Our first talk of the autumn session takes place this Friday 15th
Elizabeth I and Washington family coat of arms on the porch
Our Friday 15th talk in the Village Hall at 7.30 will be given by Simon Sinot-Smith. He will describe Sulgrave Manor and the Washington Family. The original manor was built by 1540 by Laurence Washington, soon after Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne, and her coat of arms, made in plaster, can still be seen on the gable over the porch. The Washington arms (three stars and two stripes – remind you of anything?) are above the door. The Washington fortunes declined and in 1659 the family emigrated to the American colonies where they became prosperous land owners.
The Manor in 1917
A century later George Washington was in the military, before the American Revolution propelled him into political activity The ancestral manor in Sulgrave also had its downs and ups. The west wing (left of the porch) was demolished in the 17th century but was rebuilt in the early 1900s after periods when the manor suffered of near ruin and financial hardship. It is now administered by the Sulgrave manor Trust.
Report on August 17th visit to Broadway. Our group of 14 members was led by Sean Callery, a Blue Guide, familiar from our tour of Chipping Norton last year. He regaled us with tales of artists and actors in the early 20th century as he showed us the houses and converted barns where they lived and amused themselves. The origin of the town’s name is obvious – the old coach road through the town widens to an enormous green. The striking War Memorial on the green was designed by the local arts and crafts architect F. L. Griggs. The famous American actress Mary Anderson lived on the steep hill out of the town and hosted kings, queens, prime ministers, artists and writers in the early 20th century. She became a major benefactor of the community. On the same hill a milestone bears two inscriptions, the expected chiselled distances to destinations, and a small brass plaque stating the inscription had been erased in 1939 to confuse German invaders and restored in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. A stone at the bottom of the hill has the cryptic message “Shut off two horses here”. This probably relates to the stagecoach period when the steep hill sometimes required passengers to get out and push, and extra horsepower may have been provided at times. Situated at the bottom of the hill it would appear to mark the place where the extra animals were stationed ready for the task. The Lygon Arms, a coaching inn for at least three centuries and now an upmarket hotel, is a few yards away. A similar service was in operation on the Stratford Road in Tysoe, linked to the coaching inn at the top of Sunrising Hill. We saw the museum devoted to furniture designer Gordon Russell, and decided to return to give it the attention it deserves. Some intrepid members continued up the old coach road for a few hundred yards after we bid farewell to Sean Callery to see some remarkable topiary. Another reason to return for a longer look at a fascinating town. Our thanks to Sean for a reliably entertaining tour, and to Rosemary for arranging it.
Just a reminder that we have a full programme of talks scheduled for 2023-4, thanks to Claire’s efforts Please note changes to the October and January talks, which have been swapped
Date
Speaker
Title
15 September
Martin Sinot-Smith
Sulgrave Manor & the Washington Family.
20 October
John Miles
A Little History of Coventry
17 November
Paul Grigsby
Roman Warwickshire
8 December
Various
Members’ Christmas Treats
19 January 2024
Peter Walters
Charlecote & the Lucy Family
16 February
Stephen Barker
The Battle of Edgehill 1642
15 March AGM
Vanessa Morgan
Local Rogues & Villains of the 19th century
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.
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.
July 21st meet at 6.30pm on the Parish Field, Hampton Lucy CV35 8BE
Cottage in Church Street
We will be conducted around historic Hampton Lucy village and church by Ken Cockshull and John Dunkerton. Like many south Warwickshire communities, Hampton experienced depopulation in the 15th and 16th centuries as landowners converted arable farming into pasture for sheep. The hamlets of Hatton and Ingon disappeared by 1500, and the destruction of houses and the eviction of tenants by ecclesiastical landlords is recorded in contemporary documents. In 1557 Queen Mary granted the manor of Bishop’s Hampton to Thomas Lucy of Charlecote, and it became, and remains, Hampton Lucy. Some 17th century buildings remain in the village but in the early 19th century the Lucy family replaced many cottages and rebuilt the church. Four mills once served the village, and the group visited the remaining working one many years ago.
The church of St Peter ad Vincula is an excellent example of early gothic revival and is the masterpiece of Thomas Rickman (tower) and Henry Hutchinson (nave), while the chancel was rebuilt and given an apsidal end by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
Hampton Lucy House 1722-25, by Francis Smith of Warwick
The history of Hampton Lucy is intimately bound up with Charlecote and the Lucy family, and we look forward to hearing the story of its development.
Meet at 6.30 on the Parish Field.
Directions: passing the entrance to Charlecote on your left, turn left after about 100 metres, continue over the narrow bridge keeping left at the junction and then immediately left into the field where you can park.
The cost is £5 and can be paid in advance (see bank and Treasurer’s details below) or on the day.
Report on June 16th visit to Sibford and Burdrop.
Our visit coincided with a fine evening, and we had a good turnout of 25 members and friends. The Sibfords are off the beaten track and before our visit I knew virtually nothing about these nearby villages. Our leader Maureen Hicks revealed a cornucopia of unexpected but fascinating sites and sights. After gathering at the Village Hall we made a short-cut down and up the first of several valleys we encountered, to arrive at Burdrop.
