Grayshott Village Archive

Notes and News: May / June 2010

Village Archive Committee

Several important changes in the Archive committee have taken place and the following is the list of those now involved:

Chairman – Phil. Bates
Secretary – Brian Tapp
Treasurer & Village Hall representative – June Mills
Parish Council representative – Clive Slaughter
Friends Secretary – Richard Peskett
Archivist – John Bebbington
Web Master – Neil Jaques

Particular welcome to Phil and John and a very big thank you to David Barrett and Dennis Lusby who have retired and had been with the Archive since its formation.

Web site

We are pleased to say that the new site is now on line and working well. Please use the system to comment and make suggestions.

Fox and Pelican Signs

The original Fox and Pelican sign board painted by Walter Crane has been acquired for the village with a most generous funding from the Pottery Community Fund. Acquired at public auction on the 27th April, it came with another sign from the F & P which dates from PRHA days and is made of pressed copper sheet in ‘Arts and Crafts’ style and was originally in place on the external wall between first floor front windows. The Village Archive have been asked to take custodianship of the sign and in due course an announcement will be made as to the future display and restoration work required of the sign. The original ironwork for the sign which was only taken down after some 110 years when the premises were revamped in January this year was promised by Fullers but subsequently and most unfortunately it would appear to have ‘gone missing’, investigations are on going. Fortunately some general dimensions of the frame were recorded by the Archive a couple of years ago.

Friends of the Village Archive

A very successful meeting was held at Grayshott Pottery on Tuesday, May 11th. with almost 40 attending. A small presentation was made to Dennis Lusby and David Barrett in recognition of their unstinting work carried out for the Archive since its formation. The programme this time was a little different from previous. Neil Jaques who is in charge of our web site give a preview of the new web site and explained some of the technicalities involved. David Barrett spoke on the interview he conducted with Cynthia Grist who lived in a terrace house in Portsmouth and as a wartime evacuee come to live in a somewhat more spacious house in Church Lane. Some most interesting anecdotes were revealed and this afterwards was added to by Derek Read relating to war time activities of the then younger generation in Grayshott. Richard Peskett finally announced details of the purchase of the original Fox and Pelican sign and its unveiling to be seen for the first time in public in Grayshott since 1914. Our thanks go to the directors of the Pottery for again making this excellent venue available to us.
The next friends evening will be end of October / early November, date and programme to be announced next time.

Books

Don’t forget that Grayshott Pottery and Grayshott Bookshop have a good selection of local titles.

 

Richard Peskett.
Grayshott Village Archive

Note: 

Several important changes in the Archive committee have taken place and the following is . . . . . . . .

Notes and News: March / April 2010

Annual General Meeting

This will be held in the Small Hall, Grayshott Village Hall on Tuesday , May 4th at 8:00pm for 8:15pm start.

Friends of the Village Archive

The next Friends evening will be at Grayshott Pottery on Tuesday, May 11th at 7.30pm for 7.45pm. A slightly different type of programme this time with three short addresses. Neil Jaques who is in charge of our web site will give a preview of the new web site which it is hoped will be on line from June 1st. David Barrett will speak on the interview conducted with Cynthia Grist who as a wartime evacuee who lived in a terrace house in Portsmouth coming to a somewhat more spacious house in Church Lane. Richard Peskett will speak on some of the original shop fronts and architectural features surviving in our village. Light refreshments will as usual be available afterwards but we would like to finish at 10pm as staff of the Pottery have to lock up and go home!

New projects and News

Appearing shortly on our web site will be a copy of the 1907 first published list of telephone subscribers in Grayshott.

Although over the border at Hindhead I have found out that at Conan Doyle’s former residence ‘Undershaw’ he had in the garden an electric monorail railway built c1900 by Teeside Bridge and Engineering of a size capable of carrying children . I would be most pleased to hear anything further on this very unusual item in such a location.

Fox and Pelican sign and ironwork

Last ‘Notes and News’ contained reference to the original ironwork dating from 1899 which carried the signboard had disappeared during the recent renovations of the premises. Well, the good news is that we have been informed it has been located in Yorkshire and hopefully will be returned here shortly. Of coincidence is that we have also received most interesting news regarding the whereabouts of the original Walter Crane painted signboard. It is hoped to make a further announcement regarding this at the Friends evening on May 11th.

Books

Don’t forget that Grayshott Pottery and Grayshott Bookshop have a good selection of local titles.

Richard Peskett
Grayshott Village Archive

Note: 

The next Friends evening will be at Grayshott Pottery on Tuesday, May . . . . . . .

Notes and News: January / February 2010

Friends of the Village Archive

It is hoped that the next evening will be in early May 2010, the subject to be announced in the March / April Notes and News.

