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 23 MARCH 1860

NEIGHBOURS’ QUARRELS

William Turner and Mary Ann Jarvis, both of Barlow’s Lane, summoned each other before the Bench to decide the following squabble: Turner said that on Thursday morning he sent his little boy down the passage beside his house with a wheelbarrow. Mrs Jarvis was blocking the way with her washing pan and refused to let my boy go past her. I asked Mrs Jarvis to allow my boy to go by her, otherwise I should wheel the barrow against the pan. She still refused so I pushed the barrow against the pan and it broke into pieces. She then flew at me, striking me on the head and turned the barrow over. I pushed her back but she came at me twice and then fell on the barrow. I came away and went to procure a summons. Mary Ann Jarvis said she was washing clothes and asked the boy to wait while she finished the last article and then she would move. Turner then came out and drove the barrow against the pan and broke it. She gave him a sharp slap on the face with her hand, and he knocked her down and struck her several times. The magistrates considered both parties were wrong. Turner could have moved the pan without breaking it and Jarvis had made use of some disgusting language for which she was reproved by the Bench. Both charges were dismissed.

 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 MARCH 1899

CORRESPONDENCE – MR KENSIT’S VISIT

Sir: The strange scene in the Town Hall on the evening of Tuesday last surely calls for some sort of explanation from those in authority over us. That the Mayor of Andover took the chair and was unable to keep order at such a meeting suggests something was very wrong in itself. But I should like to know who invited Mr Kensit to our quiet little town and what his object on addressing us on purely church matters can be. There was not a single churchman on the platform and I looked in vain to find any churchmen in the audience. The ‘snapshot’ resolution which he declared carried has no meaning whatever, coming from those whose lives and interests are altogether outside of the church. Mr Kensit’s sole interest in his brawling crusade is making money and I should like to hear what our worthy mayor could be thinking in allowing the Town Hall to be used for the purposes of stirring up strife in our hitherto, peaceable town. Yours faithfully, SEDE. (Compiler’s note: John Kensit (1853-1902) campaigned against the use of idolatrous rites and symbols within the Church of England.)

 

 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 MARCH 1924

ACCIDENT TO THE CURATE

On Monday evening about 6.30, Rev J H Barlow, curate of St Mary’s, met with an accident while driving in a pony cart to an appointment at Tangley. It appears that Rev Barlow was being driven by Miss B Keith of Tangley and, a call having been made on the Foxcotte road, they were returning with a view to getting on to the Charlton Hatherden road, when in rounding the corner opposite the church at Charlton, the trap ran up the bank and overturned, throwing the occupants into the road. Miss Keith was severely shaken, and Rev Barlow, in addition to abrasions and a damaged hand, sustained a great shock as a result of which he became a patient at the Cottage Hospital, where he is making fair progress to recovery. Miss Keith had to receive medical attention but was able to walk into Andover.

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 MARCH 1949

TO FORM ROUND TABLE

At an informal dinner party at the White Hart Hotel last Thursday night, a group of 15 young businessmen of Andover decided to form a local ‘Round Table’. A short explanation of Round Table aims and of the benefits that he personally had derived from active membership was given by Mr Hugh Tait of Basingstoke, who was elected interim chairman (it being explained that a permanent chairman could not be elected at this stage), Mr A Davies, secretary, and Mr F W May, treasurer. The Round Table will, it is hoped, meet fortnightly on Thursday evenings.

 

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 MARCH 1977

OUT WITH THE RAMBLERS

The six-mile walk from Farley Mount was well attended despite the showery afternoon. This is one of Hampshire’s beauty spots and although the approach roads are rather narrow, good parking is provided on Pitt Down. Our walk going westwards, passed the pyramidal monument and a plaque tells the story of the horse buried beneath. Entering Hanging Wood where bluebells will soon be blooming, a half-mile brought us to the bridleway which led into Parnholt Wood to emerge into a secluded little combe down which we then came to Hoplands. Our way was now returning eastwards along the route of Roman road past the stone memorial to a German airman shot down in 1940. Deviating through a copse on Ashley Down, a bridleway led up the slopes of Beacon Hill and so back to our starting point. All agreed that the whole walk, led by Paul Rogenhagen was in lovely surroundings and very enjoyable.