Cottages in Burdrop
The name means the “hamlet near a burgh” – a fortified place. It is indeed situated in a commanding position at the end of a ridge with the land falling away on all sides, and overlooking a steep valley (which we later negotiated). It is a compact oval hamlet, possibly following the form of the original fortifications. The Blaze Inn Saddles just below the summit, now a bikers’ watering hole, was until recently the Blaize Inn, reputedly near the site of a holy well dedicated to St Blaize, the patron saint of throat disorders. After a perambulation of Burdrop we descended the aforementioned steep valley and ascended again through meadows owned by the village, the first of several community-owned properties we traversed. We learnt how the Sibfords were, until the 19th century, part of the parish of Swalecliffe, so the church dates from1840, built to serve the newly separated parish. A decayed church is mentioned in a survey of 1547, but no trace of it remains.
From the Village Hall, where several members peeled off to recuperate from the stiff climb out of the valley, we headed west to Sibford Gower to see the primary school, then to dive into another valley and through a pleasant plantation, gifted to the village by a recent resident. We emerged at the venerable Wykeham Arms, and thence opposite to the Quaker meeting house, with its burial ground of identical, modest headstones. With swifts wheeling above us we admired some more of the village’s 28 listed buildings while making our way back to the Village Hall where copious refreshments provided by the WI awaited us.
Wykeham Arms, Sibford Gower
The general opinion was that the Sibfords are a well-kept secret, with a wealth of charm and history keenly nurtured by residents with an enviable community spirit. Our thanks to Maureen Hickman whose information was encyclopaedic, to Diana Hughes and helpers who organised the refreshments, and to Rosemary Collier for arranging the visit.
Just a reminder that we have a full programme of talks scheduled for 2023-4, thanks to Claire’s efforts
Date
Speaker
Title
21 July (eve)
John Dunkerton & Ken Cockshull
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.
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:
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
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
NB Please note the date for the Sibford village walk is Friday 16th June.
Meet at 6.00pm Sibford Village Hall OX15 5RN
Sibford is mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086 as “Scipforde”, derived from the Saxon personal name “Sibba’s”. and the ford in the valley. The “Gower” element is from a another family name, a lord of the Manor. Burdrop means the “hamlet near a burgh” – a fortified place. As in nearby Tysoe part of the area was once owned by the Knights Templar and the mill at the bottom of the valey was called Templars’ Mill.
There are 28 listed buildings in the village, and we will be guided expertly around these historic sites, followed by refreshments.
The cost is £7.50 and can be paid in advance (see Treasurer’s details below) or on the day.
The Manor House
Village centre
Medieval grazing
Report on our last talk at the Village Hall, on 19 May by Frances Kermer from The Open Spaces Society, a charity dedicated to protecting green and open spaces and ensuring their survival for future generations to enjoy. In her talk entitled Common Land – Its Origin, Loss and Survival She clarified many aspects of commons, starting with their origin in the rights of medieval villagers to graze animals, take fallen wood, cut turfs and even extract minerals, depending upon the conditions set out in the manor courts. The cases heard by the manor courts baron (meeting every three weeks) and court leets (meeting every two years) are similar in many ways to the complaints around commons today – over grazing, encroachment, inappropriate activities. Houses are not permitted, nor fencing, and animal grazing rates should be controlled. Rural commons and village and town greens are all covered 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 all sections of the community.
Map of UK common land: note the scarcity of commons in the “Central Belt”, a legacy of the quality and value of its agricultural land.
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. The Open Spaces Society actively searches for unregistered areas of land which may qualify for registration, but which have been overlooked or rejected by County Councils.
Gill Stewart led the vote of thanks drawing on her own experiences, which included one of the examples used by Frances in her talk.
Thanks are due to Jackie and Mark Walker dispensed teas, coffees and biscuits, a ritual which will be discontinued as there are fewer and fewer takers for what is an extra duty for members of the group.
.
Just a reminder that we have a full programme of talks scheduled for 2023-4, thanks to Claire’s efforts
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.
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:
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
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
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.
Medieval grazing
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.
Modern grazing
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 AprilJudith 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.
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:
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 Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
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.
Early depiction of house and gardens. Photo Chipping Campden History Society
At our next meeting on 21st April we will hear Judith Ellis, in her talk entitled Campden House – the howse that was so fayre, describing the results of the research by the Chipping Campden History Society into the history of Campden House. Few tantalising fragments remain of the “howse that was so fayre”, 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.
East Banqueting House, Photo Landmark Trust
Other original buildings include the West Banqueting House and the Gatehouse, but all that remains of the mansion itself above ground is one wall. During the Campden House Project, which began in 2016 and was completed in 2018, the Society undertook extensive geophysical surveys, trial trenching and documentary research to discover what can be retrieved of the original house and its grounds. These investigations have now been published as a book, and we look forward to hearing the results. Visitors welcome (Visitors’ Entrance fee £3.00)
Report on the 35th AGM held on 17th March. Our President Robert Bearman presided over the business proceedings, and we are pleased that he agreed to continue as our President. Reports from the Chairman and the Treasurer had been circulated in advance.
