Each week the Advertiser's history 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 2 AUGUST 1861
LOST
Between Enham and Mr Fry’s rick-yard, a parcel containing a livery coat, trousers and various patterns, wrapped in two blue handkerchiefs.
A reward of one pound will be given to any person who shall give such information as shall lead to its recovery.
Apply to James Hurford, Kimpton, near Andover, or at the office of this journal.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 3 AUGUST 1900
SUCCESS TO THE TOWN AND TRADE OF ANDOVER
Dear Sir: The above as you know is one of the toasts at the annual buck-feast, mayor’s banquet and other social gatherings, and though placed late on the list is always well received.
The reason is that all who honour it are desirous that the trade and town should prosper; but of late there appears to be a strong desire on the part of our local authority to do everything it can to hinder this progress by trying to enforce coercive and unworkable bye-laws that were never intended for a small country town like ours.
Until individual councillors themselves want to put up a new cycle shed or baby carriage house next to his residence and find the byelaws compel him to have a 9-inch wall all round or if he finds he has to find more for any building he may contemplate no one will do anything to remedy the situation; but then each will rise up in indignation and object to the needless waste of money and take every possible means in his power to amend such unworkable restrictions.
Bye-laws may be necessary in certain circumstances but when one of the largest building firms in the town - which employs the largest number of working men - is brought to a standstill and houses that are in great demand cannot be built, then stagnation will be the result as tradesmen who would otherwise come to Andover, will go elsewhere.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 31 JULY 1925
CORRESPONDENCE – WHITCHURCH TRAFFIC
Last Saturday morning about 9 am, I was looking out of the Town Hall window, when a car sounding its horn, came up Winchester Street, making for Newbury Street.
Just at the critical moment, a side car came swiftly and silently along London Street.
A swerve to the left by the former and a sudden pull-up by the latter, and the two passed not more than a foot from each other!
There was no one on point duty at the time.
The powers that be have refused to erect a lamp, which many think would be a good thing in the Market Place; but why not adopt the ‘white line’ both there and at the bend by the church?
This is by no means the first narrow squeak I have seen at the town corner.
Yours truly C H Greer.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 4 AUGUST 1950
BRONZE AGE FUNERAL HOUSE AT DOLES WOOD
After six weeks’ excavation at the prehistoric barrow in Doles Wood, near Enham Alamein, ministry of works’ archaeologists have established that the funeral house lately discovered there belongs to the Middle Bronze Age of date 1500 BC.
On Friday, fragments of bronze were discovered in the centre of a small pit in the barrow and along with other discoveries found on site confirm the dating and point to the burial of a chieftain or head man.
The bronze pieces measuring two to three inches in length were part of a blade from a knife only used in the Middle Bronze Age.
They were found 18 inches below the burnt fragments of the bones of a human being.
Nearby was a 4ft high pile of stones used as a cairn, in which were unearthed many flint stones.
The outline of the funerary house was indicated by a number of post holes on the north side of the barrow, as well as further holes 20ft away on the south side.
The numerous pieces of charcoal found about the spot confirm that a large fire was constructed for the cremation, a custom not practised earlier.
By the side of the funerary house was a 10ft long, 18ins deep, grave-shaped trench with post holes around it, suggesting a lying-in-state before the actual cremation.
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 4 AUGUST 1978
MOVE TO KEEP ARCHIVES IN ANDOVER
Andover’s archives are to remain in the town for one more month at least.
Test Valley Recreation and Amenities Committee won this reprieve last week when it rejected a recommendation to hand over the local historical records to the county council archivist at Winchester.
Instead, members voted 9-2 in favour of a sub-committee discussing further the possibility – or at least some of them – staying in Andover and Romsey.
The sub-committee would be made up of Recreation and Amenities Committee members; representatives of the Andover Archives Committee and the county archivist, Miss M Cash.
A report before the committee said it would require a £50,000 building; a specialist staff of three; and annual running costs of £25,000 to make the borough council into a recognised archives authority.
Even then, it was likely the county, with established archives services, would object.
A note from the county archivist claimed conditions at the Andover Library – where the archives are now being kept – were ‘unsuitable’ and ‘there is positive proof that some records are in a state where irreparable damage is occurring,’ she said.
Moreover, a survey in the three months from January showed that only three people had applied to research the Andover records.
Cllr Mrs Thorne spoke of the distance involved in travelling to Winchester to see documents while Cllr Mrs Malpas from Romsey said that ‘Romsey people would be up in arms’ if the county took Romsey’s old charter to Winchester.
Cllr Mrs Popejoy said, ‘We spend thousands and millions of pounds on sports centres. Here we have something that fewer people feel deeply about, but I think to say we mustn’t give it consideration for financial reasons is wrong.’
The committee supported Cllr Going’s suggestion that a sub-committee be formed.
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