Category: Reports
February 29, 2020|Reports
“Uppark – Fire & Restoration” – Dr Bob France
Dr. Bob France was a welcome return speaker to Wickham History Society’s meeting on 25th February. Fifty five members and visitors saw some amazing before and after photos of Uppark, including many taken on 30th August 1989 when the fire took place. Following the devastating fire of Notre Dame last year it was a depressing…
Find Out More »January 31, 2020|Reports
“Portsmouth – Harlots, Dung and Glory” – Andrew Negus
Wickham History Society’s guest speaker on 28th January was the ever popular Andrew Negus. He guided sixty six members and visitors through seven hundred years with a masterly command of Portsmouth’s early history. Portsmouth is a younger city than Southampton and grew slowly as the Royal dockyard developed. King John was the first King to…
Find Out More »December 25, 2019|Reports
“Marmalade, Spuds and a Bag of Gold” – Dr Cheryl Butler
A glass or two of sparkling wine, festive snacks and a fascinating insight into Tudor Christmas gift giving which didn’t finish until Lady Day (March 25th) – what could be a better way of getting into the Christmas spirit? Fifty five members of the Wickham and Wickham History Societies braved the rain and wind on…
Find Out More »November 30, 2019|Reports
“Admiral Thomas Cochrane” – Mike Hollis
Complete with pigtail, naval uniform and sword, fifty five Wickham history society members and visitors heard from local historian ‘Master and Commander‘ Mike Hollis on the astonishing life and exploits of Admiral Thomas Cochrane. Cochrane lived in Titchfield for part of his naval career but was rarely there, serving in the navies of Britain, Chile,…
Find Out More »October 31, 2019|Reports
“Body Overboard – The Murder of an English Actress” – Paul Stickler
Retired chief superintendent Paul Stickler spoke to forty eight members and visitors about the sensational ‘Porthole Murder’. Actress Eileen ‘Gay’ Gibson was pushed out of the porthole of the Durban Castle in the early morning of the 18th October 1947 by Deck Steward James Camb. The defence and prosecution both agreed on that, but little…
Find Out More »September 30, 2019|Reports
“Archaeological Excavations in Wickham”
Over seventy Wickham History Society members and visitors came to hear Jeremy Clutterbuck of Cotswold Archaeology report back on the archaeological excavations on the “South Glebe” – the area behind School Road, where the new roundabout has been built. Wickham’s Roman Road Jeremy confirmed that the line of the roman road had been identified, with…
Find Out More »August 31, 2019|Reports
Summer Visit – Lee-on the-Solent Heritage Waterfront Walk and Talk
In August, twenty of us enjoyed breezy weather and a sunny Solent for our stroll along the Lee-on-the-Solent waterfront with our guide Jonathan from the Lee-on-the-Solent Residents’ Association (LRA). He pointed out that strictly you should always use the “the” in the name of the town, something few of us do! Lee was largely a…
Find Out More »July 31, 2019|Reports
Summer Visit to Eling Tide Mill
The first of our two summer visits was to the Eling Tide Mill, one of only two working tide mills remaining in England today which we are lucky to have close by on the Solent. In early July, WHS and WS members joined the tour around the current mill (dating back to 1785) explaining how…
Find Out More »May 31, 2019|Reports
“Tales my father told me: One man’s early life in Wickham” – David Houghton
You had to be pretty tough to go to Wickham School in the early 1900s. At playtime and lunchtime, rain or shine, the school was locked and the children had to play outside. Heating in the classrooms was not great either! David Houghton shared his father Jack’s reminiscences on his childhood in Wickham with 47…
Find Out More »May 29, 2019|Reports
Wickham History Society: Annual Report 2018-2019
Chair’s Introduction: It’s been a busy year for the Society. We hope you have had a look at the village history boards and our new look website and have enjoyed this year’s talks. Have you got your copy of the second edition of the Guide to Historic Wickham, published in 2018? Copies on sale at…
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