The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 51 No.1 | June 2024

Local Group Programmes

(December) Christmas Party We had three short talks about postcards (a la Helen Baggott). Graham’s card, was one found behind his fireplace which, had been sent to the 2nd owner of the house from her son at boarding school. They managed to trace a descendant adopted as a baby in Spain whom they met last October. Mine was a postcard sent to Alice Howland from Hector (with six kisses) though it seems the following year she married someone else. Perhaps the contents about a man being run down and killed put her off! I found very little about them, but more on the man who was killed. Alongside our buffet we also had a quiz (thanks to John) which led to tables spying on each other. Perhaps it was the accompanying joviality to this that made it a good evening – or was it the awful jokes at the end? (January) Winchester: Buildings, Bishops & Bones Part 3 – Andrew Negus (via Zoom) This covered the period from 1550 to 1850 with Winchester reduced in importance and the bishop no longer holding political power. Instead, it was just another market town during a time of plague, religious, social, and political change, and Andrew took us through the effects these events left on the city in the buildings that survive. Andrew was lively and enthusiastic as usual and the sheer number of buildings reflecting its past make it a worthy destination to visit. Winchester is more than its Cathedral and Great Hall and Andrew gives guided tours of the city – one for the summer social? By the time we get to 1850 the bishop had lost more than his political power, he had lost the wealth that came with the job. We await Part 4! (February) A March Through Time – Nick Barrett (via Zoom) Rather than going into detail, this was an overview of eight centuries from Magna Carta to modern times showing how disaffection, protest, and rebellion have a resonance through every century. The same issues return time and again, and while the turbulence we are living through is often a result of our digital age, the same echoes of chaos were experienced by our ancestors. Just as we have no idea how our society will eventually turn out; our ancestors could not anticipate what would happen to theirs. Though not a genealogy talk it will give some background to your ancestors’ lives and mindset in times of upheaval and Nick drew attention to some of the documents where your ancestors may appear if they were involved in acts of sedition. Forthcoming Meetings:

The Selborne & Headley Workhouse Riots John Owen Smith Why did the riots take place? A look at the dramatic events of two days in November 1830 and their aftermath. From Post To Person – The results of our postcard project of 2023 The longer talks that have come out of the 2023 project. Mike Esbester As part of a project with the National Railway Museum this talk will look at accidents to railway workers from the 1880s until 1939.

June 13th

July 11th

September 12th Railway Work, Life & Death

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