Our Heritage Matters Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society

Volume 1, Issue 3 May 2020

Contents Notes from the Editor ...... 1 Society Meetings ...... 1 Pub of the Month - Pomfret Arms ...... 2 The Hardingstone Lane Blazing Car Murder 1930 ...... 4 A Trip to Northampton ...... 7 VE Day ...... 9 Yorks Coach ...... 12 Then and Now ...... 13 The Wednesday Group ...... 13 Want to Fidget in These Uncertain Times ? ...... 14 The Snippets from Our Past ...... 15 A Load of Cock ? ...... 15 The Heritage Awards ...... 16 Who are They ? ...... 16 Heritage Quiz ...... 17 Society Publications ...... 18 Planned Meetings ...... 19

Notes from the Editor All the content this month has been produced by Robert Vaughan, but if anyone has anything they think would be of interest to our members either that they can create or would be interested in, then do let the chairman know as below. We would also really like a few extra helpers – you don’t have to be on the Committee – to especially help with research to help produce this newsletter! Contact Peter Alexander (the Society Chairman) at [email protected] or [email protected] Jon Bailey Executive Editor: Peter Alexander Editor: Jon Bailey Master Proof-Reader: Terry Coles Chief Researcher: Robert Vaughan

Society Meetings Open to all: non-members just £4 including refreshments and members £3. The full programme can be found on our website www.cogenhoeheritage.org.uk Planned meetings are listed on page 19. For obvious reasons we postponed the talks planned for May and June but the speakers will be rebooked for 2021. We hope to see you all again as soon as circumstances permit

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Pub of the Month - Pomfret Arms

10 Cotton End. Also known previously as the Earl of Pomfret Arms. Pre 1776.

All of you will have driven past the Pomfret at some time but almost none of you will have given it a second glance.

Located by the south bridge of Northampton, its rationale for existence was the location being on the London to Northampton route plus, later on, it was buoyed up by the local industry and railway station, all of which has now gone. In fact, in 1888 there was a large brewery opposite on the river – all the breweries here at that time had grain delivered by river or canal. It is one of four pubs which once peppered a short stretch of this road of which three remain – which to say the least is actually unusual. There were quite possibly many other pubs between here and the South Gate of the town but knowledge of most of them has been lost apart from myths and rumours.

There has been a little bit of confusion and misinformation published about the Pomfret Arms over the years but this summary will clear a bit of it up. The first recorded mention seems to be for an auction to be held at the Sign of the Earl of Pomfret’s Arms in 1776.

It has been suggested that it was named after the 4th Earl Of Pomfret who was the only Earl who was really well known and well regarded by the public but, that future Earl, was only 6 years old in 1776, so the honour most probably goes to the 2nd Earl who held the title from 1753 to 1785. The family’s estate was in Easton Neston, in the south of the County, so possibly the landlord was a former employee of the family.

It is known that the Earl also bought numerous pubs in Northamptonshire so maybe that is another useful line of speculation.

Although never an Inn remotely on the scale of the major ones around Northampton, for one of its many market day sales in the 19th Century, this one in 1846 mentioned that it had 8 bedrooms and stabling for 15 horses. It was therefore likely to be a place for buyers rather than sellers on market days. By this time it had the famous ‘Smoking Head’ on its wall above a fireplace.

The Head is said to have come from the St Thomas The Martyr Hospital (in honour of St Thomas A Becket). Because of a backdraft, you could put a cigarette in the mouth of the Head and it would slowly ‘puff’ it away. These days it’s usually obscured by decorations such as fairy lights and the staff know nothing about its history.

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The exact hospital location for the ‘Head’ is unclear as there is more than one location for hospitals / alms houses under the auspices of that name. The main hospital was in the roadway outside the Plough and was demolished in 1874 to build the new road to a cattle market. This hospital / alms house seems an unlikely location for the ‘Head’.

The south bridge was once a fortified draw bridge and incorporated an alms house and when that was demolished in the Civil War era, mid 17c, it is suggested by some that new alms houses were built nearby. (The numerous charitable properties and land under the auspices of the St Thomas’ Hospital Charity will be the subject of a future article).

