History 21st Jan

At our meeting on Monday morning the 21st January there were 14 out of the 22 members present and the topic for discussion was "Romsey on the Test" It was good how lively debate and chatter flowed at this meeting, as stories of Romsey past and present were told and explained. From its humble beginnings as an island surrounded by rivers and marsh it started to grow to the town we know today over a couple of thousand years. In about the 6th century Christianity came back to Romsey after a gap of several hundred years. then from 7th to 10th century it was an important for iron smelting. When metal was first introduced using bronze, tinkers would travel from village to village with lumps of bronze and then make items to order on small fires. However when iron came along ,it was found that much higher temperatures were needed to work it, so villages had to have their own permanent smithys to make iron items, using very high temperature forges. It is thought that the name of Romsey comes from..the "EY" ending comes from Old English word for island and the ROMS is thought to derive from the name of an important Saxon leader of about 8/9th century.

 There is no February meeting , and so the next meeting will be on Monday 18th March starting at 10 am, and the topic will be "Old Hampshire"
 Michael Page

November Wine

Our group met on Monday 19th November at Val Westals house in Causeway Crsecent and commenced at 7pm. Our first bottle of wine was an Italian Piccini (i Riserva) 2009..this wine was first made in 1882 and the average mark was 6 1/2 out of 10. "This wine comes from the specially selected Sangioves grapes from the Chianti area in Tuscany. Deep red in colour with intense fruity aromas of blackberries and a hint of spice. On the palate it is rich and robust yet remains smooth with soft tannins.best at 18 dg C" Our second bottle of wine was an Rawsons Retreat..Shiraz- Cabernet 2010, and received an average mark of 6 out of 10. "This wine is sourced from premium Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grape growing regions throughout South Eastern Australia. Showcasing appealing berry and spice characteristics together with choc mint and subtle oak, This classic Australian blend is best matched to grilled meat and vegetable dishes" It was a very good evening with laughter and some detailed and technical discussion about different wines and their merits. The next meeting at Michael Pages. Chinham Road will be on Monday the 21st January 2013 commencing at 7 pm, Michael Page

History Report for meeting on 19th November 2012

We had a total of 19 people attend our meeting-17 U3A members and two visitors from Romsey Bowls Club- to watch a digital presentation entitled "Romsey Remount" presented by Phoebe Merrick from LTVAS(Lower Test Valley Archaeology Society. The tallk lasted about 1 and 1/2 hours described how this camp was set up on the hill overlooking Romsey in 1914 to hold and train horses for the war- and when ready to ship them out from Southampton to Flanders. In addition to this camp there was an even larger one at Swaythling, and also one in Dublin for all the Irish horses. In addition a large number came from the U.S.A. One received the horses were rested,sorted into classes depending on what they were suitable for, trained and then shipped to Flanders. It is estimated that at the Romsey camp there were about 2000 army and civilian staff and about 5000 horses at any one time, The organisation necessary for this operation was massive but was necessary as in the first world war still-horses were the only way of moving everything around at and near the battlefield.. It closed after the end of the war, all the buildings were sold off, and the rubble was taken into Romsey and was an ideal mix with the wet ground of Sweetmead field to build up the land and so the Romsey Memorial Park came into existence in 1921. It was a very good talk and was enjoyed by all.
The next meeting is on Monday 21/1/13 and the topic is "Romsey on the Test"
 Michael Page
BBC News item
Tens of thousands of horses went through
 Romsey Remount Depot

Monday the 15th October 2012

Our group met for the second time on Monday the 15th October 2012 at Sue Huckers House, starting at 7pm and the following members were present: Michael Page, Kathie Horner, Lyn Sleep, Sue Hucker and Leslie Bywater. As before a small selection of cheese and biscuits were on the table to help our pallets. The first was a white one...An Italian called "Orvieto Classic" 2011 from Umbria in Tuscany. and the average score awarded by us valiant five was 6.9 out of 10. The second one was a red wine called "Mcguigan Cabernet Sheraz" from South East Australia with an average members score of 6.8 out of 10. IAll members had a good time with a lot of social banter throughout the evening. It was felt mainly that the red wine was more enjoyable than the white. Our next meeting will be on Monday the 19th November at Val Westals house commencing at 7 pm.
 Thanks Michael Page

The second Wine Tasting Group met for the first time

The second Wine Tasting Group met for the first time on Monday 17th September at Kim House,Chinham Road,Bartley and started at 7 pm.
Members present were: Margaret and Brian Gilby, Michael Page, Sue Hucker, Kathie Horner, Lesley Bywater, Valerie Westall, Lyn Sleep, Jean Symes and Liz Taylor. On the table was a small selection of cheeses and biscuits to help the pallet.

