Winter 2015

Christmas Greetings from Bagshot

As I write this in mid December it really does not seem as though Christmas is nearly upon us, even though I have added some winter images to this page. The temperature outside is nearly 12C and it does not seem very long ago that I last picked raspberries and runner beans.

Yet all of a sudden the trees have lost their leaves to reveal large growths of misletoe high in their branches. 

Here in the south the autumn has been mild and with only moderate rain.  Our hearts go out to those in the north who have suffered snow and extreme rain that has resulted in flooded homes.  

Last time I reported, rather despairingly, how the A30 was to be dug up a third time in order to lay a fibre optic cable all the way to Blackwater.  We were delighted to find that this work caused minimal problems - perhaps because it was not buried very deep, and for the most part under the pavement rather than in the middle of the road.

A Royal Tournament in Bagshot Park

Terry has written asking about a tournament held in Bagshot Park on 29th August 1830 to raise funds for the building of St Anne's Church.  To put this in context - Queen Victoria's son HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, lived in Bagshot Park, indeed the present house was built by the Queen for him.  The Duke was largely responsible for the building of the Parish Church and numerous fund-raising events were held.  I had heard stories of fetes and the like being held in the Park with special trains being laid on to bring the nobility down from London. But I had not heard of a Military Tournament.  

Terry has identified a lengthy newspaper article in The Daily News of August 30th 1883 which waxes lyrically about the competitive event.  While this newspaper report does not specifically mention any boxing, Terry writes that a relative of his was one of four boxers who were photographed.  He is anxious to find out anything more about the tournament.  

War Memorial Project

I have been participating with others in a project to research the lives of those from WW1 who are commemorated on the village War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour that is displayed inside the parish church - both their lives and the effect that their death had on their family.  Some people have proved more difficult than others. 

• Private William Turner  served with the Canadian forces and died Sept 1918 leaving a widow, Harriet, living in College Ride, Bagshot.  But that is just about all we know about him, or his wife. 
• Private 8400 Sydney Herbert Taylor, 2nd battalion the Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princes of Wales' Own) died 1 November 1914. He had married in 1913 but we have not been able to find any details about him prior to his marriage.

We have been unable to identify any connection with Bagshot for several people:

• Captain Martin Alan Anderson MC, 211th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who died 9th May 1917
• Driver 209827 Walter Henry Davis, "C" Battery, 10th Brigade, Royal Artillery, who died 6th April 1918
• Lieutenant Arthur Hennis Perrott, 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) who died 10th September 1914
• Sapper 50144 Frederick George Robinson of the 37th Signal Company, Royal Engineers, who died 20 Feb 1917

Bagshot WI meet the Queen

Enquiries

Margaret asks if anyone knows the history of the nativity set which used to be in Bagshot shop windows during Advent in the 1960's and 1970's and which is now at St Anne's Church.

The Chobham Common and PoW camp saga rolls on.

• Graham has published his own assessment of man's influence on the area, including the PoW camp.
• Neil's uncle recalls football matches with the Italian PoWs.
• Pat writes: I have been following the article with regards the POW camp at Chobham common. Lets turn this one on its head. If it wasn't a POW camp What was it?
  We know it housed Poles. We know there were a considerable number of Nissan huts. We know it had it's own sewer beds. We know that it had wire fences. We know the area at the entrance to Brick Hill is called, by the older residents, "The Parade Square" We know that a large number of Canadians were camped there prior to going to the D Day landings. We know there was a large coke pen and it had been suggested that it might have been used by a tank or mechanical corp. The current entrance only came into being after the end of WW11. [Jul 15]  
   
  One of my interests is family history research, and one of the fundementals is not to beleive any single piece of information, but always to look for multiple, independent, sourses.  As a superb example, I have my great grandmother's birth certificate - and her birth date is wrong by a month.  How do I know this - well the parish records show that she was baptised 2 weeks before the birth date that her mother told the Registrar.  
  In the Chobham Common case I think we do have enough independent, and reasonably first hand, evidence to say that part of the area was used as a PoW camp at some time at least towards the end of the war or just after.

James would like to contact his half-brother Paul Roberts born Woking November 1965, and also asks after Williams, Wright, Hayes & Catchpole

John Tait asks about the history of 69 High St

Ernest Potter is  keen to learn of any members of the Parker/Bowers family line descended, like him, from Walker Bowers.

Chris Speed and would like to know if any photos exist of the Park View cottages which were built in 1885. [Aug 15]  

Updates

Updates since the last newsletter include:

• Judy has identified another TB sanatorium, Prior Place, that was operating during at least the war years.
• David Ghost has confirmed Peter Summerton's recollection of his injury in the school gate.
• Sue Hastings recalls the Mission Hall and its outings, and playing in the Windle Brook.
• Teresa Lord, another of Frankie Fortuna's grandchildren, has contributed her memories and asks about Wickham Cafe.
  By coincidence Jack had sent me some circa 1920 post cards, two of which show Wickham Cafe and its tea gardens.
• Janet recalls her wedding night at the Hero.
• Jim and Ian both remember Pantiles
• Rosemary remembers her time living in the police station.
• A Molony recalls living in Yaverland house in the 1960s
• Tricia recalls living in Bagshot Park.
• June Eaton (nee Hoggart) recalls Papworth, Pages and other shops including her favourite sweet shop.
• John Coombs recalls Underwoods and Gear Change.