Wreford’s Transport originated from the pub as well, although not quite as previously claimed. Many families will name their first born after themselves although they are known by their middle name (eg: James ‘Paul’ McCartney – musician) . A Silvanus Wreford was a cattle dealer in the nearby Far Cotton district in the 1860’s, as was his son Silvanus Wreford who took the Pomfret Arms from 1898 until 1913. In 1904 he started a horse and cart delivery service with his son, Silvanus Wreford. The landlord was known as William though and it was his son, known as Ben, who was 19 years old in 1904 and was the driving force in the company that still thrives to this day.

The Pomfret Arms has had many floods over the years and several closures when the business failed but is still with us. Whereas the huge amount of slum housing just over the river in and off Bridge Street gave it a large catchment area in Victorian times. Its market had shrunk significantly in the 20th Century, but with the number of flats built around it in recent years it is in a second wind.

It even had a revival under a different name “The End”, reflecting its location in Cotton end.

It seems to have found its niche now and hopefully it will keep going for many more years as it’s actually a nice pub.

By Robert Vaughan, based on original research by Dave Knibb with additional research by Paul Isaac.

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The Hardingstone Lane Blazing Car Murder 1930

This article was triggered by comments arising from publicising the photographic slide of Hardingstone Lane from the late Cyril Penn collection held by the Society.

Who would have thought that this seemingly beautiful and tranquil lane would procure a deed so foul as shall be described forthwith?

Two young men returning from a Guy Fawkes Night dance in the town of Northampton at approximately 1:50 in the morning of 6th November 1930 saw a fire in the distance. As Guy Fawkes Night had just passed, the men assumed the pyre they could see in the distance was a bonfire. As they walked down Hardingstone Lane towards the fire, a neatly dressed man carrying an attaché case passed in the opposite direction. When one of the young men remarked as to the blaze he could see in the distance, the man nodded and exclaimed: "It looks like somebody's having a bonfire up there." He then walked on and turned in the direction of the main Northampton-London road.

The two men approached the fire, only to discover the source of the flames was actually a Morris Minor ablaze on the verge, with the flames reaching up to twelve feet in height. Upon summoning the Hardingstone village constable, Bert Copping, to the scene, the men extinguished the fire with water from a nearby pond, only to discover a charred corpse lying across the front seats, with the charred remains of the head on the driver's seat, and the right arm burnt off at the elbow.

Constable Copping would later recollect he had initially believed the skull of the victim was actually a scorched rugby ball. Crucially, a wooden mallet was found near the car, with three human hairs attached to the head. Although the fire had all but destroyed the vehicle, the number plate at the rear of the car was largely undamaged in the fire; thus, police were quickly able to determine it belonged to one Alfred Arthur Rouse of Friern Barnet.

When the two young men informed investigators of their encounter with the man at the end of Hardingstone Lane, police issued an appeal in both the local and national press, urging the man to come forward and assist them with their inquiries.

The section of Hardingstone Lane where the car was located possibly now forms part of the slip road down to the A45 dual carriageway.

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Forensic examination and enquiries.

A forensic examination of the vehicle revealed a joint on the feeding pipe between the petrol tank and the carburettor of the vehicle had been loosened before the fire had ignited, thus allowing petrol to freely stream both into and beneath the car, indicating the blaze had been deliberate. Moreover, spectroscopic tests conducted upon the victim's blood, and a microscopic examination of his air passages revealed the victim had been alive, albeit unconscious, when the fire had started. Furthermore, he was estimated to have died within 30 seconds of the onset of the fire. The victim himself was estimated to have been between 33 and 37 years old, and due to the condition of his lungs, had likely worked in an extremely dusty atmosphere throughout his life.

Police visited Rouse's Friern Barnet home to interview his wife. Mrs Rouse was able to confirm her husband had left home at approximately 8:30 p.m. on 5th November to attend a business meeting in Leicester, and that he had arrived home at a time she (incorrectly) believed to be approximately 2 a.m. the following morning, saying nothing. She was then asked to accompany police to Northampton to assist in the identification of the victim. Due to the actual condition of the remains, she was not allowed to see the body, but instead asked to confirm whether she could identify scraps of clothing and a wallet containing 30 shillings which had been found upon the victim. Mrs Rouse stated the items of clothing looked like those her husband had worn, but she could not be certain, but the wallet had definitely belonged to her husband.