The Chairman outlined the previous year’s events, and thanked Claire Roberts for arranging a splendid programme. Our summer outings were eventful, with a village guide who omitted to acknowledge the existing village (but who enthusiastically demonstrated its prehistoric and Roman antecedents); a local trip from which our guide had to withdraw part way round, but not before providing a remarkable insight into an overlooked part of our neighbourhood; and a town tour on the hottest day of the year, but which was enjoyed nonetheless by a hardy band. The Chairman thanked Rosemary, Isobel and Brian Lewis for organising these events. Attention was directed to the ongoing efforts to establish a Community Archive Room in the village hall. The Chairman concluded by thanking our President, the committee and other members who supported the group and contributed to a successful 2022.
Our Treasurer presented our accounts, reviewed by former committee member Peter Waters, pointing out that the drop in our bank balance was mainly due to the cost of installing the fire-door, an essential element of the archive room project, but that other costs (hall hire, speakers fees, bank charges) had also increased. Membership in 2022 was down from 76 to 65 compared with 2021. Peter Waters was thanked and agreed to review the 2023 accounts
The elections to the committee: George Lokuciejewski retired from the committee and we are grateful for his input during his time helping to run the group. Ilona Sekacz stood down as Secretary, but remained on the committee, and the other 9 members of the 2022 committee, including the chairman, were re-elected.
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)
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).
Sarah exerting her magic powers to remove knots (she got to keep them). Photo D Beaumont
The business part of the evening was followed by David Moylan with a presentation/performance entitled
Funny Turns – a celebration of the entertainers and entertainment of days gone by. David performs comedy magic, with an historical edge. He also plays a variety of instruments, and he entertained us with a non-stop stream of self-deprecating jokes, stories, and songs. True to his title he paid homage to entertainers familiar to many of our older members. I started taking notes, but laughter obliged me to abandon the attempt and just enjoy the flow.
Ilona gave the vote of thanks, referring to her own childhood in Blackpool where she experienced the best (and not so best) of the old-time comedians.
Full details of venues, costs and times at the April 21st meeting. Put these dates in your diaries!
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.
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
Thursday 20th April. Warmington Heritage Group. Recent works at Baddesley Clinton by Stephen Wass. 7.30 Village Hall, Warmington. Non members £2.00
Monday 24 April. Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society. What are they Worth: Anglo- Saxon and Mercian settlements incorporating the term “-worth” by Graham Aldred. 7.30 Senior Citizens Club, Kenilworth, non members £2.00
Monday 24th April. Leamington Spa History Group. The History of Allotments in Leamington by Nigel Briggs. 7.30, Oddfellows Hall New Street, Leamington
Tuesday 25th April. Stoneleigh History Society The Blind Postmaster General and the Suffragist by Alan Godfrey, 7.30 Village Hall Stoneleigh, non-members £3.00
Southam Heritage Collection: Accessing the Collection:
The current exhibition showcases the work by volunteers on the local Civil War loss accounts
Opening times are – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings 10 am – 12 noon.
Other times by appointment.
Our High Street and Atrium window displays are updated regularly so please keep a lookout for the latest displays as you pass by.
In addition to the Exhibition Room there is plenty to see online, so do take time to explore this website and sample some of its many interesting articles.
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Funny Turns – a celebration of the entertainers and entertainment of days gone by.
David Moylan performs comedy magic, with an historical edge. He has been a resident entertainer at Warwick Castle for many years, combining music and close-up magic, and he regularly entertains at corporate events, private functions, community groups like ours and medieval banquets – not something we can lay on this week unfortunately. But Ilona will be on hand to provide refreshments.
Visitors welcome (Visitors’ Entrance fee £3.00)
Coventry Town Ribbon | M. Clack | M. Clack | V&A Explore the collections
Review of 17th February Meeting with David Fry talking about the Coventry Silk Ribbon Industry. David set out to dispel some myths that have grown up around the history of the Coventry silk ribbon industry. He challenged basic “facts”, such as: who started it, when it started, and were the first silk ribbon weavers Hugenot refugees? David demonstrated that much received wisdom, even the cherished notion that some modern-day Coventrians are descended from Hugenots, is tenuous at best and plain wrong at times. His talk was a cautionary tale about the need to consult primary sources and how to question accepted ideas. He was also clear about the history of the “top-shop” weavers, the introduction of the Jacquard Loom, and the decline of the industry when trade opened up with Europe, and particularly with France, after the Napoleonic Wars. The wonderful complex design on the left (David brought an example of it) which was shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851, was produced when the industry was already collapsing. Weavers diversified into making medal ribbons, bookmarks pictures, and, latterly, name-tapes. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum has a fine collection related to the industry and its sociology. David’s talk was well illustrated with shots of weavers’ cottages, looms, and of course the products of the industry.
Our Forthcoming Talks
Date
Speaker
Title
21 April
Judith Ellis
Campden House – the howse which was so fayre
19 May
Frances Kermer
Common Land – Its Origin Loss and Survival
15 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 visit
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
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.
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
Southam Heritage Collection: Accessing the Collection:
The current exhibition showcases the work by volunteers on the local Civil War loss accounts
Opening times are – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings 10 am – 12 noon.
Other times by appointment.
Our High Street and Atrium window displays are updated regularly so please keep a lookout for the latest displays as you pass by.
In addition to the Exhibition Room there is plenty to see online, so do take time to explore this website and sample some of its many interesting articles.
