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 2 MARCH 1860

FIRE

On Saturday morning last, a fire broke out in an uninhabited house in East Street, adjoining the Lamb beer house. The surrounding houses being mostly thatched, much alarm was naturally felt for the safety of the neighbourhood, but owing to the active exertions of the neighbours and some men who were at work neat the spot, the fire was extinguished before much damage was done. It was supposed to have originated through a defective chimney, the fire having communication from thence to the thatch.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 2 MARCH 1899

PITTS MILL

No change could have been more complete than that which has been effected at Pitts Mill, transforming an ordinary grist mill into one of the most modern corn mills in the south of England. The change has been made so quickly and yet so systematically that only a mind trained in business pursuits could have dictated it. And so today we find that the oldest mill in the district has been so revolutionised that those who knew it as Pitt’s Mill would fail to recognise it. It was thought a great change when some 60 or 70 years ago the old mill was re-built; but although a new building arose there was no change in the internal economy, for the system of milling that had prevailed for generations was perpetuated, continuing until a few years ago when Mr Thirsk became the tenant. He initiated some new ideas but then came a change in the ownership of the estate and with that came the sweeping transformation that has given to Andover the most completely equipped flour mill in the south of England. Many would have assumed that this could not be achieved without pulling down the old building and starting again but the new owner Mr Gamman found our borough surveyor, Mr Alfred Purkess, to be full of ideas and so demolition has been avoided but the building has been so altered that it answers every requirement. As a result, Mr Thirsk, who has now become manager, has a residence that is not only comfortable but also elegant, while no one inside the old mill would recognise that he was not in a building of modern construction.

READ MORE: Back through the pages: Pride of 'Guildhall' and ghosts at Overton Portals

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 29 FEBRUARY 1924

THE CORONET PAVILION

The above playhouse has been housed at the Assembly Rooms this week for the last time this season. Afterwards it will return to its home in Junction Road with an attractive programme. The farewell performance at the Assembly Rooms this week has been one of the best seen, Mr Jimmy Wood staging his musical comedy revue ‘Touch Wood’. Lack of stage room found the company somewhat cramped in their movements, but this was the only drawback, though a large one, to a successful and brilliant affair. Jimmy, of course, was the star turn as the comedy man, and his quips caused roars of laughter, as also did the quaint actions of Nora Lloyd, the comedienne. Clever and dainty dancing by Rene Raymond and Clenice Louise was also a feature of the programme, while Rene Raye was a charming soprano vocalist, also contributing a clever skipping dance. Mr Jack Darby pleased everyone with his tenor solos as a globe trotter in the revue, while Mr Louie Mason as a revue manager, helped create some funny scenes, and the acrobatic display with the table and chairs made an excellent turn.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 4 MARCH 1949

FIFTY YEARS AGO

Half a century ago this year there died one of the most interesting men who ever lived in St Mary Bourne. For 35 years Dr Joseph Stevens was the village doctor and only the second resident physician the village had had. But his interests were not confined to doctoring; the passions of his life were archaeology, geology and botany. He worked hard to better the conditions of the people of the village and neighbourhood, but also found time to study the natural history and antiquities of the district. As a doctor, he was at times eccentric. For example, he used to order his groom to mix a bucketful of Epsom salts to be dispensed to callers while he was out coursing! After his retirement, Dr Stevens went to live in Reading where he became the first honorary curator of the museum there His book, A Parochial History of St Mary Bourne gives invaluable help to those interested in the village and since 1943 an annual lecture called the Dr Stevens Memorial Lecture has been given in the village, while another memorial of recent date has been the name Stevens Green being given to the new estate on Egbury Road.

SEE ALSO: Back through pages: Renovation of old lamp standard and water fountain

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 4 MARCH 1977

HIS 37 YEARS SERVICE AT TASKERS

Presentations were made to Mr Bill Hedges at a dinner at the Bere Hill hotel, Andover, last week to mark his retirement after 37 years with Taskers Trailors Ltd. Mr Hedges who is 65 years old and was the firm’s records manager Mr Dudley Fisher, technical director, presented Mr Hedges and his wife Joan with a set of Waterford crystal sherry glasses on behalf of his fellow colleagues from the office and works department. They also received a table lamp and some gardening tools from Mr Leonard Fuller, director and manager, on behalf of the company.