The Arrest

The picture that emerged was that Rouse had hitched a ride to London, arriving at his Friern Barnet home at approximately 6:20 a.m. He remained at his home for just 30 minutes before travelling by train to Glamorganshire to meet with Phyllis Jenkins (whom he had earlier promised to marry). When Jenkins asked Rouse where his car was, he replied that it had been stolen in Northamptonshire the previous day, and that this was why it had taken him 18 hours to reach her. He assured Jenkins that he had reported the theft to both the police and his insurance company. Early the following morning, Rouse's mistress showed him a newspaper displaying an image of his burned-out car which speculated as to whether the deceased occupant had been the owner of the vehicle and questioning whether he had been murdered. In response, Rouse denied that the car was his, before announcing his intentions to travel by coach to Hammersmith Broadway. At 10 a.m. that morning, he boarded a coach at Cardiff destined for Hammersmith Broadway. When Rouse's coach had departed, Jenkins informed local police that Rouse had been at her house and of his intended destination; they in turn informed the Metropolitan Police Service of his whereabouts. Consequently, that evening, Rouse was arrested at Hammersmith coach terminal by a Detective-Sergeant Skelly of the Metropolitan Police, who had been waiting for him at the coach terminal.

At the Hammersmith police station, Rouse was informed that officers from the Northamptonshire Police were already travelling to Hammersmith to interview him. In response, Rouse offered a rambling statement in which he claimed his victim was a hitchhiker he had encountered near St Albans, and who had accidentally set his vehicle alight while he (Rouse) had left his vehicle to relieve himself. Rouse further claimed he was travelling to Scotland Yard to confess to his crime at the time of his arrest, adding: "I am glad it's all over. I was going to Scotland Yard about it. I was responsible. I am very glad it's over. I have had no sleep. Upon the arrival of Northamptonshire police officers, Rouse was cautioned and driven to Northampton police station.

The Initial Confession

At Northampton police station, Rouse contradicted his earlier statement by claiming that he had encountered the victim hitchhiking along the Great North Road towards the Midlands and had offered the man a lift. He had driven to Hardingstone Lane accidentally, because he had lost his direction. At this location, he had stopped the vehicle to answer a call of nature and had asked his travelling companion, whom he had given a cigar, to fill the car's petrol tank from a can in the boot. According to Rouse, when he looked back, the vehicle was ablaze, with the man trapped inside. He had, he claimed, attempted to open the door of the vehicle, but had been beaten back by the flames. In a state of panic as to his predicament, he had fled from the scene.

Upon being confronted with the forensic evidence that the feeding pipe between the petrol tank and the carburettor of the vehicle had been loosened, Rouse remained adamant the fire had been accidental, offering conjecture it may have been started by the inebriated victim lighting the cigar he had been given after he had filled the petrol tank of his vehicle and accidentally spilled some of the contents of the petrol tank inside his vehicle. Furthermore, when questioned as to why he had been by the two young men seen walking from the scene of the fire with a briefcase in his hand, Rouse claimed he had taken the briefcase out of the car because he had earlier noticed the man had placed his hand upon it.

Rouse was formally charged with murder of an unknown man and a trial date of 26 January was set.

The Trial

Rouse formally pleaded not guilty to the charge of the murder of an unknown man and throughout his trial, stuck to his claim the death of the unknown man had been accidental. To support this contention, his defence council introduced an engineer who testified that in many instances, excessive heat in a burning car would invariably result in the loosening of the joint on the feeding pipe, and as such, Rouse's contention the victim had inadvertently set the vehicle ablaze could be true.

However, the autopsy evidence stated that the man had been alive and unconscious when the fire had been started, and that the mallet found near the Morris Minor had likely been the weapon used to club the victim about the head prior to the inception of the

5 fire. Further one of the few fragments of clothing found upon the victim not to have been destroyed in the fire was a section of the fork of the victim's trousers, which was found to be soaked in petrol, thus corroborating the prosecution's contention that Rouse had extensively doused both his victim and his vehicle in petrol before setting his vehicle ablaze.

Rouse maintained that the pipe to the carburettor had just come loose in the accidental fire but when the actual carburettor was placed in his hands he became visibly nervous when trying to explain his theory.

The prosecution contention at Rouse's trial was that the actual motive behind Rouse's committing this murder had been to fabricate his own death in order that he could escape the financial constraints brought about by his numerous affairs, and to simply start his life afresh. To emphasise this, three of his mistresses were called as witnesses to testify, explaining to the jury the testimony of these women would illustrate that "Rouse's domestic life was not what it should have been".

