Category: Reports

April 30, 2019|Reports

“Simon De Montfort and the First English Revolution” – Dr Sophie Ambler

Wickham owes its market square to a charter from Henry III (1207-1272) so it was disappointing to hear from Dr Sophie Ambler that he was not one of our better kings. Sophie’s family live in Hampshire but she lectures in medieval history at the University of Lancaster and 65 member and visitors were present on…

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March 31, 2019|Reports

“Wickham’s Mill and Water Meadows” – Geoff Phillpotts

In 1656, a Mr Mowbray, tenant farmer of Great Funtley Farm on Titchfield Road, is said to have built Wickham’s ‘New River’ – running for about four miles from the current water meadows in the centre of the village to the farm. Over 60 members and visitors heard from Geoff Phillpotts on Tuesday 26th March…

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February 28, 2019|Reports

“Causes of Death” – Dr Simon Wills

A cheerful topic for our February meeting! Dr Simon Wills took 42 members and visitors on a trip down a morbid memory lane looking at how the major causes of death have changed since the earliest records – dating back as far as 1660. While today our “top five” are cancer, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia…

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January 31, 2019|Reports

“A Roman Service Station ?” Jeremy Clutterbuck of Cotswold Archaeology

A cold, damp January evening is not the most inviting time to go out but the Houghton Room was full to capacity on January 22nd to hear Jeremy Clutterbuck talk about Cotswold Archaeology’s exciting finds on the Glebe field (behind School Road). A planned open day last year had to be cancelled due to site…

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January 31, 2019|Reports

“Deciphering a 12th century Wickham Manuscript” – Jim Coleman & Geoff Phillpotts

Sadly David Houghton was unable to give his planned talk due to ill health but Jim Coleman kindly filled the gap with a fascinating insight into the hard task of deciphering medieval latin documents. Before 1735 many legal documents were still in latin: in Wickham’s case this included manor court documents, church court cases, bonds…

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December 31, 2018|Reports

“A Butler’s Christmas” by Dr Bob France

The December 11th joint Christmas meeting with the Wickham Society took place in the Woodford Room in order to accommodate members and guests of both two societies. It was given by Dr Bob France, costumed as a Victorian butler, a role he takes on for visitors at both Petworth House and Uppark. You may already…

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November 30, 2018|Reports

“Remembrance and Commemoration” by Neil Bond

November 2018 was the centenary of the end of the Great War and our November 27th talk was given by Neil Bond, wearing the uniform of a Great War army “Padre”. It was a thoughtful and challenging talk to 35 members and guests of Wickham History Society on how we think of and remember those…

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October 30, 2018|Reports

“Salisbury – A Tale of Two Cities (Part 2)” by Andrew Negus

On 23rd October 53 members and guests of Wickham History Society had another barnstorming talk from Andrew Negus – his ‘Part 2’ of the history of Salisbury, following his very well received talk last year. We first ‘finished off’ the cathedral, learning and seeing more about the magnificent decorative stone and wood carvings and also…

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September 30, 2018|Reports

“An Armchair Tour of Medieval Southampton” with Dr Cheryl Butler

Did you know that Southampton has more medieval town walls surviving than either York or Chester? On 25th September – our first ever September meeting – Dr Cheryl Butler gave thirty four members and guests of Wickham History Society a tour of medieval Southampton. There is no longer an official brothel on East Street (although…

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May 31, 2018|Reports

Wickham History Society: Annual Report 2017 – 2018

Chair’s Introduction: We hope that you might want to get involved with some of the projects listed below and contribute to or use our archives and website. Do encourage others to join the Society too. We are pleased with our new logo and hope you are too ! Membership, Talks, Walks and Summer Visits Last…

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