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Exterior and interior of 19th century weavers house in Earlsdon, showing large” topshop” windows for maximum light. The Weavers Cottages – Earlsdon Online
Our 17th February Meeting at 7.30 in Kineton Village Hall will feature David Fry talking about the Coventry Silk Ribbon Industry. This activity was the principal means of making living for up to half of Coventry’s working age population, from the 1700s to the mid 19th century. Beginning as a “cottage” industry carried out in workers’ own homes, early 19th century entrepreneurs transformed the industry with industrial looms in purpose-built mills.
The Jacquard Loom was the machinery which enabled this transformation. It used chains of punched cards to “programme” the loom to weave complex designs, and fewer weavers could produce larger quantities of fine finished material than was possible with the cottage industry methods.
The Jacquard Loom was invented in France in 1800, and was an important step in the development of computing technology. By the late 19th and into the 20th century the weaving industry declined and turned to making woven badges, labels and bookmarks. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum has a fine collection related to the industry and its sociology. Our speaker David Fry has published work on the history of Coventry communities with a particular interest in historic photographs and industry.
The meeting will be followed as usual with a sociable chat over tea coffee and biscuits
Report on our January
South Tawton Church House
At our first meeting of the New Year our speaker Professor Beat Kümin presented For a Good Cause: church ales and early modern drinking culture describing the role that drinking alcohol has played historically in social, religious and political life. Beat Kümin is Professor of Early Modern European History at Warwick University, and has written extensively on early modern society.
His talk emphasised how Church Ales – celebratory events organised by medieval parish communities – were significant contributors to parish incomes. The occasions could be saints’ days, seasonal celebrations, a ”King Play” when norms were inverted, and other special occasions such as Bride-Ales (Bridals). There could be music, dancing, competitions, sports, morris dancing, and other revels. The events were managed by lay Ale Wardens, who organised them and collected the dues. These individuals were not the same as the Ale Tasters who enforced the legal requirements the Assize of Ale regarding the quality of the beverage on behalf of the Lord of the Manor.
The amount of ale drunk each day per person in the 16th century was about 1.5 litres, although this drink contained less alcohol than modern beers. This daily consumption declined to about 1 litre in the 18th century, as a more restrictive attitude to alcohol grew with the rise of non-conformist religious sentiments. This difference in approach is starkly illustrated by the situation during the Commonwealth under Cromwell compared with the Restoration under Charles II. Other changes came about with the introduction of hops to make beer, with traditional women brewsters being gradually excluded from industrial brewing, and relegated to the sale of beer. The Church House was the usual venue for Church Ales, and this building could also generate income from rents, as well as being the focal point of community activities. Beat concluded by describing the general decline of the role of the church in parish affairs, and the recent efforts in Berkswell Parish to re-integrate the secular and religious through collaborative community events, a hopeful example.
Questions from the audience elicited the information that the situation in early modern Europe was much the same as in. England, and that the common view that ale was drunk to avoid contaminated water is wrong, as most rural spring water was perfectly potable. Asked which came first – the church or the drinking venue – Professor Kümin was clear that the church was the primary structure in parish history, although there were drinking establishments in Roman times. His talk was illustrated not just with informative pictures but also the sounds of rather raucous drinking songs!
The 2023-24 Programme
Date
Speaker
Title
17 Feb ‘23
David Fry
The Silk Ribbon Industry of Coventry’
17 March ‘23 AGM
David Moylan
Funny Turns – A Celebration of the Entertainers and Entertainment of Days Gone By
21 April
Judith Ellis
Campden House – the howse which was so fayre
19 May
Frances Kermer
Common Land – Its Origin Loss and Survival
June, July, Aug
Visits TBC
Hampton Lucy, The Sibfords, tbc
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
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.
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
16th February. Warmington Heritage Group, Six Warrior Women of the Civil War 1642-51 Stephen Barker Warmington Village Hall, at 7.30 pm
21st February Warwickshire Local History Society Paterson’s Dynasty of Gardeners; an example from Warwick Castle.
Southam Heritage Collection: Accessing the Collection:
The current exhibition showcases the work by volunteers on the local Civil War loss accounts
Opening times are – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings 10 am – 12 noon.
Other times by appointment.
Our High Street and Atrium window displays are updated regularly so please keep a lookout for the latest displays as you pass by.
In addition to the Exhibition Room there is plenty to see online, so do take time to explore this website and sample some of its many interesting articles.
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
A 16th century ale house scene by Bartei Beham “Village Fair” c. 1530
At our first meeting of the New Year on 20th January our speaker Professor Beat Kümin will present For a Good Cause: church ales and early modern drinking culture, about the role that drinking alcohol has played historically in social, religious and political life. Beat Kümin is Professor of Early Modern European History at Warwick University, and has written extensively on early modern society, with particularly emphasis on communal activities such as drinking, feasting and church going. He is the co-ordinator of the My-Parish website, which hosts ongoing research into all things parish-related. His interests extend from early modern food and drink to the evolution of the picnic, and he has assisted subjects on TV programmes like “Who do you think you are?”. Professor Kümin has visited us before and we look forward to another relaxed and informative evening.