Rouse himself testified in his own defence at his trial. Despite the brief episode of nervousness, he often displayed an air of confidence as he reiterated his claims the death of the unknown victim had been accidental. He would often perform poorly in the witness box; repeatedly being forced to either admit to the contradictions in the earlier statements he had provided to police and his current claims, or that he had lied about his actions or movements. He could not, for instance, explain why he had falsely claimed to his mistress in Glamorganshire that his car had been stolen in Northamptonshire and that he had reported the theft to police, or why this mistress had earlier testified that when he had arrived at her house on 6 November he had smelled of petrol, and his eyebrows had appeared slightly scorched.

The Trial verdict

The trial lasted just six days and the jury debated for just 25 minutes before reaching their verdict: Rouse was unanimously found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on 31st January. Having calmly heard the verdict, just prior to the sentence of death being imposed, Rouse firmly declared to Mr. Justice Talbot, "I am innocent, sir”. Rouse did lodge an appeal against his conviction, primarily contending immoral character evidence had been submitted at his trial, and that this had influenced the jury. His appeal was heard on 23rd February 1931, although it would prove unsuccessful.

The Execution

On Tuesday, 10th March 1931, Rouse was hanged in Bedford Gaol. In the days prior to his execution, his legal wife and two of his mistresses alternately visited him to bid him a final farewell.

Rouse never formally admitted his guilt to the murder for which he had been convicted to the police, although shortly before the execution, he did write a letter to the Daily Sketch in which he confessed his guilt.

A great deal is known about his life, which includes that he was severely injured in the Great War (head wound and knee injury) and received an enhanced military pension. He became generally promiscuous with a high sex drive. Might, these days, more be made of that in defence of his inability to take wholly rationale actions?

The Aftermath

Prior to his execution, Rouse refused to assist police in establishing the identity of his victim, simply stating his belief he should not assist officers in this task "as they have not helped me". He did, however, offer a general description of his victim's identity. Rouse claimed the man he killed had been: "Forty years of age, between 5 ft 6 in [and] 5 ft 8 in. tall, respectably dressed in a light-coloured overcoat, with the [general] appearance of a clerk." The man also had "a slight brogue", and had a boxing or sporting tattoo on his right forearm. Furthermore, he had been wearing police boots which Rouse claimed the man had informed him had been given to him by London police. The man also carried a sports diary.

In May 2012, the family of a 23-year-old man named William Brigg (missing since 1930) contacted Northamptonshire Police in the hope advances in DNA profiling may provide a positive identification; the family were redirected to a team of forensic scientists from the University of Leicester and Northumbria University who obtained archived tissue samples of the murdered man for comparison; the mitochondrial DNA samples did not prove to be a match

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The body of Rouse's victim was interred in a grave marked with a simple cross bearing the inscription "In memory of an unknown man" in the grounds of St. Edmund's Church in Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. A metal box containing several newspaper accounts of Rouse's trial was buried with the victim.

To date DNA testing has revealed nine families who’s relative disappeared around 1930 are not related to the victim of the "Blazing Car Murder". Nonetheless inquiries to establish the victim's identity are ongoing.

So next time you pass down this lane, please spare a thought for the unknown man.

Robert Vaughan (written mainly from information sourced by Wikipedia)

A Trip to Northampton (Adapted from an article by Ted Barnes first published December 2012 with more recent photographs by Angela Town)

How many times have you set out to travel to Northampton in your car? You are off shopping or perhaps you are going to watch the Saints - or the Cobblers. Or just going to a garden centre for those winter pansies.

Well, I think you would be Interested in hearing about one of my car trips to Northampton some years ago. You might want to make a few comparisons in your mind between my journey and what you do nearly every week. I set out early one morning. I drove over 200 miles through arid desert. I saw very few villages and no towns, hardly any people. I think there was one petrol station (called a Roadhouse) charging exorbitant prices which was very fortunate otherwise we would have come to a gentle halt at the side of the road. There were no shops, not a Tesco in sight anywhere but I did see a camel with two humps. And there was almost no traffic. The place to which I was driving was Northampton in Western Australia.

