December 2005
Forthcoming meetings and other events
Wednesday 21 December 2005 - TADS AGM and Christmas social evening - St Paul's Church Hall. As in past years please bring a small amount of Christmas Fayre. The Committee will as usual will provide the drinks. This is also a time for you to bring any memorabilia that you might like to discuss with other members. It is hoped that our ìSilchester Digî sponsor will be in attendance to tell us about her experiences.
Wedenesday 18 January 2006 - William Cobbett, author of Rural Rides (1820) and supporter of the poor by Chris Hellier, curator of Farnham Museum - St Paul's Church Hall.
Wednesday 15 February 2006 - Occupied Jersey (1940-1945) by Mrs Patricia Foster - St Paul's Church Hall
2001 Census - Hampshire Trends - a talk by Robin Edwards, Principal Research Officer, Strategy and Information, Hampshire County Council Environment Department.
Updating of TADS Walks
The Project Committee would like as many members and friends as possible to complete Tadley Tracks, Tadley Facts walk number 5 prior to updating and publication it for publication in a future issue of projectnews. Please pass any comments etc to Carol or Ian. Printed copies of the walk will be available for members to use at the January 2006 meeting.
Last month's meeting, 16 November 2005
A Policeman's Lot ... - a talk by Caroline Edwards of Hampshire Record Office
It must strike many of us at these TADS meetings that each lecture demonstrates that people throughout history NEVER learn from their mistakes. For example take jewel thieving, embezzlement, family desertion, poaching, smuggling, child stealing, child abuse, hawking without a licence, being drunk and disorderly etc. which are crimes of then as well as now.
Admittedly putting stray cows in the pound, stealing turnip greens, or bits of leather, throwing wash water and suds into the road, is all less usual in the 21st century. But basically we don't change.
Back in history we have had reeves, shire reeves, watchmen, constables, Bow Street Runners, Peelers and patrols day and night to try and control us from tumult and rowdyism.
In 1285 people in Winchester's Great Hall outlined law and order and The Watch System. John Hacker of Basingstoke, 1818, was the patrolling Watchman covering a designated 'beat' between 10pm and 4am on summer night shift and much longer hours of darkness on winter nights. His wooden Watch Box was made by one John Carpenter!
The police could be chosen from butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, shoemakers, gentlemen farmers, ex?servicemen etc. providing they were over 5 ft 7 ins tall (170.2 cm), could read, write, read non?printed writing, were under 35 years, able, active, intelligent, and free from bodily complaints. Nothing new there and that was in the 19th century.
As now, the police seemed to be moved on to pastures new quite frequently, sometimes remaining in a village or town for a year only. Samuel Whitehouse was in Romsey in 1840, Isle of Wight 1841, Petersfield 1842, Winchester 1845.
Sadly the fair-complexioned, grey-eyed widower, ex-soldier became disillusioned, hit the bottle and had to resign. (Record Office ref. 200M 86/H36/1). Constable James Hibberd joined the force in 1870 as a prudent bachelor and literate labourer. He did well, only blotting his copy-book once by taking an old cloth from a clothes line to wipe his boots, and then throwing it away. He was fined a week's wages!
1846-1967 saw the gradual merger of Police forces in the County and Boroughs (and nationwide) with the usual resultant criticism about interfering politicians, particularly Lord Palmerston (1854).
Naturally all policemen - and there was no mention of female officers - had to be cool, calm and collected and able to resist bribes, lewd and common women, to wear their uniforms correctly in public and able to apprehend beggars, and control crippled and maimed persons exposing their deformities - that's as well as controlling rampant street rowdyism (1908) and bonfire Night celebrations which got out of hand in Basingstoke (1885). If you carried a sack, basket or bundle the policeman could ask to see the contents thereof.
Sadly alcohol abuse was the downfall of many a policeman, possibly because they were strictly disciplined, promoted then demoted and the staff turnover was noticeable. In 1859 an inebriated Romsey policeman attempted to arrest a sober citizen on a charge of drunkenness and a Fareham PC (1868) trimmed his horse's legs with scissors.
Notwithstanding all the above Caroline remarked on the overall bravery of the police and their ability to move and improve, from century to century, from staff, rattle and truncheon, to patrol car and mobile communication.
Thank you, Caroline, for guiding us from the stocks to the Bridewell (lock-up prison) to crowd control etc. Your thoughts on 21st Century policing will one day be enthralling.
Rosemary Bond, 16/11/2005
Other news
TADS Calendar 2006
Unfortunately due to pressure of time there will NOT be a TADS Calendar for 2006.
Tadley Conservation and Heritage meeting 22 November 2005
Several TADS members were present at this inaugural informal get-together at the Town Council Offices to discuss and ask questions on possible ìlistingî of some of the Tadley older or unusual buildings. Suggestion for possible inclusion are the Broom Makers Cottage, West Street, and a war time Air Shelter in Shyshack Lane. Do you have other suggestions?? The Basingstoke and Deane Conservation Officer was in attendance.
The History of the Manor of Manydown, volume 2
Ken Smallbone has produced this final volume covering 1650 - 1800 and including Wooton St Lawrence, Baughurst and Hannington. Generally the book is about properties within the old manor. Obtainable direct from the author for £35 at PO Box 390 Basingstoke, RG21 3RL. Tel 01256-355590 TADS have purchased Volume 1 which covers the period from 1800 onwards. This is available for loan (to members) from Alan.
Christmas Lights and Craft Fair
Many thanks to all those members who helped out at Ambrose Allen Centre Craft fair after the switching on of our Christmas Tree Lights on a cold night in November.
Temporary Closure of Hampshire Record Office
Please note that the Search Room at HRO will be closed from 12th to 16th December 2005 - reopening on 17th December.
Programme Organiser 2006
Many thanks to all those members who have suggested possible speakers for future TADS meetings, HOWEVER at present TADS has no official programme for NEXT YEAR as we still need a Programme Organiser to take over from Bob Brown who has done this job for the last 20 years or so. There must be someone out there from our 80 or so members. Several talks are in the pipeline, we just need someone to consolidate them and Bob is still willing to help them along.