Proc. Hampsh. Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 46, 1990, 189-198

REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1989

THE FIELD CLUB ment and such a policy was prepared in the autumn and referred to the membership for Secretary's Report further discussion. The second Local History Fair was a considerable success and so too, The year 1989 was coloured by changes in the though poorly attended, were the Annual Con­ President and Treasurer. ference and O G S Crawford Memorial Lecture First of all, Jude James completed his three reported below. The time has passed when years as President: a term distinguished parti­ such hiccoughs constitute a crisis. The cularly by improvements in the Society's next crisis, if there is to be one, will come when publicity and by the fortunate innovation of subscriptions are raised, as they will have to the Presidential Address, which in its third be, in 1992. Now, however, the Society can face year achieved the objective of making the such problems with qualms rather than Annual General Meeting into a more attractive alarms, confident that it is far stronger finan­ and hence better attended occasion. For­ cially and is providing a much better service tunately the Historic Buildings Section has for its members than ten years ago. secured his continued services. His successor For the 1980s must be remembered as a Adrian Ranee, Head of Cultural Services (i.e. decade of regeneration and expansion for the Museums and Art Galleries) for Southampton, Hampshire Field Club. Always there, in the is a longstanding servant of the Society and background, was Mr Caudell, but we must not organiser in particular of a highly successful forget successive Presidents, all admirable in sequence of annual conferences. We have high their different ways, or the indispensable hopes of his Presidency. Membership, Programme, Publications and Secondly, Paul Caudell relinquished the Publicity Scretaries and Officers, without office of Treasurer at the end of September. If whom nothing could happen; Mr Qualmann any particular individual is responsible for the and the untiring members of his Editorial existence of the Field Club today, it is Paul. He Board; Mr Stagg and the Section Newsletter it was who took office when the Society was Editors; and, perhaps above all, the com­ strictly insolvent, due to its inability to pay for mittees of the sections, who found those out­ The Archaeology of Hampshire, restored strict standing Programme Secretaries, who financial management, prioritised spending, produced the packed and high-quality calen­ and brought us to the relative financial secur­ dars of events that we take for granted today. ity of today. At the end of 1989 there was And credit must go further back too, to those £18,000 in the bank. The enormous gap left by far-sighted officers, such as H A Collinson and Mr Caudell appeared at first impossible to fill, E A Course, who proposed and transformed as candidate after candidate declined his oner­ the Society into a federation of Sections in ous office. Eventually, however, a successor 1979. The Field Club is now secure and will be was found in Mark Wingate, by training an so for many years to come. Ten years ago its archaeologist and formerly Joint-Membership survival until its centenary in 1985 seem Secretary, who has since qualified as a chartered doubtful. The challenge of the 1990s is to accountant, no less. We are very fortunate. increase the membership to a level truly Council met on tour occasions and worthy of the county Society. Only thus can be encountered no crises to overcome. There was extend our activities to the extent that we all felt to be a need for a Policy towards Develop­ wish to see. 190 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Annual General Meeting at King Alfred's College, Some members knew the stone on the Winchester on Wednesday 31 May 1989 Winchester-Salisbury road commemorating the come-uppance of four highwaymen, but Fifty members attended the most successful who knew of the memorial to the birth of Sir AGM of recent times. Christopher Wren at West Knoyle in Wiltshire There was an atmosphere of mutual congra­ or the stone against fornication in Breamore tulation, as President and Secretary alike church? There was a time when the drowning spoke of the healthy finances, the well- of sabbath-breakers and the apoplexy of a liar organised events, and the excellent publica­ were considered such striking examples of tions. Both paid tribute to one another and the God's punishment for sin that local authorities other officers, especially those unsung heroes commemorated them at public expense as a in unglamorous but arduous posts: Pro­ warning to other