The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.1 | June 2023

Local Group Programmes

Contact: Keith Turner Email: fairoak@hgs-online.org.uk

Fair Oak

Meetings are normally held at 8pm on the second Tuesday monthly at St Thomas’ Church Hall (attached to the church) Mortimers Lane. Doors open approx 7.30pm (February) Above and Below Ground: Exploring a Pre-reformation Church and Churchyard – Celia Heritage This was a Zoom meeting. Celia gave us a brief history of Christianity in Britain and the origins of parishes and churches. In some instances, the churchyard may be older than the church building on that site. Celia recommended walking around the edge of the churchyard as there can be a lot more outside the church than just gravestones. Try to imagine the site without the most recent buildings because often it will be in a standout setting. Burials in churchyards only started in the 8th century. In 1229 the Bishop of Worcester specified that the churchyard should be enclosed. Churchyards in medieval times were used for both religious and secular occasions. It was only in the 17th century that gravestones became common and then only for the richest in society. They became more affordable only in the 19th and 20th centuries. Another piece of advice: If you can’t read an old weathered gravestone, try wetting the stone and viewing it in an oblique light at night or in bright light from different angles. The inside of the church can provide a history of political and religious changes for the community over the years. Before the Reformation churches were highly decorated, and there are still many symbols remaining if you keep your eyes open. Memorials or church burials indicate that the person was wealthy or well thought of. There was a handout from the talk available from Celia's website: https://www.heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk/handouts If you want to know more about the subject, Celia's most recent book is entitled "Cemeteries and Graveyards": https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Cemeteries-and-Graveyards-Paperback/p/20462 (March) Members’ Evening The March meeting was back to face-to-face meetings and took the form of a Members' Evening. Group member John Lankester is heavily involved with Eastleigh & District Local History Society (EDLHS). John briefly explained the types of records which are held at Eastleigh Cemetery Lodge. Most of these have been or are being digitised. He brought in a small but nonetheless heavy sample of the EDLHS archives to show us. These comprised Eastleigh Borough Council’s rate and letter books, photographs and a sample of the Society’s project papers. For those of us who live in the older houses, it was interesting to see who the

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