The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.2 | September 2022

Local Group Programmes

September 21st Members evening A chance for members to discuss what research they have done over the pandemics and seek help with brickwalls October 19th Posted in the Past Helen Baggott via zoom Research into the stories behind postcards November, 16th Searching for Dora Les Mitchinson via zoom December 21st Christmas quiz and festivities in the afternoon Ringwood group held their July meeting in the Ringwood Meeting house with a talk from one of their members, Ken Chatfield, about when London planners had designs on Ringwood. Ken came across this story by chance in the Tines when he was doing other research. The blitz in WW2 made a housing problem in London considerable worse and the London council were looking for places to build new towns and land just outside Ringwood came into their sights. The plan was to build 30,00 houses on land approximately where the Spur Road (A338) now is. Hampshire County Council were in favour but fortunately for Ringwood the chairman of the town council Major Colin Zeigler a man with 50 years experience in public service had other ideas. Eventually in May 1954 London got cold feet and the whole idea was called off. This was a very interesting and well researched talk about a subject that none of us knew anything about before. Forthcoming meetings in the Meeting House unless stated otherwise: (May) The Inland Revenue Valuation Survey 1910-1915 – Gill Blanchard Gill’s talk was entitled The Inland Revenue Valuation Survey 1910-1920 nicknamed The Lloyd George Domesday Survey. This survey is the first national survey on who owned land and who lived on the land since the Domesday survey. In England and Wales, it mainly focuses on 1910-1915 and is wonderful source of information for both house historians and family history researchers. It was a controversial act that was to raise money for the new pension act and the planned unemployment benefit but was never implemented. It helps to put flesh on the bones of our ancestors and bring them to life. Gill gives a lot of information on how to use the survey and where to find it. This is a very informative and interesting talk. (June) It started with a kiss – Brian and Jacqueline Sutton This month Ringwood group had their first face to face meeting since 2021.We met in the lovely Ringwood Meeting House for a talk by Brian and Jacqueline on the life of Dylan Thomas and especially about his time in Ringwood. Dylan came to Ringwood when he met and became friends with Augustus John, the artist. It was through this friendship that he met and married Caitlin Macnamara a local girl. The Macnamara`s, John`s and the Thomas`s led a very complicated and bohemian lifestyle which is explained in this talk. There are plenty of pictures and this is a very entertaining talk. (July) London Designs on Ringwood – Ken Chatfield

83