potential offenders! As Mr gramme Secretaries, Newsletter Editors, Busi­ James observed, such neglected memorials can ness Editors, Publications and Membership tell us much about the very different mentality Secretaries. No less than seventy of the Field of our Hampshire predecessors. Club's members are office-holders or Not surprisingly, Mr James' talk stimulated committee-members. eager questions, which his successor had to Editorial Board reported on Proceedings vol. cut short, thanking him simultaneously both 44, three published monographs, and the for his address and for three fruitful years as preparation of the index. The Archaeology, President. Historic Buildings, Local History and Land­ scape sections all reported successful pro­ Annual Conference at St Swithun's School, Winchester grammes. The New Forest Section reported on Saturday 30 September 1989 two major victories over developers and the resumption of the excavation. The theme of this year's conference was Mr Adrian Ranee was elected President for 'Hampshire Women'. There were four morn­ 1989-92. Dr Michael Hicks and Mr Paul ing talks on 'The Evidence of Women': David Caudell, Secretary and Treasurer continuously Johnston on 'Women in Archaeology'; Barbara since 1982, were re-elected, though the latter Yorke on 'Women in History'; Michael Hicks had declared on the day his intention of relin­ 'The Portrayal of Women; and Dr Carol Miles quishing office as soon as possible. Mrs Ann on 'Women in Literature'. The separate study McLellan replaced Dr James Thomas on of women in the past is a relatively new Council. Mr Sanders and Miss Lee were grate­ byproduct of the growth of History from Below fully re-elected Honorary Auditors. and Women's Studies. Women are poorly Following a break for refreshments, Mr represented in surviving evidence and hence-in James delivered his third Presidential Address our knowledge and understanding. Inevitably - an innovation introduced by himself in 1987. speakers ranged beyond Hampshire or made His chosen topic this year, 'Wessex Mon­ unlikely individuals into Hampshire uments and Memorials', enabled him to draw examples: for example, Mrs Gaskell, who died both on his remarkable knowledge of the pouring tea in Alton, and even Elizabeth I, region and on his splendid collection of slides, 'Queen of Hampshire'! which he explained so wittily and eruditely All previous generations have assumed the that nobody could have failed to have been inferiority of women. Most noteworthy activi­ enlightened and entertained. ties, from hunting mammoths to 19th-century Broadly chronological in outline, his talk industrialism, were undertaken by men. covered the obvious ground offered by Women were confined to the home, whether funerary monuments, though few can have prehistoric hovel or Victorian drawing room, pondered the quaint epitaphs so rewardingly, to bearing and rearing children, and to but contained a great many surprises as well. cooking. Yet such stereotypes appear unten- REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1989 191 able in every age. Women's work may always High School (1882), a member of the Girls have been undervalued and unrecorded and Public Day School Trust, the Atherley School, thus women were too, but much more of Southampton (1926), founded by the Church importance went on in the home than this. Schools Company, and St Swithun's School From guarding the hearth and stock-keeping itself. They rapidly proved women to be as in prehistory to brewing and weaving, house­ intellectually able as men. hold and estate management in the middle Female educationalists were often also suf­ ages, enough women have left evidence of fragettes. Thus Dean Bramston's daughter considerable capacity in the affairs of the Anna and her friend Miss Amy Leroy, who world from which men sought to exclude helped found St Swithun's school. Even when them. Too often it is only when their menfolk educated, many capable women were denied have died that women have left evidence of other outlets for their energies, and were thus abilities that must always have been there and able to provide an efficient organisation for the been put to good use. movement for women's suffrage. In Hamp­ Exceptional women can cast light on the shire it was primarily through the moderate rest. Queen Elfryth was so powerful and suffragists NUWSS rather than Mrs Pank- effective in the male role of politics that she hurst's militant WSPU. The vote led on to the was slandered by men as a wicked stepmother termination of the economic exploitation of and worse. The vita of that nondescript saint women. Besides the literary outcry of women and nun, Princess Eadburga, incidentally stifled by the proprieties of the Victorian reveals shadowy senior nuns manipulating her drawing room, such as Florence Nightingale, image and connections to the financial benefit we need to set Southampton's female crane- of their nunnery. 