NB Please note the date change for the Sibford village walk, now on Friday 16th June.
Our next talk at the Village Hall, at 7.30pm on 19 May isby Frances Kermer entitled Common Land – Its Origin Loss and Survival.
She will discuss the definition of common land, its legal status, its history and the current situation of commons. Rural commons and village and town greens are all encompassed by the Commons Act 2006, and the term covers a wide variety of land types and uses. The origins of commons are in medieval feudal rights, as part of the resources of the manor available to certain sections of the community, managed by the manor courts. Commoners’ rights might include grazing (pasture), pigs foraging for beech mast and acorn (pannage), taking turfs (turbary), collecting wood for fuel and fencing (estovers) and other activities, strictly controlled by custom and the manor court.
The extent of common land was much reduced by the enclosures which were under way by the 16th century, and comparatively little common land remains today.
The legal position of commons has long been problematic, with Acts of Parliament addressing various issues in 1588, 1876, 1899, 1925, 1965, 2000 and most recently in 2006. Commons continue to generate disputes, despite county councils being obliged to compile a Register of Commons and the rights attached to them
We look forward to an informative talk as Frances leads us through the sometimes arcane world of commons and village greens, and who can do what on them. Visitors welcome (visitors’ entrance fee £3.00)
Report on April Talk. At our last meeting on 21st April Judith Ellis, in her talk entitled Campden House – the howse that was so fayre, described the spectacular results of the research by the Chipping Campden History Society into the history of Campden House. Few tantalising fragments remain of the mansion built in 1612 by Sir Baptist Hicks and destroyed in 1645 by Royalists during the Civil War. Many travellers on the B4035 will have seen the East Banqueting House stranded in the fields east of the town, fields which once were elaborate gardens. Judith clearly described the research programme aimed at clarifying the layout of the grand gardens, known only from drawings made a century after they had disappeared. Precisely targeted archaeological trenching revealed a single formal garden, not two as the drawings depicted, and also uncovered evidence for the area being fortified in the Civil War. Quantities of Venetian glass, decorative plasterwork, ceramics, a coin of Elizabeth I, and a decorative stone face mask were among the finds, confirming the grand pretensions of the house and its pleasure grounds. The glass was painstakingly studied and proved to be from a design in a 1616 pattern book – the house was fashionably up to the minute! The most poignant find was a small silver thimble, which called to mind the tragic early death of Sir Baptist Hicks’ daughter Lady Penelope, caused by blood poisoning after pricking her finger while needleworking.
These investigations have now been published as a book. The Landmark Trust is opening the grounds on Saturday and Sunday the 10th and 11th June from 10.00am to 4.00pm, admission free, but book though Eventbrite.
Gill Ashley-Smith gave the vote of thanks, and echoed our appreciation for a clearly presented description of a fine community project
The King’s Big Help Out Day
On Monday 8th May the Parish Council organised an event at the Village Hall involving the village’s community groups as part of the national King’s Big Help Out Day. The Group mounted a stand and engaged with the many residents who visited the hall. Many thanks to Alec Hitchman and Pamela Redgrave for help in setting up and answering queries throughout the day.
Please Note: Corrected date of Sibford Outing, it’s Friday June 16 not Thursday.
Full details of venues, costs and times at the May 19th meeting. Put these dates in your diaries!
Our Forthcoming Talks. NB change of date for the Sibford meeting, now Friday 16th June
We have a full programme of talks and outings scheduled for 2023-4, thanks to Claire’s efforts, and the summer outings have been finalised (see below).
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 19 May | Frances Kermer | Common Land – Its Origin Loss and Survival |
| 16 June (eve) | Diana Hughes | Sibford Gower and Burdrop village walk |
| 21 July (eve) | John Dunkerton | Hampton Lucy village walk |
| 17 Aug. (afternoon) | Sean Callery | Broadway town tour |
| 15 September | Martin Sinot-Smith | Sulgrave Manor & the Washington Family. |
| 20 October | John Miles | Charlecote & the Lucy Family |
| 17 November | Paul Grigsby | Roman Warwickshire |
| 8 December | Various | Members’ Christmas Treats |
| 19 January 2024 | Peter Walters | A Little History of Coventry |
| 16 February | Stephen Barker | The Battle of Edgehill 1642 |
| 15 March AGM | Vanessa Morgan | Local Rogues & Villains of the 19th century |
Local history books
Capturing Kineton’s Past by Peter Ashley-Smith, edited by our President Robert Bearman .
Members are encouraged tobecome evangelical about this publication, in order to promote the group, and foster an interest in the history of our village and its surroundings. This book would make an ideal birthday present. Peter’s encyclopaedic knowledge and years of research are here distilled into little nuggets – anecdotes, characters, and vignettes of past village life here presented to give a comprehensive picture of all aspects of Kineton’s colourful past.
Price £9.99 contact kinetonhistory@yahoo.co.uk
or purchase at meetings
Our book Kineton: the Village and its History published in 1999 is now out of print but it is available to read on-line on our website at a cost of £5.00 via PayPal, go to:
Kineton and District Local History Group (kinetonhistory.co.uk)
From the Homepage click <Publications> on the left-hand menu, and click the cover illustration to see inside or click the Buy button to download the full publication.
The book gives a well-researched summary of the history of the village from earliest times to the recent past. Five walks to different parts of the village explore notable places and buildings. Further chapters describe the community’s institutions, organisations, and characters. The volume is indexed, and a section gives guidance to other sources of information
Peter Johnson has updated and substantially revised and enlarged his biography of Joe Gerring, who worked around the area in Lighthorne, Compton Verney, Chesterton and Kineton. The book is a model of local history research and presentation, and is accompanied by a CD of Joe talking about his experiences. There has been a limited print run of only 100 copies of the book and CD and Peter Johnson has kindly donated a copy of both to the archive of the Kineton & District Local History Group.
Peter Johnson has a limited number of both the book and CD for sale. The book is £14 and the CD is £6. Postage rates on application. Home delivery available in Lighthorne and Kineton. Please email: colinjamessuch@gmail.com
Other Societies’ Events
Tuesday 23 May. Stoneleigh History Society. The fascinating Story of Egg Cups by Dr Javad Hashemi. 7.30 Village Hall,
Monday 12 June. Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society. Palaeography: what, why, how Mairi Macdonald 7.30 Senior Citizens Club, Kenilworth, non members £2.00
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Member of BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Don’t forget to check our own website at: Kineton and District Local History Group
Membership. If you are, or would like to become, a Member of the group, your 2023 subscription (still £10pa!) is due NOW. Our Treasurer Alec Hitchman awaits! You can pay by cheque made payable to Kineton and District Local History Group, sent or delivered to:
Alec Hitchman,
The Hills Farm,
Pillerton Hersey,
WARKS, CV35 0QQ,
With our bank now charging for payments by cheque or cash, we would urge those who can to please pay by BACS to our bank business account:
name: Kineton and District Local History Group,
sort code: 40-43-19;
acc. no. 71281992. Please include your full name so we can correctly attribute your payment.
For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com You can also join at any talk.
2023-24 KDLHG Committee
President: Dr Robert Bearman MBE
Chairman David Freke
Vice-Chairman Roger Gaunt
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer Alec Hitchman
Outings Secretary Rosemary Collier
Programme Secretary Claire Roberts
Other committee members:
Isobel Gill
Ilona Sekacz
Catherine Petrie (PR)
Pamela Redgrave (Membership)
Contact David Freke tel. 01295 670516 mob. 07876 290044 email: djfreke@gmail.com
DF 17.04.23