It is a small town of 800 souls situated in a wilderness in the North West corner of that vast state. The nearest place to the north is called Kalbarri which is 115 km away through barren country and it is easy to miss. Perth is a full 500 kms to the south. This Northampton is about as different to our Northampton as it is possible to be. This Northampton was founded in 1848 although it did not receive official recognition until 1853. For hundreds of years the only people inhabiting this area was a sparse population of Aborigines who left cave paintings behind to mark their presence.

Then along came one Joseph Horrocks who was, by all reports, a colourful character. He was, of course, a convict, shipped out from England on a prison ship as a punishment for some heinous crime. He was a Cornish man by origin. Like thousands of others before him in Australia, he did his time in Freemantle to the south and then purchased his freedom to make his way in the world. Jo probably did not know much about anything, but what he did know about in Cornwall was mining because that was his occupation before he fell foul of the law. And Northampton was to become a mining town. Deep under the arid wastes of this part of Western Australia were plentiful deposits of lead – and on further excavation, an abundance of copper. Riches indeed. Mines sprouted up all over the place.

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An influx of Welsh and Cornish miners were shipped in to provide a labour force (The South Indian Ocean shore is about 30 miles away) and, when this was not sufficient, a Convict Station was established so that labour would always be available to work the mines. Joseph Horrocks took control. He laid out a street plan in 1864 which is very much the street plan we see today. He had, in a few years, founded a town albeit a little ragged at the edges. In

1879, this pioneering mining town was connected by railway to the port of Geralton in order to get the copper out. It was the first line in Western Australia. Northampton was on the map. At first it was called Gualla which was what they called the copper mine. But soon it became known as Northampton. Now I know you want me to say it was named after some luminary that started his days in Cogenhoe or Jimmy's End or in the Derngate. No such luck. It was named after John Hampton, Governor of Western Australia at the time and because it was in the northern extremities of the state, they stuck the word "north" in front of it for good measure. Now I do not want to draw any comparisons with our Northampton - but this Northampton was a pretty rough town in the 1860s. Imagine, if you will, a community miles from anywhere where the population was made up of miners and convicts and their wives and children. It is a great little place now. The mines are closed but the community have preserved their heritage. There is a small shopping centre where you can buy almost anything.

There is a heritage walk that links together all the old buildings such as the Old Police Station, (now a museum), the old Courthouse, the Church.

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Also a convent and railway precinct (the railway is long gone). The town which is, after all, only half the size of Cogenhoe feels like a good place to live with a strong sense of togetherness.

Like Cogenhoe it has caravans!

I liked it a lot and they know how to have some fun. Every year the town celebrates – wait for it – the Annual Airing of the Quilts. This extravaganza is held on the second Sunday in October so I had just missed it. It involves hanging new and old patchwork quilts of all shapes and sizes from the buildings on either side of the Main Street. I never did discover what the origins of this festival were but clearly everybody has a ball. The second highlight of the year is the Annual Northampton Show where agriculture and crafts come together to put on a festival for all which ends in a big firework display. (Does this sound familiar)?

The third event on the calendar positively makes the mind boggle. This is called Purple Bra Day. On this day, instead of hanging quilts on the building, the ladies of the town hang out purple bras. Like the quilts, the bras come in all shapes and sizes depending on who had hung them out, if you follow my drift. The event is held in June when it is very hot and I suppose the garment in question is surplus to requirements. You can understand that I was a little out of my depth when exploring the origins of this event and there were some questions I dare not ask. What I did discover is that it raised a huge amount of money for charity (breast cancer) so I suppose the ends justified the means. So the next time you go to Northampton for whatever reason at all, think about those colonial cousins living in the other Northampton in the middle of the wastes of Western Australia and think of them hanging out their quilts or hanging out anything at all.

Ted Barnes

VE Day

The 8th May 1945 is not a memory for many of our members, but is etched in the mind for parents and relatives still with us. It was seemingly quite different to the closure of WW1, “The Great War”, the “War To End All Wars”. The two major wars of the 20th century were both industrialised slaughter raging across the continents but, with a major difference that WW2 literally and relentlessly fell upon the heads of the British population, razing cities to the ground. Alongside grief, rationing and a version of lockdown, it was an immense direct pressure on the populous who spontaneously and publicly celebrated as soon as it was all over – even ignoring that war still raged against Japan.

