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Basingstoke Heritage Society
News for Members no 82
December 2009

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

Advance notice of our AGM speaker in 2010.

We have invited John Jenkins to give a presentation on the stained glass from the Holy Ghost Chapel.

He is the co-author of a book on this glass, which was removed from the chapel during the Civil War, and then stored at the Vyne or at Mottisfont (another Sandys house). Some of the glass is in the Vyne Chapel windows; some in Woolbeding Church in Sussex; some in St Michael’s Church and a fragment in the Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

The talk will take place at the Willis Museum on May 6 at 7.30 so do make a point of coming to hear this fascinating story about 16th century windows of superb quality and superior craftsmanship.

NEW COMMUNITY WOODLAND

NEW Community Woodland!

Phase one of the new community woodland strategy, which will take an estimated four years to complete, started last November with a project to improve upon the existing hedgerow bisecting Basingstoke Common.

Once planted, with native tree species, the area will act as a wildlife corridor linking the woodlands of Crabtree and Old Basing and it will form a long term landscape feature.

WANT TO JOIN IN?

Another tree planting event will be held on Saturday 13^th February from 10 am until 1 pm. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is necessary and refreshments will be provided, but please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the weather.

For more details and meeting point please contact Karen on 01256 845649 or at karen.evans-prosser@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Come and join in the fun!

Are you interested in the architecture of modern Basingstoke?

Basingstoke possesses some fine modern buildings such as the AA building and the former Wiggins Teape (hanging gardens).

We have arranged a tour with Andrew Benson-Wilson, local architect and founder chairman of the Heritage Society, for a walking tour of some of the more notable buildings.

The group will meet on Sunday 28 March in the Eastrop roundabout at 2.30 and walk from there.

Please do sign up and come along.

As it would be helpful to have numbers, please let the secretary know if you would like to come. Details of Debbie’s phone and email are at the bottom of this page.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death in October of former Basingstoke and County Councillor, Dudley Keep.

The society largely owes its existence to Cllr. Keep who chaired a meeting at Queen Mary’s College to talk about the heritage of the town and the need to protect and promote it.

Dudley Keep was a great champion of the town, and we owe him a lot.

World War 1 Tank in front of Fairfields

A recent enquiry to the society concerned the WW1 tank which stood outside Fairfields School. The enquirer asked if Basingstoke had a tank and we were able to confirm this and to find this photo of it.

Local historian, Robert Brown knew that these tanks had been awarded to towns that had raised a lot of money for the war effort. The tanks were brought back from France and presented to towns in 1919.

It stood outside Fairfields School until WW2 when it was taken for scrap. By then it had been a plaything for many town schoolchildren.

Albert Farmer talked in 1998 to the Oral History Project and remembered the tank arriving by rail and being unloaded at Bunnian Place and driven to Fairfields.

Other Matters

=>You will have seen in the Gazette that Lemon Land is back with some alterations to their proposals for the land at Eli Lilly - In the event that the college will not relocate, a mix of office and residential is proposed; some of the rear gardens which the open spaces officer thought too small have been increased in size and some more open space has been designated as open play space. We have had a brief visit with Indigo and will discuss this at our February 4 meeting. Come along and join the discussion.

=>St Michael’s Church - will have a 500 year celebration in 2010 lasting from Easter to Michaelmas which includes an exhibition at the Willis during August and a Heritage Open Day in September.

=>Lilly Building - We did ask the council if they would consider spot conservation area status for the building as a way of giving it extra protection, but they say that the rules about conservation area designation make this impossible to do.

All members are welcome to attend meetings of the society.

At most meetings we consider planning applications which fall within the area of concern to the society and agree comments.

Next meetings - February 4 at Queen Mary’s College (go in at the main entrance and reception will guide you to the room) at 7.30.

For further information contact Debbie Reavell on 01256 473390
or by e-mail