Author: Alison Hobson

In March Dr Steven Blake took FHS members on a wonderful historical journey along the 102 miles from Chipping Camden to Bath – ‘The Cotswold Way’. The talk, excellently illustrated by slides started with the three prehistoric sites of Belas Knapp, Hetty Pegler’s Tump (was she the owner of the field or a lady of the night?) and Nympsfield Long Barrow. Examples of Iron Age monuments are Crickley Hill fort and Beckbury Hill Fort above Hailes. Dr Blake then moved forward in time through the Romans, (Chedworth and Witcombe), Anglo-Saxons (Winchcombe capital of Winchcombeshire) to the Medieval period illustrated by Manor houses, Abbey sites.

The great changes that affected the landscape were also described, the Reformation, when Hailes Abbey was destroyed by Henry VIII, the Civil War, when Camden Manor, the home of Baptist Hicks was destroyed by the Royalists in retreat, the Glorious Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution marked by the industrial mills of the Stroud Valleys.

Famous people connections – Broadway Tower conceived by Capability Brown, and built by architect James Wyatt where William Morris is thought to have the idea for the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the Tyndale Monument, (William Tyndale translated the Bible into English and was burnt at the stake in 1536), the Hawkesbury Monument, built to Commemorate Lord Robert Somerset in 1846, and Sudeley Castle and its association with Catherine Parr.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable talk and made everyone itch to get on their walking boots and follow in the footsteps of those ‘Pilgrims’ who made their way from the Shrine of St Kenelm at Winchcombe to see the ‘relic of the Holy Blood’ at Hailes Abbey.

Over 70 FHS members and visitors attended Edwin Cuss’s presentation about Fairford’s pubs and inns on the morning of February 16th. Tim Edgell, who has written books on Gloucestershire pubs and breweries, explained that in about 1830 all people had to do to get a licence to sell beer was to pay two guineas. It was a part of a government scheme to get people drinking beer rather than gin, which was more alcoholic and caused a high level of drunkenness, and this was the reason for the large number of beer retailers that sprang up all over the country in the 19th century.

The first part of the presentation covered hostelries that are no longer in existence: The Swan in the Market Place, the QueenÂ’s Head in Milton Street, The Red Lion (site uncertain), The Carriers’ Arms in Horcott Road, the Fairford Country Club, Whelford Road, and the Troglodyte Club next to the Marlborough Arms. The second half of the talk related to existing establishments some of which were illustrated with pictures of the bars inside as well as exteriors which was very nostalgic for some of our members. Thanks to Edwin Cuss for yet another very interesting and informative presentation.

After the talk some of the audience accompanied Edwin Cuss and Syd Flatman around the town to view some of the pubs mentioned, ending up at The Bull, Fairford’s most famous inn.

To accompany the talk a booklet has been compiled with historical information about former and present pubs and inns in Fairford. It also lists all the beer retailers. Price £1 (p&p 32p) available from enquiry@fairfordhistory.org.uk or 01285 71768.

After the talk some of the audience accompanied Edwin Cuss and Syd Flatman around the town to view some of the pubs mentioned, ending up at The Bull, FairfordÂ’s most famous inn.

To accompany the talk a booklet has been compiled with historical information about former and present pubs and inns in Fairford. It also lists all the beer retailers. Price £1 (p&p 32p) available from enquiry@fairfordhistory.org.uk or 01285 71768.

Recently a stoneware pitcher was donated to FHS with The White Hart, Fairford engraved on it and stamped Powell Pottery. This pottery was based in Bristol and was one of the first firms to use a high gloss glaze. The firm amalgamated with Prices in 1906 so the pitcher probably dates from mid Victorian to before 1906.

 

 

 

At the November meeting Karen Cooke, the archivist from Gloucestershire Archive who was responsible for the cataloguing of the Hicks-Beach Archive, talked about the project which was sponsored by the National Cataloguing Scheme for Archives. The Hicks Beach Archive brought together several collections which had been obtained at different times plus a more recent deposit. There were estate records from Williamstrip Estate in Coln St Aldwyn and Quenington and the Netheravon Estate in Wiltshire from the 18th and 19th centuries, family and personal records of the Hicks Beach and related families of the 17th-18th century, and political papers of Sir M E Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn of the 19th-20th centuries, business records. Karen also brought a charming display of the Victorian Christmas cards from the family records.

She gave us the history of the Wither, Hicks and Beach families including some romantic incidents that ended badly. Charles Wither (1684-1731) toured the country with his tutor and wrote a daily journal, an example of one of the earliest travel diaries. Sir Michael Edward Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn was Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1885-1886 and 1895-1902 was undoubtedly the most famous member of the family. The estates at Netheravon and Keevil, and their acquisition and disposal were described.

The collection at Gloucestershire Archives is now listed on the catalogue and is available for inspection. For further information about Coln St Aldwyns, Ana Bianchi Evans has written an excellent book called ‘The way we were’ published in 2011 it is available from the shop in Coln and local bookshops as well as from Amazon.co.uk.

Tim Porter’s lecture on ‘The Wars of the Roses in the Cotswolds’ on September 15th was a very thorough and challenging look at a period of which most of us know very little. He began by clearing the undergrowth of our misconceptions: it was nothing to do with the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire; the name given to the war was coined long afterwards; in the half century 1450– 1500 there was no more than six months fighting and most battles lasted no more than a few hours; the battles were between powerful lords and hardly affected the general population; in fact it was a time of economic prosperity evidenced by the building and rebuilding programme of churches and manor houses. The key to conflict was the quarrelsome aristocracy who felt loyalty to either the House of Lancaster in the shape of Henry IV, V and VI and the House of York in the person of Edward IV and his brother Richard III. The Earl of Warwick (‘the King-maker’) personifies the political attitude of many of the aristocracy. He was immensely rich and powerful with estates in many counties. He helped put Edward IV on the throne in 1461 for which he was richly rewarded and he exercised enormous influence in government. He had his own ruthless army. Nevertheless he grew dissatisfied and switched sides, helping to re-establish Henry VI on the throne.