19th-century women had to drivers, for whom World War I offered liber­ jump reluctantly through the hoop labelled ation from a dreary life as dependent 'marriage' and to act as 'angels in the house' daughters, mothers, and seamstresses! for fear of the worse alternatives. Female Museums, too, are organised by men and writers had to steer between charges of glorify a past largely made by men, confining immodesty if original and triviality if not. women to the kitchen. There is no place for Some women, like Florence Nightingale, had women in military, farm, or industrial to censor out what they really felt. museums. But this need not be so, as the final The afternoon session on 'The Emancipa­ speaker showed. In 'Lost and Found: Women tion of Women' comprised two papers by in Museums', Sian Jones demonstrated how historians from St Swithun's: Mrs Rosemary many objects in museums were made or used Duke on 'Education' and Mrs Pamela by women. Prehistoric pots have been anal­ Johnston on 'Enfranchisement'. Then, as now, ysed by type, by manufacture, and by trade, education was a key to the maximisation of but not by use: predominantly for cooking by women's potential. Hitherto provided merely women. Changes in pots and later in kitchen with accomplishments to capture men, Vic­ gadgets reflect women's needs, their power of torian women started governess-training consumer choice, and mechanical and mani­ schools in the 1840s, girls' schools, and ulti­ pulative capacities that are often denied. So, mately university colleges to equip themselves too, the Victorian drawing room can be pre­ both as intellectual equals and companions to sented as the woman's environment and the men and for all careers. Progress was slower product of her labours that it truly was. The than for men, though the 1902 Education Act evidence is not as scarce as the morning made female elementary education universal speakers supposed; it is a question of adopting and women gradually acquired equal rights in a feminist outlook. First, however, observers the universities, at Cambridge not until 1948. need to be educated out of their preconcep­ Meantime some middle-class secondary tions about female inferiority and insignifi­ schools were established, such as Portsmouth cance in the past. 192 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOCICAL SOCIETY

Hence the justification for the conference but the most recent and least interesting part. and the enthusiasm about a splendid day from The Solent River accumulated silt and gravel, the regrettably few who attended. The Presi­ including artefacts such as acheulian axes, dent, Mr Ranee, ended proceedings with that are sometimes brought up by fishermen. thanks to all contributors and to St Swithun's The lowlying land inundated in Mesolithic School, whose magnificent catering facilities times covered peat deposits, from which arrow were particularly applauded. heads have been recovered, and settlements. These lie now at eleven metres depth; others 0 G S Crawford Memorial Lecture at nearer the surface record later habitation. At Tudor Merchants Hall, Southampton on Wotton Creek near Yarmouth Roman remains Saturday 9 December 1989. have been found, including an artificial har­ bour, a saltworks, and much pottery that is Dr David Tomalin, as befits the Isle of Wight almost intact. The wet conditions have County Archaeologist, took 'Offshore VVessex' commonly preserved such organic materials as as his subject, and talked mainly about what worked timber, basketwork, and hurdles, lies below high tide level. which seldom survive on land. Underwater O G S Crawford, he pointed out, belonged to archaeology can thus tell us much about our that heroic age of archaeology when it was still past landscape that has often been destroyed possible to find unknown standing mon­ above tide level. uments. That era has now passed. As a pioneer Of course, there are many problems in work­ of aerial photography in archaeology, he was ing below water level. Nature herself brings also one of the first to employ scientific changes, covering some surfaces with shingle methods to study what lies below the ground and scouring away other levels with its cur­ and would certainly have approved of our rents and tides. The actions of man, which are modern employment of resistivity surveys, such an obvious danger on land, also threaten radar, and computer simulations. The most the landscape under the sea. Dredging, gravel powerful of such tools, however, such as sonar, collection, boring for