733005
Friends of Reading Museum: Mrs Ann Middleton, 2 Rose Walk, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 6QB. 0118 9505548
Goring & Streatley Local History Society: Mrs Janet Hurst, 6 Nun's Acre, Goring on Thames, Reading, RG8 9BE. Tel. 01491 871183 (evenings only)
The Hanneys Local History Society: Mrs. Ann Fewins, ’Lilac Cottage’, East Hanney, Wantage, OX12 0HX. 01235 868372 annfewins@beeb.net
Hare Hatch & Kiln Green Local History Society: Mr. Richard Lloyd, Shingleberry, Tag Lane, Hare Hatch, Reading, RG10 9ST. 0118 9402157 richardlloyd@wargrave.net
The History of Reading Society: Edward Hooper, 6 Tower Close, Emmer Green, Reading, RG4 8UU
Hungerford Historical Association: Mrs Jean Hutchins, Westbrook Farm House, Smitham Bridge Road, Hungerford, RG17 0QP.
Maidenhead Archaeological & Historical Society: Trevor Jones, 70 Lambourne Drive, Maidenhead, SL6 3HG. 01628 672196
Mid Thames Archaeological & Historical Society: Sheila Orton, 1 Saffron Close, Datchet, Slough, SL3 9DU. 01753 543636
Mortimer Local History Group: June Woodward, 19 Victoria Road, Mortimer, RG7 3SH. 0118 9332819 woodward.mortimer@virgin.net
Newbury & District Field Club: A.R. Higgott, Hope Cottage, Ashmore Green, Thatcham, RG18 9HD. 01635 579016
Pangbourne Heritage Group: Mrs June Huges, 30 Thames Avenue Pangbourne, RG8 7DZ
Project Purley: Mrs Lee Hall. 33 Waterside Drive, Purley, Reading, Berks RG8 8AQ. 0118 9429238 leeandrichardhall@vodafone.net
Sandhurst Historical Society: Jack Martin, 5, Ceders Close, Sandhurst, Berks GU47 8HF.
Shinfield & District Local History Society: Mrs Ann Young, ‘Roselyn’, School Green, Shinfield, Reading, Berks RG2 9EH. 0118 9882120.
Sonning & Sonning Eye History Society: Diana Coulter, Red House Cottage, Pearson Road, Sonning, Berks, RG4 6UF, 0118 9692132
Standford in the Vale & District Local History Society: Philip Morris, 71 Van Diemans, Standford in the Vale, Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8HW, 01367 710285
Swallowfield Local History Society: Ken Hussey, ’Kimberley’, Swallowfield, Reading, RG7 1QX. 0118 9883650
Tadley Local History Society: Alan Cooke, PO Box 7264, Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 3FA.
Thatcham Historical Society: Mr Chris Turner, Monks Chambers, 4 Church Lane, Thatcham, RG10 3JI. 01635 867 802 chris@skipoles.co.uk
Theale Local History Society: Mr & Mrs A.D. Spurling, 7 Broadlands Close, Calcot Park, Reading RG31 7RP. ThealeHistory@aol.com
Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society: Denise Wilkin, 26 Highfield Court, Waltham Road, Twyford, Berks. RG10 OAA.
Wargrave Local History Society: Peter Delaney, 6 East View Close, Wargrave, Berks, RG10 8BJ. 0118 9403121 peter.delaney2@btinternet.com
Winnersh & District Historical Society: Brain Eighteen, 50 Watmore Lane, Winnersh, Berks, RG41 5JT.
Windsor Local History Group: Dr.Brigitte Mitchell PhD, 56 Albert Street, Windsor, Berks, SL4 5BU. 01753 774642.
Wokingham History Group: Barbara Young, 39 Howard Road, Wokingham, Berks, RG40 2BX. 0118 9788519
Wiltshire Local History Forum: Lorna Haycock, 9 Hartfield, Devizes, SN10 5JH. 01380727369
Abingdon Library: The Charter, Abingdon, OX14 3LY. 01235 520374
abingdon_library@yahoo.co.uk
Allen County Public Library: Mary Lou Clegg, Genealogy, PO Box 2270, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46801-2270, United States of America.
Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre: Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5AN. 0118 9877298 marshall.barr@btinternet.com
Berkshire Record Office: 9 Coley Avenue, Reading, RG1 6AF. 0118 901 5132 www.berkshirerecordsoffice.org.uk
Bracknell Forest Heritage Centre: Mrs Agostina Hawkins, Heritage Officer, Times Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1LR. 01344 351754 agostina.hawkins@bracknell-heritage.gov.uk
Bracknell Library Local Studies: Mrs Pat Almond, Town Square, Bracknell, RG12 1BH. 01344 352400
Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies: County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UU. Archives: 01296 382 587 archives@buckscc.gov.uk Local Studies: 01296 382 250 localstudies@buckscc.gov.uk
Centre for Oxfordshire Studies: Helen Drury, Central Library, Westgate, Oxford, OX1 1DJ. 01865 815749
Maidenhead Heritage Centre: 3 Kingsway Chambers, King Street, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 1EE. 01628 780 555 www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk
Maidenhead & Windsor Local Studies Library: Pat Curtis, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1QU. 01628 796979 pat.curtis@rbwm.gov.uk
Newbury Reference Library: Fiona Davies, Newbury Central Library, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AU. 01635 519900
Reading Central Library: Local Studies Manager, David Cliffe, Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BQ. 0118 9015965
Reading Museum Services: The Curator, Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH. 0118 9399800 www.readingmuseum.org.uk
Reading School Library: Librarian, Mrs B Taylor, Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5LW.
Reading University Library: Val Davis, Library Assistant, PO Box 223, Whiteknights, RG6 6AE. 0118 378 8785 v.j.davis@reading.ac.uk
Museum of English Rural Life: The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. 0118 378 8660 Fax: 0118 378 5632 merl@reading.ac.uk www.merl.org.uk
Royal Borough Museum Collection: (Windsor & Maidenhead) Heritage Office, Tinkers Lane, Windsor, SL4 4LR. 01628 796 829
Slough Library Local Studies: Tony Pilmer, Slough Library, High Street, Slough, SL1 1EA. 01753 787511 librarytop@sloughlibrary.org.uk
Slough Museum: 278-286 High Street, Slough, SL1 1NB. 01753 526422 info@sloughmuseum.co.uk
West Berkshire Heritage Services: Amanda Loaring, West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG4 5AS. 01635 30511 heritage@westberks.gov.uk
Wokingham Library Local Studies: Carol Carson, The Library, Denmark Street, Wokingham, RG40 2BB. 0118 9781368 carol.carson@wokingham.gov.uk
Wantage Vale & Downland Museum: Tony Hadland, Church Street, Wantage, OX12 8BL. 01235 771447 museum@wantage.com
© COPYRIGHT: Trustees of the Berkshire
Local History Association and Authors 2007
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