It was a brief interlude. Edward returned from exile, seized the throne in a series of actions one of which ended Warwick’s life. The culminating Battle of Tewkesbury settled Edward’s position as king. Shortly afterwards Henry VI died in the Tower.

Tim illustrated his lecture with examples from tombs and stained glass in churches and great houses and from battlefields. He took his evidence from places not too far from here like North Nibley, Bledington, Fyfield and Minster Lovell. He stressed the influence of the network of roads and tracks across the Cotswold which enabled armies to move around. And his parting shot was a reminder of the sheep, the timeless and innocent source of local livelihood, wealth and prosperity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman’s Report.
FHS has had a successful year, our membership has grown to 128 members. There have been talks on the Swing Riots, Gimson and the Barnsleys followed by a very enjoyable visit to Rodmarton Manor then the Thames and Severn Canal and a very informative talk about the Ernest Cook Trust. Our shops daytime meeting in February proved to be very successful. Next year we start off with Tim Porter on the Wars of the Roses, the Hicks Beach family in November, then later tombstones and Steve Blake on the Cotswold Way. At the AGM next year we hope to have Dave Kaspar on cider with samples. The daytime meeting in February will be on pubs, inns and hotels. If members have any ideas for meetings they would be welcome.John Read who was in at the start of FHS is no longer able to attend Committee meetings so he is resigning from the Committee. We have a space if anyone would like to offer. John will continue to have input in an advisory capacity. We thank him for his seminal role in establishing the society. Thanks to all the Committee, Gill Compton, Ian Westlake, the Vice Chair, Margaret Bishop, Don Cobbett, Maurice Jones, Rob Winney, Chris and Alison Hobson. Thanks to Edwin Cuss and Syd Flatman who have helped and supported us, Piers Hobson for technical support and Nick Hobson for helping with the chairs etc. at meetings, also to June Lewis-Jones for her knowledge, information and support. The Chair closed his report with a quote from Dr Johnson ‘Do not remit the practice of writing down occurrences as they arise, of whatever kind, and be very punctual in annexing the dates. Chronology you know is the eye of history’.

The Committee were then re-elected. The business meeting was followed by a ‘Show and Tell’ session. It turned out to be very successful and there wasnÂ’t time for all the offerings. Fourteen people contributed and topics included a former Lord Mayor of London, a mounted priest in Queensland, Rudolf Hess, a cricket ball, a plate, scientific instruments, an airship, books, pictures and a delightful letter etc. Fascinating and something well worth repeating.

At the May meeting Nicholas Ford, Agent and Director (Chief Executive) of the Ernest Cook Trust since 2002 talked to FHS members about how Ernest Cook came to found the Ernest Cook Trust as an educational charity and the work of the Trust today managing their estates and its work as a grant giver.

Ernest Cook was the grandson of Thomas Cook from Derbyshire famous for setting up the Thomas Cook Travel Agency. Both Ernest and his brother Frank both went to work in the Travel Agency, Frank as an agent in remoter parts of the world and Ernest in the banking side of the business. Ernest helped to initiate the use of travellers’ cheques for foreign travel. In 1928 he and his brother sold the company to Wagon-Lits of Belgium for £3.500,000.

With his half of the money Ernest could indulge his interests, he loved fast cars, bought paintings which he donated to the National Art Directors Fund, and a lot of land. By 1939? he had bought 17 estates. He cared passionately about the country and Estate system, but was also aware of hardship in the countryside and founded a fund to help the provision of District Nurses in rural areas.

To avoid death duties, Ernest Cook set up the educational charity, the Ernest Cook Trust.

See the excellent website www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk for more information.

See also the Fairford Park Topic.

Bruce Hall, of the Cotswold Canals Trust took the audience on a 36-mile journey from the Severn to the Thames through the industrial area of the Stroudwater Navigation to the rural Thames and Severn Canal. The most important cargo was coal especially from the Forest of Dean which was needed to supply power to the mills of the Stroud Valley.

For more see: The Topics Page.

FHS’s first experiment of a morning meeting in February attracted a bumper turnout of over 80 members and visitors. This was an opportunity for the whole community to investigate the history of retail in Fairford.

Firstly, local postcard and photograph collector Edwin Cuss gave a presentation of images of former Fairford shops, which stimulated memories for many audience members. The images showed the High Street, London Street, Bridge Street and Milton Street at various times during the mid-20th century and this was also the route we would later take on our walk.

During the coffee break the room was abuzz with discussion. The interval also gave us a chance to look at the display of pictures, and town and carnival guides (containing adverts for local shops) from the Society’s archives. The Society’s Vice-President, David Perry, presented a large display of invoices for former businesses. Gloucester Archives also loaned a display of images relating to Herbert Hayes saddler’s shop in Back Lane.

 

After the interval we split into two groups respectively led by Edwin Cuss and knowledgeable volunteer Syd Flatman and went out for a walk around the town. We were favoured with good weather and the fact that the resurfacing works closed the road to traffic. The walk enabled us to see the locations of former shops and whilst the images in the earlier presentation had stimulated memories, the relaxed walk caused the memories to flood back.

With the evidence and memories recorded at this event we hope to be able to produce an archive of information on retail in Fairford by the community of the present for the community of the future.