oil, the scouring of pro­ can only be used under water, where, the pellers, and interference with the natural audience learnt to their surprise, there are course of currents all pose a threat. And new many standing monuments still to be found! perils are being discovered all the time. Our chalk downlands are a constant Whilst long-term projects have their place, reminder that once, long before the arrival of Dr Tomalin's first task is rescue archaeology man, much of Hampshire was beneath the sea. not dissimilar from that on land. A second What we are much less conscious of is that, duty, scarcely less important than the first, is within human history, much of the sea was to monitor and understand such changes, to land. The chalk ridge of the Needles on the see how accurately the scatter of finds reflects Isle of Wight was joined to the Isle of Purbeck their original distribution, and how rapidly in Dorset; there was land stretching perhaps they are changng. Hence his reconstruction of thirty miles south of the island; and a great the wreck of the Napoleonic frigate 'Pandora' Solent River flowed in two channels that can on the Needles illustrated the first and hence still be traced by divers far out into the Chan­ too his concern to track the movements of the nel south of Spithead and under the later banks of shingle that cover archaeological gravel embankment of Hurst Castle spit. Foll­ deposits at Wotton Creek. Thirdly - and owing the last ice age, 300,000 years ago, the obviously vital — is the protection of archaeo­ level of water rose and inundated much of the logy from such threats, which the Isle of Wight land. It has been rising ever since and the County Council has begun, but which its whole coastline of Hampshire is again threat­ neighbours, perhaps understandably, have not ened today. yet contemplated. Thus brilliant talk ended, con­ Wrecks were part of Dr Tomalin's subject, ventionally enough, with a plea for conservation. REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1989 193

Nobody minded that Dr Tomalin's splendid a brave but bedraggled handful assembled address far exceeded the time allowed and he once more in Southampton for an evening was besieged with questions during the wine walk, led by Jonathan Drake, along the newly and savouries that followed the formal pro­ opened stretch of the walls to the west of the ceedings. Bargate; this now includes an elegant, if M AH uncompromisingly controversial, modern foot­ bridge. A few more members were waiting for us in the dry, warm surroundings of the ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION Museum for our annual social event, the Wine and Cheese Reception. Glasses in hand, we The 1989 programme began well on 3 June in were privileged to wander freely through the Southampton when some 30 members assem­ new displays which now reach back to the little bled at God's House Tower for a tour of the known treasures of Clausentum, Roman South­ current excavations, led by Jonathan Drake. ampton. Picking our way amid excavation trenches and Treasures, this time of Hampshire the rubble of twentieth century redevelopment Museums, were the theme of our Annual Con­ we were able to see the city wall stripped down ference in Andover on 11 November. App­ to its foundations, admire the genuine and ropriately for Museums Year, our hosts were shake our heads at the bogus medieval the Curator and staff of the Andover Museum; masonry, and marvel at the complex history of speakers chose individual artifacts and used its towers (one, surprisingly, incorporating a them to illuminate their wider contexts. Thus dovecot). Skilful conservation is well a glass bowl from the Sparsholt villa (Denise advanced, and for many it was a first view of Allen) introduced us to the art and technology the great advances that Southampton is of Roman glass-making and an inscribed making in the excavation and preservation of Roman milestone from South Wonston (David its early past. Johnston) to the Roman road network of Our next outing, on 1 July, took advantage Hampshire and Wessex and to the curious fate of an Open Day at the Roman villa excavations of its many milestones. John Johnston at Shavards Farm Meonstoke, where Tony (Portsmouth Museums) demonstrated his King explained the remarkably well preserved mastery of multi-period archaeology by start­ remains of the Aisled Building, lying where ing the conference with a prehistoric flint they collapsed at the end of the Roman period. axe-head from Portsea Island and closing it A short distance away, John Barton took the with a medieval spur from Portchester, neither story into the Saxon period with tours of the of which turned out to be quite what we fine parish church of