New projects and News

Research is at present under way for an article on the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Mrs. Vetues interests as a local benefactor.

We hope that many of you had chance to look at the Archive’s display over the Christmas period in the window of Keats, estate agents, in the Square. The space was kindly made available by courtesy of Andrew Meehan. Any comments and further ideas for a display feature will be most welcome.

It would appear that during the recent revamp of the Fox and Pelican public house the original ironwork for the sign board has disappeared and replaced with somewhat modern version. We have asked the Grayshott Society to take this mater up with Fullers, the owners. The ironwork was definitely original from photographic evidence and had survived fro 110 years.

Many of you will have noticed the closure of the ‘Coxhead and Welch’ shop in Headley Road. The trading name had survived since the mid 1890s when the shop first opened. The original Ironmongers business was started in 1893 by Edward Coxhead and by 1903 the business was trading as ‘Coxhead and Welch’. Forward thinking, the shop had the second telephone number to be issued in Grayshott, this being x2, appearing in the first National Directory of 1907.

Books

Don’t forget that Grayshott Pottery and Grayshott Bookshop have a good selection of local titles.

HELP

The Archive is in need of two people to assist with the running of the organisation. David Barrett is standing down as Secretary from next May and we also require a new Administrator which entails putting new information into files on the computer data base and hardcopy material into the filling system. If you think you would like to help please contact us.

Richard Peskett
Grayshott Village Archive

Note: 

Research is at present under way for an article on the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Mrs. Vetues interests . . . . . . . .

Notes and News: November / December 2009

Friends of the Village Archive

A very successful evening was held on November 4th at Grayshott Pottery when almost 50 ‘friends’ were present to hear the most interesting talk by Tim Winter on Woodland Industries and Crafts. Illustrated with some unique photographs and postcards from Tim’s own collection many of the long forgotten skills which abounded during the last century in this district. It is hoped that the next evening will be in early May 2010, the subject to be announced in the next Notes and News.

New projects and News

Brian Tapp has put in much effort to produce the latest web article on those who had served during the Great War from Grayshott. This can now be viewed here and hard copies are also available from Brian on 01428 606548.

Research is at present under way for an article on the St. Joseph’s Cathlic church and Mrs. Vetues interests as a local benefactor.

It is hoped that the Archive will be able over the Christmas period this year have a display at Keats , estate agents, in the Square. Please make the effort to have a look.

The Archive has been pleased to provide the Parish Council with a copy of the photograph of ‘Granny’ Robinson planting the Coronation tree 1911 to be part of the entry to East Hants council.

Local resident Tony Cunningham has provided the Archive with photographs of Grayshott from 1955 onwards, in particular Grayshott Garage and some of the houses now demolished.

Books and Christmas presents

Don’t forget that Grayshott Pottery and Grayshott Bookshop have a good selection of local titles.

HELP. The Archive is in need of two people to assist with the running of the organisation. David Barrett is standing down as Secretary from next May and we also require a new Administrator which entails putting new information into files on the computer data base and hardcopy material into the filling system. If you think you would like to help please contact us.

Richard Peskett
Grayshott Village Archive

Note: 

A very successful evening was held on November 4th at Grayshott Pottery when almost 50 ‘friends’ were present to hear . . . . . . . .

Notes and News: September / October 2009

Friends of the Village Archive

Final reminder that the next Friends evening will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at Grayshott Pottery 7.30pm for 7.45pm when Tim Winter will be returning to talk on ‘Woodland Industries and Crafts’. No doubt of particular local interest will be the broom making and charcoal burning of this area.

To clarify the reply to a question asked at the AGM, for anybody joining the Friends the membership will run for a full 12 months from the date of joining, not necessarily from September to September as originally stated. A reminder for any ‘Friends’ who have received a renewal letter and not yet rejoined we do rely on your support for maintaining the Archive.

Membership secretary – Brian Tapp 01428 606548.

New projects and News

The web article is progressing well to produce a reasonably detailed list of those from Grayshott who served in both World Wars.

Peter Leete and Partners, estate agents, have kindly provided the Archive with three mid 1960s images of the Moorlands Garage when the building was still recognizable much as the original structure when it was the stables and coach houses for the Moorlands Hotel. Two of these will appear as Photograph of the Month.

Through the internet I have been able to find copies of the Grayshott entries in Kelly’s and Whites directories for 1878, 1885, 1889, 1895, 1911 and 1920. This has provided much valuable information to the early formation of the village.

It is hoped that the Archive will be able over the Christmas period this year have a ‘Know your history of Grayshott’ display at Keats , estate agents in the Square.

The Archive has been asked to provided comments regarding the extension of the conservation area in Grayshott and our response can be found in the articles section.

Richard Peskett