Cogenhoe, lost 17 in service of WW1 and 4 in service of WW2. Terry Coles is researching our lost souls of WW2 and so we shall have more of that in the future.

This magazine was published after the 75th VE Day anniversary and there has been enough media fact/opinion to not now warrant more here. Instead we would like to focus on the personal memories of villagers as expressed to the Society, in words and pictures, during our previous photographic exhibitions and the Oral History project. If you have more you would like to contribute to our archive then do please let us know. 9

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The Society was loaned a Group photograph showing all the evacuees together and with families who housed them. It couldn’t be located for this publication and we would welcome a copy if anyone has that.

We rejoice at celebrating VE Day and salute all those who gave so much in so many different ways to achieve that peace-giving outcome.

Executive Committee, Cogenhoe & Whiston Heritage Society Yorks Coach

The Heritage Society had this model coach in its archive. It is one of a number of items handed over when Yorks departed from Short Lane. The coach is believed to have been made for Yorks as thanks for taking so many coach tours to LegoLand.

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With agreement of the Village Hall Committee, the coach was been handed over by the Chairman Peter Alexander to Jon Bailey. The Society provided a shelf and Perspex cover so it is now proudly displayed with a suitable plaque outside the York Room with two brass awards recognising similar dedication to tours at Granada studios

We also have these plates from coaches and are looking at how we might also present them for display at the hall. Contact the chairman with ideas on [email protected]

Then and Now

Baptist Chapel, Station Road

It’s very satisfying to see a piece of heritage saved, repaired, maintained and brought into fresh use. Safe now for another 100 years. It just feels a shame that greenery, sort of, disappeared along the journey.

The Wednesday Group

The Wednesday Group used to meet at the Village Hall until several years ago. The Heritage Society has in its archive the banner/table cloth which also has names of members embroidered around the edge of the sunflower. Also embroidered in the corner is ‘DUSTY ROADS’ which may be the nickname of the embroiderer. You might be able to enlarge the photograph to see all the names.

The society wondered whether this item would be more fondly held by someone who was in the Club or their relative. Offers please to The Chairman. Or any suggestions please as to how else this might better serve the community rather than reside in a shed.

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Want to Fidget in These Uncertain Times ?

So, now you are on your 4th box of delights from Whites Nurseries, are you looking for inspiration to utilise the mounting array of ingredients?

Look no further than this wonderful book of recipes from Cogenhoe residents. Assembled in 1989 by Edyth Block to raise funds towards the restoration of the Church Tower

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If you feel truly inspired and cannot wait for “Another Way with Sausages” or even “Ickwell Nutters”,you will have to search those long under-used shelves of recipe books to find this rare first edition copy.

The booklet is about 60 A4 pages and if anyone would like to resurrect the project to fund-raise for the Church then the Society will lend its copy and freely publicise. To avoid printing cost, maybe it can be sold as an electronic publication.

The Snippets from Our Past

FROM THE NORTHAMPTON MERCURY 1829

An argument in favour of steam carriages is that if fewer horses are required then more land will be available to feed the people instead of these beasts

FROM THE NORTHAMPTON MERCURY 11Th October 1818

Mr Cobbet was advertising for three labourers who are to work for him during the Winter. The remuneration which he offers is 3s a week.

TYPICAL NORTHAMPTONIANS

In 1462, Edward IV and the Duke of Somerset are passing through Northampton when locals try to hang Somerset in the Market Square for being a traitor. Edward has to stand over him with his sword drawn whilst 250 gallons of wine is brought for the townsfolk. Whilst the town gets drunk Somerset makes his escape. Edward later remarked on the wealth of the town because of all the silverware that the people brought out to fill with wine. A Load of Cock ?

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The Heritage Awards

As you may all well know, our Green Plaque Trail won a ‘Highly Commended’ award at the 2019 Heritage competition of Northampton Heritage Forum. What you will not have seen is the group photograph at the awards ceremony. Do you recognize this property? Sadly the 2020 competition has had to be cancelled.

Copies of the Green Plaque Trail leaflet are available at Londis and it could be a nice enhancement of your compulsory daily exercise outdoor trip (Editor: well it ought to be compulsory!)

Who are They ?

Is anyone able to put names to the faces in this photograph? It is assumed that the gentleman in the large hat is the client, Josiah Deacon. A local builder would have employed local tradesmen so their families might still live nearby.