Corhampton. expected. Another unexpected analysis was On 19 August our members and guests provided by Dr Susan Walker (British converged, by car and minibus, on Bucklers Museum) with the life story of a little known Hard to meet Graham Carter, who gave a most but colourful Roman millionaire, Herodes enjoyable introduction to the history of the Atticus, whose superb portrait bust has lan­ Beaulieu Estate and described future plans for guished unrecognised in Winchester City archaeological investigation due to be started Museum until very recently. Gold basket ear­ along the waterfront during 1990. Following a rings proved the most arresting feature of tour of the village and a picnic lunch, the thirty Andy Russel's account of his excavation, in members moved on to the site of Beaulieu trying conditions, of the richly accompanied Abbey, where Director Ken Barton provided a Beaker burial in the Chilbolton Barrow; and a thoroughly entertaining tour of his exca­ fascinating excursion into the intricacies of vations on and around the 'wine press'. Celtic decorative art was prompted by Pro­ fessor Martyn Jope's study of the Iron Age The only disappointment of the year was roundel from Danebury. We were particularly caused by the weather on 15 September, when 194 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY' pleased to welcome Professor Jope back to scribed and blessed with fine weather. We Hampshire after a distinguished career that ventured into West Sussex for a tour of began in the golden years of the county's Cowdray, Midhurst and Petworth House on archaeology. After tea, David Hinton related 20th May. Marjorie Hallam led a walk around the late Saxon reliquary from Winchester to Midhurst's streets and castle and was joined similar jewel-encrusted treasures of medieval by Peter Smith for the tour of Cowdray. The Europe. He paid tribute to Suzanne Keene's extensive remains of this Tudor house are a painstaking conservation that has enabled the landmark in country house architecture and fragile and pitifully crushed fragments to take English Heritage's recent conservation of the their place as one of the many treasures in our elaborate plasterwork was appreciated. John county's museums. Brushe led the study of Petworth and after tea The Section's Annual General Meeting took took us to see newly uncovered medieval wall place at the Conference, when a new Com­ paintings in Trotton church. We thank Lord mittee was elected. We regretfully accepted Cowdray, Lord Egremont and the National the resignations of Mary Oliver and Laurie Trust for their help. Fennelly and the Chairman warmly thanked Jo Our summer conference 'Cloistered Bailey, who relinquishes the post of Honorary Communities, the Buildings and Life of Mon­ Secretary but fortunately remains on the Com­ astic Houses', was held in the Prior's Hall of mittee. We are all grateful to her for her Winchester Cathedral Deanery on 24th June efficient organisation of the Section and its where we were guests of the Dean. It was led programme. Two new members were wel­ by John Crook, whose recent survey of these comed - Sue Anderson and Sue Gordon, who great medieval buildings is published in Pro­ has subsequently agreed to serve as Hon. ceedings vol. 43. His discussion was followed by Secretary. David Johnston was re-elected as a tour of the buildings and tea in the Deanery Chairman of the Section, Tony King as Garden. Dr Michael Hicks spoke on Religious Treasurer, and David Allen as Newsletter Orders in Hampshire, Diana Coldicott on Editor. John Barton, Steve Cooper, Geoffrey Hampshire Nunneries and Francis Green on Denford and Jonathan Drake now comprise Romsey Abbey. Our guest speaker, Tim the rest of an enthusiastic team that is actively Tatton-Brown, surveyed the recent work on planning an equally successful programme for the three principal monasteries of Canterbury. the coming year. Hayling Island was the focus of our tour on DEJ/JB 23rd July led by Graham Soffe, assisted by Noel Pycroft and John Brushe. Before leaving the mainland the old windmill and tidemill of HISTORIC BUILDINGS SECTION Langstone were visited, including Ernst Freud's 1930s house conversion. Medieval The Section has again organised a varied buildings on the island included the two series of winter evening lectures at King parish churches; the alien priory church and Alfred's College, Winchester, and an exciting its picturesque chapel-of-ease, St Peter's, the summer programme of events. Our work has manor-house dovecote and Uncle Dick's also been illustrated by regular contributions cottage - a small hall house. 