Report on our Christmas Meeting
St George and the Dragon at outside St Albans Cathedral
Richard Churchley presented Christmas Songs Through the Ages: from the middle ages to the 1940s. We saw “Dick” Churchley, the musician and entertainer, but his presentation was informed throughout by Dr Richard Churchley’s life-time of local history research. True to the title of his talk, he started with medieval seasonal feasting and the Mummers (derived the word “mimers” or “mumblers”), and sang the medieval Coventry Carol. His informal approach encouraged our members to join in, and also to sing along to a Wassail (from Norse ves heill – “be in good health”).
He accompanied himself on the accordion and the cittern – a medieval instrument similar to a lute – just two of the many instruments of which he is master. The stories told by carols don’t necessarily conform to the orthodox line. In The Withy Stick, collected in Worcestershire by Cecil Sharp, we hear how the bitter willow tree was cursed by Jesus after a switch from it was used by Mary to punish him for drowning three rich youths, a story from the Apocrypha.
In between songs he explained the sources of some much-loved examples – Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer for instance is an American invention from 1939. He brought us up to the 1940s with Bing Crosby and White Christmas and went beyond his brief into the 1970s by pointing out that Mike Oldfield’s follow-up to his hit Tubular Bells is based on the medieval In Dulce Jubilo, recorded on multiple tracks by three recorders, renaissance kortholt (look it up!), acoustic and electric guitars, piano, synthesiser, snare drum, and tambourine – a line-up worthy of Dick Churchley himself. As is traditional for K&DLHG at Christmas we enjoyed mince pies (courtesy of the committee), mulled wine and soft drinks. Our thanks to Ilona and Jackie and Mark Walker for organising this and serving us.
The 2023-24 Programme
Capturing Kineton’s Past by Peter Ashley-Smith, edited by our President Robert Bearman. Members are encouraged to become 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.
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 19th January. Warmington Heritage Group, Why Look at Churches?? Professor John Hunt, Warmington Village Hall, at 7.30 pm
Professor Hunt is a medievalist working primarily on regional history and archaeology, medieval lordship and community and cultural history, in England & France between the tenth and fourteenth centuries. His current research is focussed particularly on parish churches and in this talk he will address the question: Why look at parish churches? Despite their apparent familiarity, why do English parish churches continue to attract the interest of historians and archaeologists? This lecture will explore some of the key questions and themes that contribute to the fascination of these buildings through three Warwickshire parish churches on which the speaker has worked, namely: St Laurence’s at Ansley; St John the Baptist at Berkswell; and St Mary’s at Tysoe.
27th January Welford and Weston Local History Society: The Stratford Midland Junction Railway and Binton Station by Peter Lewis, Memorial Hall, Welford, 7.30pm
Southam Heritage Collection: Accessing the Collection: The current exhibition showcases the work by volunteers on the local Civil War loss accounts Opening times are – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings 10 am – 12 noon.
Other times by appointment. Our High Street and Atrium window displays are updated regularly so please keep a lookout for the latest displays as you pass by. In addition to the Exhibition Room there is plenty to see online, so do take time to explore this website and sample some of its many interesting articles.
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. Check their website www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Membership. If you are, or would like to become, a Member of the group, your 2023 subscription (still £10pa!) is due this January. 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, For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com You can also join at any talk. 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.
2022-23 KDLHG Committee
President: Dr Robert Bearman MBE
Chairman David Freke
Vice-Chairman Roger Gaunt
Secretary Ilona Sekacz
Treasurer Alec Hitchman
Outings Secretary vacant
Programme Secretary Claire Roberts
Other committee members:
Rosemary Collier
Isobel Gill
George Lokuciejewski
Catherine Petrie (PR)
Pamela Redgrave (Membership)
Committee: A meeting was held, via Zoom, on 5th December. After receiving the treasurer’s update the main business was to finalise the programme for 2023-4. Our Group agreed to host a visit from the Long Itchington Local History Society on 10th May 2023, reciprocating for a memorable visit to them several years ago. It was decided to research the requirements for running “hybrid” meetings, with members in the village hall and participants via Zoom.
Date of next Committee meeting: 13th February via Zoom 7.00pm,
NB Change to advertised programme: our October talk will be delivered by Professor Rosemary Collier on the history of the Wellesbourne Research Station, Roy Smart’s talk on Admiral David Beatty will now take place on November 18th.
As the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is now upon us it seems appropriate that the topic of our October 21st meeting should be A Potted History of the National Vegetable Research Station atWellesbourne, now the University of Warwick Crop Centre. and previously the Horticultural Research International. The centre was started after WWII with the aim of researching and establishing better and more efficient methods of vegetable production in the UK with funding from the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries (MAFF). The Wellesbourne site was acquired in 1949. Many new research methods have been pioneered at the centre, leading to innovative and practical improvements in crop varieties and pest control.
A man and his shed- Dr James Philp 1949 first Director of the NVRS
It will be fascinating to hear how the concerns about chemical control methods raised in books such as Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (published 1962) affected the centre’s approach through the 70 plus years of its existence.
Rosemary is a lead researcher at the centre, specialising in entomology, – ie studying the pests which can devastate our food crops – and researching how to control them.
Rosemary is also active locally in promoting environmentally friendly conditions for wildlife, through projects such as No-Mow-May, planting wildflower reserves, and undertaking intensive surveys of bugs and birds.