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These slides are from the collection left with the Heritage Society by Cyril Penn. Few of the slides have a date but it is thought these might be from the 1960s.

This one is titled, by Cyril, as Tobogganing on Carpet Hill, Parson’s Close. It looks like the hill behind Mill Lane. Does anyone have information about the name Carpet Hill or know who is in the photo!

This one is titled Tobogganing in The Ironstones. Does anyone know the exact location or who is on the toboggans?

Information please to [email protected]

Heritage Quiz

A Handful of Abbeys (answers in next magazine, or you can cheat and ask Google/Alex/Siri)

1. Netley Abbey was the inspiration for which novel published in 1817?

2. What caused considerable damage to Whitby Abbey in 1914?

3. Which part of Battle Abbey traditionally marks the spot where King Harold was killed in the Battle of Hastings?

4. Which 18th-century landscape gardener landscaped the valley in which Roche Abbey in South Yorkshire is set

5. Which abbey in Surrey has been used as a backdrop in the films Elizabeth (1998) and Disney's Into The Woods (2014)?

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Society Publications

The Society has publications for sale (the cd will be free with any book purchase). Ask a Committee member or email to [email protected]

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Planned Meetings No meetings currently planned until July at the earliest.

Wednesday 8 July 2020 - 78 Derngate - Robert Kendall 78 Derngate was owned by Bassett Lowke and in 1916 was renovated by the architect Rennie Mackintosh of Glasgow fame. His most famous work is owned by the museum which has burned down for the second time. The style is quite astonishing. They have just one wooden chair on display which is on loan and is worth £250,000. The restoration project cost millions and is really worth a visit.

Wednesday 12 August 2020 - The Battle of Waterloo - Roy York. A blockbuster film was made in Irthlingborough in 1913. The 70 minute presentation describes choosing the area, the filming, world wide distribution before the loss of part of the film following WW1 – the discovery of part of the film by the Irthlingborough Historical Society – plus a tragic ending. We show 19 minutes of the rediscovered film and also the Evan Bros ‘parody’ Pimples Battle of Waterloo.

Wednesday 9 September 2020 - Northampton to Bedford Railway - Richard Deacon. Not just another Railway history, but a detailed look at how to go about the legal process of building a railway in Victorian times and then a journey following the railway then and now of what was chronologically the last railway to link Northampton to another town.

Wednesday 14 October 2020 - ‘The Ship of Dreams’: The Life and Death of R M S Titanic - Steve Dimmer 375 miles south of Newfoundland, 2.5 miles beneath the Atlantic Ocean lies the wreck of the most famous ship ever, R M S Titanic. We examine its journey through its conception, construction, triumphant launch and catastrophic maiden voyage, showing the many mistakes that were made and the lessons that we learned too late.

Wednesday 11 November 2020 - The Life of Bassett-Lowke of Northampton - Douglas Goddard Illustrated by a selection of postcards, catalogues, publications and ephemera, this talk traces how W. J. Bassett- Lowke developed his hobby into a model making business with a name established throughout the world. It also shows his large-scale commissions, his life and work as an author, photographer and designer and his civic achievements for Northampton.

Wednesday 9 December 2020 - Noel, Noel, Well - Derek Harris. The show consists of a debate between the Christmas tree decorations as to who should have the coveted spot at the top of the tree. There is some audience participation.

Wednesday 13 January 2021 - ‘Any Old Iron’: The History of the Butlin Family and their Furnaces in Wellingborough - Jon-Paul Carr. An illustrated and informative talk of the history of a Northamptonshire family and involvement in the 19th century and early 20th century iron ore manufacturing industry.

Wednesday 10 February 2021 - The Home Guard - Chris Bazeley The talk considers the national and local scene with anecdotes from former members. What led to the formation of Dad’s Army and what did they actually achieve?

Wednesday 10 March 2021 - Annual General Meeting followed by The History of Country Houses since 1900 - Neil Lyon This illustrated talk traces the changing fortunes of the principal houses and landed estates over the past century. It is not a story of decline and fall; on the contrary, it is the story of survival and the renaissance of our local country houses.

Don’t forget, the Heritage Society has its own website. We will also be adding useful and interesting information as we develop the capability in the future

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