ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 MARCH 1890

ADVERTISEMENT

FOR SALE, cheap, and Iron-built GROCER’S SHOP, 12ft. by 8ft. 6in., match board lined, nicely fitted with Shelving, large Window; easily moved; whole would make Office or Store.—Also small NEW SUMMER HOUSE to be Sold; both through leaving on the coming 25th March.—Apply C.Hillier, Elm Cottage, Monxton, Andover.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 12 MARCH 1915

ANDOVER COUNTY BENCH

Friday.—Before Col.Harmar, J.C.Forster, Esq., F.C.Ellen, Esq., F.Merceron, Esq., F.R.Sutton, Esq., H.Nicoll, Esq.

LOITERING ON THE PLAIN.—Lizzie Ashford and Doris Weaver, alias Field, were brought up on remand from Monday, charged with a breach of the military bye laws.—The evidence given on Monday was repeated, and P.S.Every said at Andover Police Station Weaver said she left home about October in company with a Canadian who left her stranded. She had been hanging about Salisbury and the Barracks. Ashford said she was married at the age of 16 years, but had not seen her husband for seven or eight years. She had been keeping company with and going backwards and forwards to Tidworth with the Canadians. She said any woman can stop in the Barracks as long as they tip the police.—Ashford was discharged, and Weaver was bound over to keep herself from the company of prostitutes for six months.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 15 MARCH 1940

A DISCLAIMER

In a case at Andover County Bench reported in last week’s issue, Lady Mabel Ley, Pitt Manor, Winchester, was summoned for breaches of the traffic lighting regulations. The constable concerned gave evidence that Lady Ley told him she had the personal permission of the Chief Constable to use the fog light complained of.

The Chief Constable, Major Cockburn, stated that no such permission was given.

NOTICE

THE “SOUTHERN” & ITS PASSENGERS

Since the outbreak of War, and the imposition of the ‘black-out,” we have seen with regret our much prized punctuality records going by the board, particularly during the evenings. These records were second to none in peace-time.

The winter is passing. “Summer-time” is here and the “black-out” problem will become less acute. But the stream of special trains for troops, sailors, airmen, ammunition, supplies and Government stores continues unabated, and these trains must have precedence. So will you understand if your train is a bit late sometimes?

We are as alive to the value of punctuality to business people as ever, and there is no detail of our train performance that we do not watch every day and every hour.

We have profited by experience and have done much to beat the effect of the “black-out.” More and more trains are being equipped with white lights, and the lighting of stations and Goods Yards is gradually being improved. But there must still be delay and interference with regular running at times when the pressure of Government traffic is most acute, and odd minutes here and there become a formidable pile when added together. These minutes cannot be easily recovered.

Most of our passengers know our record well enough to trust us not to condemn them to any delays and irritations which can be avoided.

It is still “Southern FOR Service,” even though it is “Southern ON Service.”

FROM THE MANAGEMENT ON BEHALF OF ALL THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY STAFF

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 12 MARCH 1965

GIBBET SAWN DOWN

Combe Gibbet, the famous landmark on Inkpen Hill, which commands a fine view over Hampshire and Berkshire, was cut down during Monday night.

This stupid example of vandalism has, temporarily, robbed the district of one of its individualistic features.

It was noticed to be missing on Tuesday morning by Mr.Norman Painting, of Inkpen, a life-long resident of the village, who regularly looked up to the Gibbet on the sky line every morning as he got up.

The first Gibbet was erected in 1676 for the purpose of a double hanging and the present Gibbet — believed to be the fourth in succession — was put up in May, 1950, the third having rotted and blown down in a gale in October, 1949.

It was constructed by James Edwards & Son (Inkpen) Ltd, and was 31ft. 6in. long, 12in. square at the base and seven inches square at the top.

Mr.W.H.Edwards told the “Advertiser” this week that the Gibbet had been sawn off about four feet from the ground (about 7ft. of the base are buried in the ground.) The cut appeared to have been made by an ordinary carpenter’s saw. “An energetic person would probably have got through it (the oak is about 11 inches square at this point) in about a quarter-of-an-hour,” he said.

Mr.Edwards said that the Gibbet stood on the land owned by the Hon.John Astor, M.P. for South Berkshire, who had indicated that he would make himself responsible for the re-erection of the Gibbet.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 16 MARCH 1990

POLL TAX PETITION

Anti-poll tax protests are gathering strength in Andover.

Over 1,000 people signed a petition protesting against the charge which comes into effect within the next month.

The petition, to be sent to MP Sir David Mitchell and Test Valley Borough Council, calls for the poll tax to be replaced with a fairer tax based on the ability to pay.

Organiser Steve Harrington-Ellsmore, of Penton Grafton, said he was both pleased and amazed by the public’s response.

“People from all walks of life are signing.

“Even people who will be better off are signing because they disagree with the idea.

“The majority of pensioners are angry or frightened by this tax and the power of the law behind it.”

He continued to say that many young people have told him that they were not paying the tax.