Review of our September talk.
There was a good turnout in our temporary venue, the meeting room of the Methodist Church, for our first talk after the summer break. It wasgiven by Norman Hyde and entitled Tennis the Leamington Way: the oldest tennis club in the world and it’s importance to Leamington over 170 years.
Norman has been a member at the court club for more than 35 years and was its captain for ten years from the late 1990s. He took advantage of the covid lockdown towrite and publisha history of the club. He began by declaring he was not going to describe the rules of the game, a pity as the audience were left in some confusion about the differences between Lawn Tennis, Real Tennis, Court Tennis, Royal Tennis, Racquets and Squash, some of which turn out to be the same game.
The earlier members of the Leamington club were from the upper echelons of society, with a “no tradesmen” rule and, of course, no women. Norman was robust in his characterisation of the ethos of the club in its heyday – with its Gentleman’s Club atmosphere of drinking and gambling. His talk described some of the characters who have graced the courts during its history. Many were eminent national figures, and sometimes it seems that some of the more colourful members were also the most courageous or foolhardy, with decorations for military bravery a prominent feature.
The club was important in the development of Leamington as a resort, together with the spa bringing business and status. Meetings were advertised in The Times, and trains from London laid on to bring participants to Leamington. Norman was an overflowing fount of information about the club, its members and its influence.
Refreshments were provided as usual after the talk courtesy of Ilona, assisted by Jackie and Mark Walker.
Other K&LHG News
The Group mounted a modest stand at the Village Lunch on Sunday 2nd October, organised by St Peter’s, at which seemingly all the village groups and societies were represented. The aim was to introduce newcomers in the village to the variety of organisations ready to welcome them. The Village Hall was packed and the bring-and-share lunch was more than enough to go round, the parable of the five loaves and two fishes springs to mind. The K&DLHG stand was in the lobby, where DF stoppeth one in three, and may have encouraged some potential new members to give us a try. Many thanks to Barry Jackson and Alison Abbott and their efficient helpers for a lively lunch
New Local History Book
Local history researcher Peter Johnson has revised updated his 2000 memoir recording the life of Joe Gerring, and produced a model of how to write local history. Entitled Joe’s Story: a century of change in the South Warwickshire countryside it follows the career of Joe in Lighthorne, Kineton, Chadshunt, Gaydon, Wellesbourne, Chesterton and Compton Verney. With meticulous attention to detail and copious illustrations Peter Johnson describes the changes in the conditions and landscapes of the last 100 years. He has also produced a 90 minute CD of Joe’s reminiscences. The 146 page book is on sale for £14.00 and the CD at an additional £6.00. We plan to have copies of both available at our forthcoming meetings
The 2022-23 Programm
Date
Speaker
Title
21 Oct
Rosemary Collier
A Potted History of the National Vegetable Research Station at Wellesbourne
18 Nov
Roy Smart
David Beatty – The Last Naval Hero’ fame and celebrity following the Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle in history.
9 Dec
Richard Churchley
‘Christmas Songs Through the Ages’ the Middle Ages to the 1940s
20 Jan ‘23
Beat Kümin
‘For a Good Cause – Church Ales and Early Modern Drinking Culture.’
17 Feb ‘23
David Fry
The Silk Ribbon Industry of Coventry’
17 Mar ‘23
AGM-
talk tbc
21 April ‘23
tbc
19 May ‘23
Frances Kerner
Common Land- Origin, Loss, and Survival
June July Aug
Outings
Guided visits to local historic venues venuestbc
15 Sept 23
Judith Ellis
The Campden House Project
Other Societies’ Events
Tuesday 25October 2022
Stoneleigh History Society, Stoneleigh Village Hall, 7.30 pm. David Freke on Scratching the Surface – medieval graffiti in Warwickshire churches
Tuesday 25October 2022
Lapworth Local History Group, Lapworth Village Hall, 7.00pm: Graham Sutherland on Curious Clerics
Tuesday 15 November 2022
Warwickshire Local History Society Changing Health Provision in 19th Century Warwickshire Dr John Wilmot considers developments in small towns and rural areas, with a focus on Stratford-upon-Avon and Southam
Wednesday23 November 2022
Coventry University. Approaching the (Family) Archive: Challenges and Reflections.A series of free, online workshops.Workshop 4: Archives into Institutions 4 pm Whether through sale, loan, or donation, many family collections are eventually transferred into museums, local record offices, and other institutions. Under the care of professional archivists they are preserved, catalogued, and made accessible to an audience beyond the family who compiled them. Which items do families seek to pass on, why, and how might these familial bequests shape national narratives? What is gained – and lost – in the migration from the home to the record office? Speaker: Dr Ann-Marie Foster (Northumbria University) For more information and to book a place please visit Approaching the (Family) Archive: Challenges and Reflections (eventsforce.net)
Tuesday 29 November 2022
Stoneleigh History Society, Stoneleigh Village Hall, 7.30 pm. John Purcell on Earlsdon’s Lost Industrial Heritage
Thursday 1 December 2022
Nuneaton Historical Association, Rutland Roman Villa, Jennifer Browning of Leicester University Archaeological Services, Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre, 4 Avenue Road, Nuneaton CV11 4LU, 7.30 pm
Wednesday 26th October 2022 Wellesbourne & Walton Local History Group at 7:30 pm The Mediaeval Wall Paintings in the Guild Chapel Stratford” Talk by Pamela Devine and Janet Hall
All are welcome –Wellesbourne Village Hall. Entry for non-members £3. Contact Charlie and Peggy Gilbert on 01789 841805 or Email treblig99@outlook.com
Or see their website: sites.google.com/site/wellesbournelocalhistory/
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. Check their website www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Gresham College has series of history talks available digitally, here is the next 3 months’ programme
HISTORY LECTURES BY MONTH AT GRESHAM COLLEGE – includes the short link for print:
due (still £10pa!). 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, For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com You can also join at any talk.