17th-century to the Newsletter. The winter lectures were houses included the Old House and Middle given by Marjorie Hallam on Cowdray and Stoke Farm where Mrs B Targett provided a Midhurst, Roy Spring on Salisbury Cathedral, fine tea. The broad sweep of Norfolk Crescent Rodney Hubbuck on 19th-century church on the Beach, and the Roman temple, were building and restoration in Hampshire, and discussed on site. The highlight of the day was Grahame SofFe on the Arts and Crafts archi­ the live demonstration of traditional tecture of Christopher Turnor [sic]. brickmaking by Noel Pycroft and family at Most summer excursions were well sub­ their brickworks. We thank the Revd G Royle REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1989 195 and all the owners for access to buildings in On behalf of the Field Club and the CBA the their cars. Section continues to vet planning applications Continuing the joint meeting tradition for Listed Building Consent. For several years established at Odiham last year, we visited John Crook has co-ordinated local correspon­ Kings Somborne as guests of the Somborne dents - a considerable burden, and we thank and District Society on 9th September. After him for his conscientious work. This task was coffee and discussion at the medieval parish taken over by Pamela Moore in October. church, the perambulation of the village GS included fine timber-framed and chalk cob buildings such as Cruck Cottage, the Methodist Chapel, Old Palace Farm and Yew LANDSCAPE SECTION Tree Cottage. After lunch we examined the bridge, watermill and converted railway The maturing of the Landscape Section has station at Horsebridge and the late 12th- continued apace in 1989. The section has century church at Upper Eldon Farm. Mem­ managed to successfully recognise the distinc­ bers also learnt much at the remarkable medi­ tion between its own field of study and those of eval stone house and staddle-barn at other sections and this has been demonstrated Michelmersh Manor Farm as guests of Mr and most positively in its annual programme. Mrs Jack Harvey. We are particularly grateful This year, the section undertook two confer­ to Gordon Pearson and Paul Marchant for ences, in the spring and late autumn, and their help. three field trips. The conferences were on Our conference tour and AGM on 14th "Woodlands in the Landscape" and "Water, October was held in the novel surroundings of Water Management and The Landscape". The Fort Nelson, Portsdown, near Portsmouth, on field trips went to Botley Woods in March, the theme 'Defending Hampshire's Coast: North Stoneham Park in May and Colmore Aspects of Maritime Defensive Architecture', and Prior's Dean in July. where we were guests of the County Museum The Woodlands conference was held at Service, The Royal Armouries HM Tower of Botley Manor Farm and the attendance of London, the Palmerston Forts Society, around 40 was enough to comfortably fill the Portsdown Artillery Volunteers and the For­ small lecture theatre on the site. Botley Farm tress Study Group. Chaired by Grahame Soffe, was chosen because of its long tradition of Jude James spoke on Tudor coastal fortifi­ woodland management, with its accounts, cations, and the curator, Nicholas Hall on some of the best of 18th century practice in the 'Artillery versus Architecture'. After lunch county, being held at the County Record Anthony Cantwell spoke on the Isle of Wight Office in Winchester. Defences and the Palmerston Forts Society Members were treated to an excellent day's gave a memorable tour of Fort Nelson includ­ lectures that was not without its entertaining ing underground passages followed by a stun­ controversies as the first two speakers, Dr ning live demonstration by the Artillery Julian Evans of the Forestry Commission and Volunteers in full uniform.- Thanks are parti­ Anthony Passmore of the New Forest Section, cularly due to Geoffrey Salter, Ian Maine and presented views that were often at variance. Peter Davies. At the AGM Jude James was This led to a lively and good-humoured elected a new committee member. Re-elected discussion of modern woodland practice. On members were Martin Doughty (chairman and the subject of a modern practice, Helen Pater- editor), Karen Parker (secretary), Graham son of English Heritage presented an interest­ Sofle (programme secretary), Peter Davies ing account of the management of monuments (treasurer), Francis Green (publicity), Edward in woodland, arguably the greatest challenge Roberts Newsletter editor), John Crook, Audrey to the protectors of our heritage. Sutton and Maureen Gale. From present problems, the conference also 196 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY looked back into the past. Edward Roberts 50 members, the day was a wonderful success; talked on the management of medieval deer the facilities laid on by Southern Water were