Each week the Advertiser's heritage writer David Borrett brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by. 

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER 1859

WEYHILL FAIR

The fair which will commence on Monday next with the sheep, and continue with horses, hops, agricultural implements etc., during the week is looked for with no little anxiety, in consequence of an attempt having been made to establish a hop fair at Reading. The Farnham growers to a man have signed an agreement to discountenance the attempt by not sending their produce to Reading, but to Weyhill as usual. This step, it is considered, will be fatal to the hopes and wishes of the Readingites, and Weyhill will still maintain that prestige for which for centuries it has been so celebrated.

 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER 1898

ACCIDENT

On Wednesday night, an accident of a serious nature befell William Hendley, one of the rural postmen. He was proceeding to the rear of Finkley House to collect the letter bag as usual when he fell into an excavation made for the purpose of attending to a drain, and which he did not see owing to the darkness. He was rendered unconscious by his fall, but fortunately was discovered, and a trap being obtained, he was conveyed home. On being surgically examined it was seen that he had suffered internal injury, from which he is likely to suffer some time. Fortunately, no bones were broken. 

 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 1923

BOROUGH OF ANDOVER: HEDGE TRIMMING

Owners and occupiers of property within the borough are requested by the town council to cause their trees and hedges adjoining highways to be properly pruned and trimmed, and the clippings therefrom removed, in accordance with the requirements of the statute relating thereto. The council also earnestly requests that all hedges in the vicinity of abrupt corners and crossroads may be pruned as low as practicable, in order to minimise danger to life from swift motor traffic. By Order, R Walter Knapp, Borough Surveyor, Town Hall, Andover.

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER 1948

THE EDITOR’S POST BAG: THE NELSON RELICS

Sir: In view of the number of Nelson relics in the Museum, which is being renovated prior to being re-opened to the public, may I ask through your columns if anyone can supply evidence showing that Nelson or any of his sea-captains were connected in any way with Andover or its neighbourhood. May I also take the opportunity to ask that presentations to the Museum be left for the time being, with the librarian at the public library. Yours faithfully, R Baker.

Sir: As a member of an old Portsmouth naval family I have read about Andover’s Nelson relics with great interest. My grandfather used to tell me how he, when a boy, was ‘salted’ for the sea by the stories told him by his own grandfather, a certain Bosun Smyth. Among these stories he told one of a Captain Marriner, whose ship, HMS Menday, fought in the strategic withdrawal to Vigo Bay in the days preceding Trafalgar (as any secondary boy might tell us).

When he retired, he got my ancestor to shoulder an oar and walk through the county to a place where such an instrument should not be recognised. Coming to Andover certain urchins cried out in scornful glee. ‘Urbs in rure!’ cried the captain in his sea-dog Latin, and settled here. I seem to remember my grandfather having a rum bottle of the seawater in which the action was fought. It would be interesting to know if any descendants of my ancestor still live in the district. I know the Smiths who at one time kept a drug store in Andover Massachusetts were not related. Yours faithfully J T Haines, 27 Lansdowne Ave, Andover. (Compiler’s note: Andover’s museum was then on the top floor of the old library building next to the river in Bridge Street. It re-opened in 1948 but eight years later was closed when the space was converted to a dedicated children’s library instead. The town waited another 25 years before the present museum was opened in Church Close.)

 

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER 1976

MORE TENANTS ASK TO BUY THEIR COUNCIL HOUSES

Interest in the purchase of council houses has increased in the past seven months, Test Valley Housing Committee was told on Tuesday night. Twenty-seven dwellings are either on offer or being values at the present time. The houses are sold at full market value. The committee spelt out its policy with regard to the sale of council houses. Flats, maisonettes and purpose-built old persons’ dwellings will not be sold – because of ‘serious management problems.’ Garages will not be sold with houses unless they are within the curtilage of the dwellings or constructed specifically for use with the houses. But tenants can continue to rent their garages. Buyers of houses on council estates, where there are communal facilities, will have to pay an additional sum as their share of the maintenance costs. And a valuation fee of £15 is to be charged – repayable on completion of the purchase. At present, no charge is made for house valuation, but the committee was told that a large number of tenants who request valuations do not proceed with the purchase of their houses. A valuation charge would ‘discourage’ all but those tenants who were seriously considering purchase. Staff must be employed by the council for two years before being allowed to purchase their council houses.