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.
2022-23 KDLHG Committee
President: Dr Robert Bearman MBE
Chairman David Freke
Vice-Chairman Roger Gaunt
Secretary Ilona Sekacz
Treasurer Alec Hitchman
Outings Secretary vacant
Programme Secretary Claire Roberts
Other committee members
Rosemary Collier
Isobel Gill
George Lokuciejewski
Catherine Petrie (PR)
Pamela Redgrave (Membership)
Date of next Committee meeting: 28th November via Zoom 7.00pm,
Our September meeting on Friday 16th will be at theMETHODIST HALL Southam Road Kineton, usual time 7.30pm.
Our first talk after the summer break will begiven by Norman Hyde entitled Tennis the Leamington Way: the oldest tennis club in the world and it’s importance to Leamington over 170 years.
Norman will describe how the club has been a significant venue both locally and nationally and how some of its members played an important part in the expansion of the town, the club and town’s role in the establishment and growth of lawn tennis and more
Norman has been a member at the court club for more than 35 years and was its captain for ten years from the late 1990s. He has recently published the history of the club, and he is also known as the motorcyclist who broke the World Sidecar Land Speed Record in 1972 – a man after my own heart! ^Former club member Alfred Lyttelton. former MP for Warwick and Leamington and the first man to play cricket and football for England.”
Remember the venue has been changed to the Methodist Hall, but refreshments will be available as usual after the talk, courtesy of Ilona.
The group being shown an enigmatic carving on a house corner
KDLHG SUMMER OUTINGS.
Our last summer visit was an afternoon in Chipping Norton on Friday August 12th led in lively fashion by Sean Callery, a Blue Badge Guide. Ten members attended, down from the expected numbers, as illness and the excessive heat (remember that?) understandably kept some members away. In the event we were able to take advantage of the shade of buildings and trees to stay tolerably comfortable. Sean showed us the lower parts of the town, not touched by the main road we have all navigated, explaining how settlement moved uphill leaving the earlier settlement as a series of humps in a field adjacent to the church. The town was a centre for the medieval Cotswold wool trade and the magnificent church of St Mary the Virgin is a result of the prosperity that wool brought.
It has a rare medieval octagonal porch, with roof bosses depicting grotesques including a lamb savaging/hugging? a wolf – medieval humour or an allegorical reversal of the social order? A modern feature of the church is a deteriorating 19th century side-chapel devoted to the Dawkins family – yes, the ancestors of that Dawkins, the famous atheist – apparently the condition of the chapel is the subject of debate between the family and the church authorities.
In the churchyard are many early gravestones, including a splendid rococo headstone of 1763 commemorating Phillis the wife of John Humphreys, Rat Catcher – he must have been a character of some consequence to have been able to afford such a memorial.
A little up the hill from the church are the elegant Almshouses – “The Work and Gift of HENRY CORNISH 1640” – which still fulfil their original function. A redundant chimney ensures a pleasing symmetry.
Just outside the town is Bliss Tweed Mill, with its distinctive domed chimney-base – the plunger – a landmark for miles around. The owners built themselves imposing houses opposite one another within sight of the factory, houses between which the workers must have passed twice a day. Only the gate pillars survive of the largest mansion – look on my works ye mighty etc.!
Our thanks to Isobel for arranging such a stimulating and informative visit, which brought to life a town often unjustly considered an impediment to travel.
The group at ilmington observing a modern pond
A round-up of our Summer visits: We have been lucky with the weather this year, with all our visits blessed with sunny dry conditions, once possibly too hot, but we must always have a little complaint. Our guides have been expert founts of information, ranging in date from a deep analysis of iron age and Roman territorial concerns around Ilmington, via the surprising vistas from Pittern Hill, to the Victorian primary school in Chipping Norton which became a recording studio for Status Quo, Duran Duran, Radio Head and Gerry Raffery among others, and is now a Dental Practice.,
At Ilmington, forsaking the archaeological heights of Windmill Hill, we visited the site of the medieval manor house to viewed a lake, which appears ancient and is surrounded by promising-looking humps and bumps. It turns out to have been excavated in the 1970s and the bumps are the spoil heaps.
Mary Snow’s headstone with its sinister arrow
The church is a treasure trove of architectural features and memorials, perhaps the most poignant is in the churchyard – a fallen headstone dated 1714 which features a skull and crossed bones with an arrow piercing the skull. Did the unfortunate Mary Snow, who died “in her prime”, succumb to some sort of head injury or brain disease? It’s rare for such details about cause of death to be even hinted at on 18th century memorials.
