BASINGSTOKE HERITAGE SOCIETY

Basingstoke Heritage Society
News for Members no 76
September 2008

We are very saddened by the death of the society’s Chairman, Brian Lawes who died on 21 August. Brian had been a stalwart Chairman of the society since 2001 and a founder member and treasurer from 1989 to 1998. He had done a great part of the work in defence of Fieldways and also the historical background to the Fairfields Conservation Area. We will very much miss his quiet integrity and his long knowledge of the town. A donation from the society has been made to St Michael’s Hospice.

Tree Party at Chineham Park, Popley

The dates are Friday 28th November from 10.00 to 12.30 and Saturday 29th November from 12.30 to 3.00pm.

We will be planting 2,000 whips, small trees, to create a barrier between the A33 and the Park.

Trees, tea and cake will be provided.

The park is lovely and well worth exploring if you don't already know it. And the planting is good fun.

THE THORNYCROFT CLOCK

LET’S HELP GET THIS BIT OF OUR HERITAGE OUT ON VIEW

You may remember that there was a lottery application to raise money to put the old clock from the Thornycroft’s premises in Worting Road on to the roundabout in 2001 which didn’t succeed. There was also a competition in 2005 to choose a plinth for it which the Gazette ran. The Hampshire Museum’s Trust has to raise £80,000 to install it and is fund-raising. There are envelopes to donate at Milestones and The Willis, but you can also donate by sending a cheque to Hampshire Museums Trust and send it to Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane, Winchester S023 8RD. (If you enclose a statement with your name and address saying you are a UK taxpayer and you wish your donation to be considered for Gift Aid then this will make your donation more beneficial).

Lilly and Lemon Land …

Following the invitation to our membership to come and meet the developer and planning consultants, 11 of us met with David Phillips, Director of Lemon Land and Matthew Mainwaring of Indigo Planning on 10 September. The Kingsclere Road site is a massive development and important for the town – it may provide a blueprint for future development north of the railway and even if you don’t live in this part of the town, these large developments at the heart of our town have the potential to create great change and for this reason it is important that the council get things right. The proposal will go in as an outline planning application shortly but there is already quite a lot of detail in the plans. It was a good meeting and Lemon Land will be sending out information of the proposed changes shortly. It will be interesting to see how these changes are received.

Other Matters

=> Old Post Office, Worting Road - This was another building which ‘fell down’ without consent.   The council’s enforcement team are looking at it, but there are few penalties except to require the developer to repair and rebuild, which is more or less what they want.

=> The Making of Basingstoke from Prehistory to the Present Day - This new book is a fascinating mine of information. Written by Eric Stokes who taught geography at both Queen Mary’s Grammar School and at QMC, it was left unfinished at his death in 2003 and has been skilfully edited and published by the Basingstoke Archaeological and Historical Association – much of the work done by Barbara and Bob Applin. It makes an excellent addition to other histories of the town and is available from The Willis. ISBN 978-0-9508095-3-3. Put it on your Christmas List!

=> What is a Monteith? - It is bowl with a rim with notches onto which can be hung the drinking cups – a punch bowl - and they became popular in the late Stuart period.   Vice-Chairman Colin Williams came across the existence of a silver one which was presented in 1688 to Edward Chute of The Vyne for a win in the Basingstoke Races.   It is in the V&A Museum.   He has discussed with The Willis the possibility of them borrowing it so that it can be exhibited locally.

=> Changes to your committee - After years of sterling service, Stella Beasley has resigned as both Treasurer and Membership Secretary.   Stella joined the committee in 2001 and became treasurer in June 2002 and took on the membership work at the end of that year.   We are very grateful to Stella for all the hard work she has done for the society – without her input the Town Trail would not have happened and she also championed our latest high-quality leaflet and masterminded the refreshments at our AGMs and other events.   We will miss her very much.

=> 24 Winchester Road - planning consent for this proposal (to retain the fire-damaged frontage of this house) was refused and we understand that the conservation officers are in discussion with the developer about a new proposal for this sad loss to the Winchester Road entrance to the town.

WE NEED YOU …

THE SOCIETY NEEDS SOME NEW OFFICERS AND WOULD ALSO WELCOME MORE MEMBERS AS REGULAR ATTENDERS AT OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS.

THEY ARE INTERESTING AND LIVELY SO DO COME ALONG AND GIVE IT A TRY.

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 - October 2 and November 6 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