Our first wine was an "Isla Negra Sauvignon Blanc". (White Wine)..reactions were mixed and a final overall score of 6.4 out of 10 was given. Isla Negra is a seaside village famous for the artists and writers who come to be inspired by the ocean and the mystical landscape. Aromas and flavours of grapefruit,lime and gooseberries combine in this Sauvignon Blanc, Perfect for drinking with seafood and salads, Serve chilled.

Our second wine was an "Tronos Shiraz" (red wine)..reactions varied and a final overall score of 5.3 out of 10 was awarded. This wine is produced in the vineyards located in the Chilean Central Valley, where they enjoy exceptional soil and climate, with high temperature variation between night and day. This bright ruby-like Shiraz has attractive aromas of blackberries,chocolate and vanilla. It is full bodied and aromatic wine with a long lasting finish. Enjoy with grilled meat,lamb,cheese and pasta serve from 15c to 18c,

Our first meeting was a great success and the next one will be on Monday 15th October at Sue Huckers commencing at 7pm.
We already have 2 people on our waiting list.

regards
Michael Page

REPORT FOR HISTORY MEETING ON 17.9.2012

At this meeting we talked about Explorers and their journeys..when you look back in history for thousands of years people have explored by land or boats hugging the coasts, however it was not until about the middle of the 15th century were ships big enough to venture across the big oceans of the world, mind you big at that time was about 85 tons.
By about the fifth century B.C. the Pythagorean school had evolved the theory of a spherical earth,a theory which although deduced on philosophical rather than empirical grounds ,has been followed by liberal minded students ever since. Only in the early Christian times of the dark ages was this globular hypothesis ruled out, and even then there were a few daring souls, who, by defying the Church, kept alive this geographical truth, which was to be of such epoch-making importance in the 15th century,
In 325BC Pytheas of Greece had heard of these Islands on the edge of the known world inhabited by one eyed men and griffins, but whom supplied tin to the continent which when smelted and alloyed with copper- produced bronze. So he travelled around the European coast to the white cliffs of Dover.
The inspiration according to one theory for the country's earliest recorded name of Albion which comes from the Celtic word for white.
He travelled across around Albion and described the shape as a wonkey triangle-rival geographers scorned Pytheas but his findings still survive to this day.
We also talked about Cortes in Mexico, the famous explorers who in 1803-after France had sold Louisiana to the new USA- travelled and explored its breath and depth.
Lesley talked about Yuri Gargarin the famous Russian astronaut who circled the earth once in 1961 but was killed in a plane crash in Siberia area in 1968.
Various other famous explorers were talked about and all enjoyed the meeting.

The next meeting will be the combined History meeting at Copythorne Parish Hall with Totton Souths History Group where will enjoyed a digital slide show on Queen Victoria on Wednesday 17/10/12

On Monday 18th June

The History Group had their annual outing, which this year was to Bucklers Hard.

A picnic on the green sward overlooking the Beaullieu river. Members looked over the Museum, the cottages including the chapel, a drink in the "local" pub, and topped it all up with a ride on a pleasure boat down the Beaulieu River.
AND THE SUN SHONE ON US ALL DAY -

My thanks to Pat Osborne for providing the photos.

APRIL MEETING

At this meeting the topic was “The National Trust.

It was founded and launched by, Octavia Hill, Robert Hunter and Cannon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley on 12th January 1895,
But was later re-incorporated by a private Act of Parliament and the National Trust Act of 1907 and subsequent Acts since.

All the above plus many more- especially Octavia Hill had been concerned and involved for many years before in the preserving of old historic land and property, especially Octavia with her many housing projects in London for the poor with many backers including the Earl of Westminster.

The National Trust Acts also granted the trust the unique statutory power to declare land “ inalienable”. This prevents the land from being sold or mortgaged against the Trust’s wishes without special parliamentary procedure.
In one case only has the inalienability of Trust land been overridden by Parliament in the case of the proposal to construct a section of the Plimpton - by -pass through the park at Saltram, on the grounds that the road proposal had been known about before the park at Saltram had been declared inalienable,

Since its start the Trust has grown, acquiring open land, parks, old houses and nature reserves and their battle is still going on to preserve as much as possible for future generations,
The first building it acquired was the Alfriston Clergy House, its first Nature reserve was Wicken Fen, and the first land acquistion was the Brandelhow Estate on the west shore of Derwentwater in the Lake District.

And finally the Trust’s symbol, a sprig of oak leaves and acorns is thought to have been inspired by a carving in the cornice of the Alfriston Clergy Houses- the first property it acquired in 1896.

The next meeting will be on Monday the 21st May, and the topic will be
“A local history item or event”.
Michael Page.

