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 27 DECEMBER 1861
CHRISTMAS AT THE WORKHOUSE
On Christmas day, the inmates of the Union Workhouse were regaled with a bountiful supply of beef and plum pudding for dinner, and cake and tea in the evening.
The children were also treated to snap dragon and on the following day oranges, apples, nuts etc. were distributed amongst the inmates. From the happy faces worn by all, it was evident they much enjoyed the treat prepared for them, whilst the thankfulness expressed showed they appreciated the kindness which prompted such generous liberality.
The whole of the expenses was defrayed by a subscription amongst the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood.
Among the company who assisted on the occasion were Mr H Bracher, Mrs Bawtree and family, Mr J M Goodinge and family, Mr and Mrs Ellen, Mr and Mrs Hawkins, Mr Gue, etc.
The number in the house was 170 as compared with 1860’s total of 184.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 1900
NOTICE – ABBOTTS ANN
Notice is hereby given that the business of the steam cart, van and carriage works, hitherto carried on by my late father, Walter Pitt & Son of Abbotts Ann, Andover, Hants, will be carried on by me in all the branches under the style of Walter Pitt & Son, as heretofore, at Abbotts Ann.
I also beg to thank the public generally for their liberal support in the past, and trust that by strict attention and the prompt execution of all orders, I am favoured to merit a continuance of the same.
I may also state that I am appointed agent for all the insurance offices that my late father represented.
Hedley John Pitt, December 1900.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 1925
ALLEGED THEFT OF OVERCOATS
At an occasional court at the Guildhall on Tuesday morning, before Mr T Webb, Charles Thomas Brown of no fixed abode, was charged with stealing, on Monday, three overcoats and two mackintosh coats, valued at £6, the property of Walter Edward Smith, vicar of Andover.
P C Smith of Charlton said that at 6pm on Tuesday, he was on duty in South Street, when he saw the prisoner carrying the overcoats.
He asked him how he came to have possession of them and he replied, ‘I bought them at Marlborough for 5/-.’
P C Smith then told him that he would have to come to the police station, whereupon he ran away.
He was charged, however, and taken to the station where in answer to the charge, he replied, ‘I never stole them.’
The accused was remanded until Monday.
SCOUTS HALL
At a meeting of the Scouts Hall Committee held on Tuesday evening, a report was presented which showed that the receipts from the letting of the hall etc. totalled £37 16s 7d., and the expenditure was £31 3s 11d.
Outstanding accounts will be carried forward to next year’s account.
The running of the hall had been satisfactory and they could look forward with confidence now that the hall was paying for itself.
The secretary announced that the work involved a lot of time on his wife and himself, and he therefore wished to be relieved of the responsibility of that office, now that the hall was paying for itself.
The president replied that they would find it very difficult to carry on the work as successfully as the secretary had done, and they were very grateful to him.
Was it possible to relieve him of some of the duties by seeing that the person who wanted the keys should apply to the caretaker? This it was decided to do.
The scale of fees was considered but no material alterations were made.
A letter from the Performing Rights Society pointing out the risks performers were taking in singing etc. from copyright musical entertainments in the hall without it being properly licensed was before the meeting.
By a majority of those present it was decided to apply for a licence, the fee being £2 2s per annum.
SHOW NIGHT
Last year the Meat Show was revived with some success but on Monday evening the display on that occasion was eclipsed.
The High Street was brilliantly lit, and although there did not appear to be so many people in the streets, most of the windows were holding groups of people avidly inspecting the displays.
The Christmas table was exceptionally well catered for by the butchers and poulterers, who had fine displays outside their premises and they were well-backed up by the grocers.
Music was provided by the Municipal Band under Mr Grant and the Salvation Army under Mr Latimer.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 29 DECEMBER 1950
CORRESPONDENCE – AN APPRECIATED PARCEL
Mr R Weaver writes from 44 Albany Road:
Sir: As recipients of a Christmas gift parcel from Andover Rotary Club, may I use your columns to express mine, and my children’s thanks, to them, and to all who contributed to help make the gifts possible.
The contents of our parcel were very much appreciated, one toy in particular kindling much happy interest throughout the holiday.
Santa himself could not have chosen better.
The kindly thoughts that had inspired the gifts made us all happier.
It must have meant much work and time given up to pack and label the parcels, and making an early start for distribution on Sunday morning.
We want to say, as Tiny Tim would have said, ‘God bless you, everyone.’
A happy New Year and many thanks Andover Rotary Club.
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 1978
COUNTY HOLDS GLC TO ANDOVER DEVELOPMENT
Hampshire county planners are prepared to support Test Valley Borough Council in its efforts to resist the immediate winding-up of the Town Development Agreement for Andover.
The County Planning Committee heard recently that the Department of the Environment had circulated suggestions for the winding-up of all town development schemes because the emphasis had now to be placed on revitalising London, and the inner London boroughs in particular.
Andover was one of those expanding towns – still some way from the original target – whose town development agreement was for 6,000 houses, though by the end of last year, only 2,870 had been built.
A report to the committee by the county planning officer stated that it was still essential to attract as much employment as possible to the area, to meet the needs of the existing residents – and the retention of the agreement would help this.
Members were told that test Valley Borough Council was resisting the proposal to end the agreement because of the enormous problem it still had with the development housing remedial programme that was having to deal with multiple design and building faults, causing so much distress and expense to the current occupants of these houses.
The county planning committee agreed to advise the Secretary of State that it was not prepared to agree to the ending of the town development agreement (to which the county is also a partner) on two grounds: Andover’s housing problems should be resolved and an assurance was wanted that Andover would receive priority for Industrial Development Certificates for a further appropriate period.
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