The view from the top of the windmill mound. Many thanks to Julian Barnard for the photo.
Our visit to Pittern Hill was on another hot evening, and our guide Brian Lewis was unable to complete the tour, but not before expounding expertly on the development of this little-known area so close to Kineton. The views from the ridge are wide ranging. The Listed barn at Longbourne Farm (previously Pittern Hill Farm) has a chequered history, ably researched by Brian. It still retains its historic character as a rather grand statement representing the flowering of agricultural confidence and prosperity in the early to mid-nineteenth century, cruelly cut down by the rural depression which lasted until the 20th century.
The party was quite informal, and near the end a splinter group became engaged in lengthy discussions with a local resident with a remarkable history ….
Our afternoon visit to Chipping Norton was an attempt to widen the appeal to members who might be less willing to come out in evenings, particularly if the weather is less benign than this season’s. In the event, ironically, the weather proved to be too extreme for some potential attendees, albeit not in the usual wet and windy fashion. As with many of our visits to “familiar” locations, Chipping Norton turned out to have surprising and fascinating stories to tell, and our Blue Badge Guide, Sean Callery, has other local villages in his repertoire, so we may see more of him in the future. I am always on the lookout for interesting graffiti in churches and St Mary’s did not disappoint – it contains the only medieval spiral graffiti I have seen in more than 100 local churches I’ve visited. It’s inscribed on the frame of a door, and is probably a charm to trap the devil,.
Isobel, Rosemary and DF put together a varied and stimulating summer of outings, and we look forward to see what 2023 will bring.
The 2022-23 Programme
Please note that Rosemary Collier and Roy Smart have swapped their October and November dates, the table below is correct
Date
Speaker
Topic
16 September
Norman Hyde
‘Tennis the Leamington Way.’ the oldest tennis club in the world and its importance to Leamington over 170 years.
21 October
Roy Smart
‘David Beatty – The Last Naval Hero’ fame and celebrity following the Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle in history.
18 November
Rosemary Collier
A Potted History of the National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne
9 December
Richard Churchley
‘Christmas Songs Through the Ages’ the Middle Ages to the 1940s
20 Jan 2023
Beat Kümin
‘For a Good Cause – Church Ales and Early Modern Drinking Culture.’
17 Feb 2023
David Fry
The Silk Ribbon Industry of Coventry’
17 March 2023
AGM
Community Archive Project update
As you will know we have been pursuing a project to construct a space in the village hall to house our archives, and those of other village organisations who my wish to store their own archives there. With the blessing of the Village Hall Association we obtained planning permission in 2019 for an extension to the mezzanine behind the stage. Covid intervened and the planning permission 3-year timetable to start the project was up on September 3rd 2022 (covid restrictions meant little could be done for much of that time). To avoid the hassle and expense of having to re-apply for planning we completed the first stage of the project – the insertion of a new firedoor – in time to beat the deadline (and the car park works).
Our thanks to the Village Hall Association and to KADS whose members cleared the clutter from the backstage space.
Other Societies’ Events.
Warwickshire Local History Society
Lighthorne History Society Friday 23 Sept, The Czech Army in south Warwickshire in WW II, by John Berkeley, Lighthorne Village Hall, 8 pm. In World War II 4000 Czech army volunteers escaped Czechoslovakia and formed the Czech Free Army in Britain. Units of their field artillery were trained and quartered in Moreton Hall, Moreton Paddox, Walton Hall and Kineton.
Long Itchington History Group. Wednesday 14th September “Southam “Bobbies” 100 years of Southam Police. LindaDoyle, Village Community Centre,7.30 pm. £3.00
Wellesbourne & Walton Local History Group Wednesday 26th October 2022 at 7:30 pm The Mediaeval Wall Paintings in the Guild Chapel Stratford” Talk by Pamela Devine and Janet Hall
All are welcome –Wellesbourne Village Hall. Entry for non-members £3. Contact Charlie and Peggy Gilbert on 01789 841805 or Email treblig99@outlook.com
Or see their website: sites.google.com/site/wellesbournelocalhistory/
Leamington History Group . Monday, 26th September Sir William Lyons and Jaguar Cars, talk by Tony Merrygold (Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust). at 7.30 pm at the Oddfellows Hall, New Street. Refreshments will be available after the meeting.
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Memberof BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members. Check their website www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.
Gresham College has series of history talks available digitally, here is the next 3 months’ programme
HISTORY LECTURES BY MONTH AT GRESHAM COLLEGE – includes the short link for print:
Membership. If you are, or would like to become, a Member of the group, your 2022 subscription is
due (still £10pa!). 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, For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com You can also join at any talk.
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.
2022-23 KDLHG Committee
President: Dr Robert Bearman MBE
Chairman David Freke
Vice-Chairman Roger Gaunt
Secretary Ilona Sekacz
Treasurer Alec Hitchman
Outings Secretary vacant
Programme Secretary Claire Roberts
Other committee members
Rosemary Collier
Isobel Gill
George Lokuciejewski
Catherine Petrie (PR)
Pamela Redgrave (Membership)
Committee News. The committee met on September 9th. A short report will appear in the October Newsletter
Date of next Committee meeting: 28th November via Zoom 7.00pm,