March Meeting

At our March meeting the topic for discussion was “Workhorses of the Industrial Revolution”
This is a big subject as the Industrial only really started properly when transport around the U.K. improved. The first change was the introduction of the canal as a means of transporting goods , and although the barges could only travel at the speed of the horse, it did mean that goods arrived in a far better condition
than being carried on pack horses in boxes and baskets. This applied especially to goods like pottery and glassware where the breakage rate must have been quite high..
Also with the introduction of steam trains it meant that fresh produce could be carried inland to the cities and towns in a matter of hours rather than days. With regard to the transport of freshly caught fish from the ports to the urban areas csme probably the idea of fish and chips, which I believe was a Northern idea,

By the early 19th century it was common for children of all ages to be working in the factories, mines and fields and even as chimney sweeps in the towns. It was not until nearly the mid 19th century that acts were brought in the prevent children and women from working down the mines, but conditions were still grim for most of the working class.

By the end of the century conditions were starting to improve and more people were interested in improving their lives- especially people like Lord Shaftesbury.

We also talked about local stories and some of our members related tales of their parents and grandparents and the jobs and conditions that they had to endure.

The next meeting will be on Monday 16th April and the topic will be the National Trust.

Michael Page

20th February 2012

History Group Meeting on Monday 20th February 2012.

At this our second meeting of the year we had 15 members present and the subject for discussion was “The Victorians”.

This is a very broad subject of course, but it was said that the three great reigns of monarchs have been noted by their names and they are all Queens(men beware) - the Elizabethan , the Victorian and of course our current Queen- 60 years so far and look what has happened so far.

In this time called the 100 years of peace-although there were a succession of wars around the globe in which we were involved. There were countless inventions, such as steam trains which have had such a profound effect on our lives with mass travel being possible for the first time. Fish and chips as the trains could have the fresh fish taken from the ports to the cities in hours rather than days.
Up to the mid 18 hundreds when you had an operation you just had to grit your teeth and endure the terrible pain, but with the advent of anaesthetics it mean that the patient no longer had to be held during surgery.
The Bicycle, the car, the telephone, ice creams, baked beans and so much more.
This was a golden age of discovery and progress, but at the same time millions lived in abject poverty. Whereas at the beginning of Victoria’s reign the workhouse was supreme and it was your fault if you were poor, by the end of the 19th century attitudes had completely changed the country took it as their responsibility and job to help you.

All this and so much more.

Our next meeting is on Monday 19th March and the topic for discussion will be “Workhorses-the Industrial Revolution”.

Michael Page

First meeting 16th Jan 2012

Our meetings have just restarted and the first one was on Monday 16th January 2003.

At this meeting there were 17 members present and we were very lucky to have a digital slide show and talk on the Beaulieu River Estuary and its history attached to it,
given by Sarah Marsden who lives in that area. Indeed we saw a picture of her home.
This show lasted about 30 minutes, after which there were question and and answers plus some interesting stories about this area from Sarah Marsden.
We then had refreshments and more talk before members started to leave.
It was a wonderful talk and slide show and we all very much and enjoyed it appreciated .

Our next meeting will be on Monday 20th February commencing at 10 am and the subject will be "The Victorians",

Michael Page

FEBRUARY 2011 HISTORY REPORT

FEBRUARY HISTORY REPORT

At this meeting we talked about Workhouses and why they were introduced.
Up to the reign of Henry the VIII the Church undertook to look after the poor and the Monks and Nuns did a very good job, as they adhered to the Bible instructions given in Matthew Chapter 25 which stated that all Christians shall:
# feed the hungry.
#give drink to the thirsty.
#welcome the stranger.
#clothe the naked.
#visit the sick.
#visit the prisoner
#bury the dead.
However this all changed when Henry VIII closed all the Monasteries and a decline in Christian values took place , when all these charitable acts of Mercy towards the unfortunate were no longer seen as a duty nor were they undertaken.

However in Elizabethan times they realised that something had to be done ,and as a result of 6 acts the last being in 1601, the Government formalised a National system for looking after the poor based on “Outdoor Relief “ where help was given in their homes and this carried on with some changes until the Reform Act of 1834.

The Reform Act of 1834 changed everything, as it made parishes group together and build Workhouses where the poor could be looked after. However the system was designed so that the Workhouses would be worse than Hell and people would only go in as a last desperate measure , and it was all run by a board of Commissioners.
The system was not good and after the Andover Workhouse scandal in 1845, the Commission was finally abolished in 1847, but in spite of the shaming of the Poor Law Commission, and the resolution of Parliament to improve conditions in workhouses, these institutions remained grim for many decades to come.
By the end of the century. local councils began to take over the work of the boards of guardians, public attitudes had started to change and although the act remained in force until 1929, it was gradually superseded by other forms of welfare.

Michael Page