The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.3 | December 2022

Local Group Programmes

and was notably the judge at the trial of Guy Fawkes. From the Pavilion we visited a footbridge over Monks Brook. Although this appeared to be a strange place for a footbridge, it was explained that this was the site of an original ford crossing. We then walked south to view the oldest surviving houses including the old post office and village forge. Here Eric noted a family connection with some of the previous occupants when Richard REEVES married Helen BARNES . The nearby Cricketers pub was being run by COX . On Chestnut Avenue one building was known as DURMANS for many years. In 1700s the Fleming family died out and Stoneham was inherited by the Willis family. The new owners became known as Willis-Fleming and at one time were the largest land owners in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The family rebuilt the mansion house called Stoneham Park and in the 1770s Stoneham Park was landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown. By 1900 the estate was in decline and parts were sold off. Further tragedy came with the death of Richard Thomas Willis-Fleming in 1916. We visited a shrine erected to him and 36 other local men killed in the First World War. Mrs Willis-Fleming donated money for a school and headmaster’s house. The building was designed by Charles PINK of Winchester and is now part of the Concorde Club. Stoneham Park house was demolished in 1939. Some of the estate lands were bought by Eastleigh Borough Council for housing during the Second World War. Part of the landscaped grounds (including the shrine) are now preserved as Avenue Park by Eastleigh BC. This informative walk ended with a wonderfully clear (almost) full moon rise. (September) It was always intended that this would be a member’s meeting but it came a few days after the Queen’s passing. In recognition of this it was decided that this would be a Royal themed meeting. We started the evening with a minute's silence. It soon became apparent from those present that most people have at least glimpsed a member of the Royal family. John, as an ex-soldier, noted that the Queen had been his boss. He had lined the route when she visited South Wales. He sadly missed out on being presented with his BEM by the Queen as he was serving in Germany at the time and had to make do with the Ambassador to Germany! Angela had a few photos from when the Queen alighted at Eastleigh railway station in 1985 on her way to open the then new Hampshire Fire & Rescue Headquarter in Leigh Road. Paul had worked for British Rail and once had to don a bowler hat to greet the Queen off a train and escort her down the station platform. Keith had seen the Queen Mother at Exbury Gardens. David and Sue had travelled to Leicester to visit the remains of Richard III after they had been dug up in a car park there! (As David pointed out, the last British king to lie in state!) Rod recorded his experience at the time and so regaled us with a very amusing account of when, as a representative of Ludlow Junior School, he met Princess Anne. Apparently, she should be addressed as mam to rhyme with ham.

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