parks, Malcolm Lyne on his fascinating work amongst the finest the section have yet on the historic landscape of Alice Holt and encountered and the catering was so good that Woolmer Forests in the north-east of the it was beyond praise. county, and finally Christopher Currie talked Those attending were treated to talks on the on the past management of tli£ Botley Manor landscaping of Water Authority projects, Farm woodlands, now the Upper Hamble water management for sheep husbandry, Country Park. fishponds and river fisheries, urban water The conference was followed up by a field management, and sea level changes on the trip to the woodlands on the following day. east Hants coast around Portsmouth. It was About fifteen members braved a windy March George Watts, talking on water management day to look at the site of the old Dock House, in the Meon Valley, who'reminded us just how from which timber was transported from the broad the subject was. After dealing with the woods down the River Hamble and on to the effects of obvious water management for Naval Dockyards at Portsmouth and other fisheries, mills, canals and water meadows, he customers. went on to discuss some not-so-obvious activi­ The next event on the section calendar was a ties that use water, such as tanning, brewing, Field Trip to North Stoneham Park. This was and holy wells and springs. graced by excellent May weather and a very All in all the year was a major success. A large turn-out of over 40 members. number of changes have occurred in the com­ The section was led from the isolated church mittee. Dr Hare handed over the newsletter to around the extensive parkland of the former Stephen Gray, Christopher Currie became the North Stoneham House. Many members were new Treasurer, relinquishing the programme surprised to find such a rich site so close to secretary's position to Mike Broderick, who urban Southampton. The tour made their way, gave up the Treasurership. Jim Oliver handed often through overgrown woodland, to see over the Chairman's seat, also to Mike features dating from the medieval deer park, Broderick, and Margaret Smale continued as through to the site of the 17th and 18th Minutes Secretary. Andrew King and Mary century house of the Flemings, and finally the Ray resigned over the course of the year, but early 19th century house and its magnificent Gordon Ford, Dr Gavin Bowie, and Elizabeth planned landscapes with lakes, walled gar­ Hughes joined the committee to sit alongside dens, and ornamental plantings. long-standing members Cai Moir, Dr John A hot summer's day led to another large Hare, Jim Oliver and Arthur Stowell. turn-out for the trip to Colmore and Prior's At the AGM a well-deserved vote-of-thanks Dean. Again many members were surprised to was offered to Jim Oliver for his excellent work find such a scenic area of Eastern Hampshire in steering the section from foundation to its should be so little known. Two of the finest present maturity. small churches in the county were the focal C KC point for an entertaining day. The highlights of the day were a discussion on the age of some large Hampshire yew trees, the tour leader LOCAL HISTORY SECTION urging a not-always-convinced audience that their age is often exaggerated, and the sight of The Local History Section has enjoyed a suc­ Prior's Dean Manor House. The latter is surely cessful and profitable year. one of Hampshire's most enigmatic buildings, It began with the Spring Symposium at King strangely given but a cursory note in Pevsner. Alfred's College, Winchester. This year's The final item on the programme was the theme was County Government in Hampshire, Water Management conference. Attended by which fitted in well with celebrations of Hamp- REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1989 197 shire County Council's centenary. About 50 pared for his publications, to trace the devel­ people attended the day, which opened with a opment of Lymington. Next followed Dr lively and well-conceived talk by Dr Colin Joanna Close-Brooks' skilful analysis of what Haydon, chairman of the Section, on 'The little is known about the promontory fort at Government of Hampshire in the 17th Buckland Rings and the Ampress site, both Century'. Then followed Miss Sheila Thom­ probably of the Iron Age. Not surprisingly, she son, the Southampton city archivist, whose stressed the need for further excavation. The illustrated talk treated the development and morning ended with the A G M at which the organisation of the royal borough and county committee was re-elected, although the Secre­ of Southampton in some detail. The morning tary, Mrs Housby, declared her intention of ended with another highly successful practical standing down. workshop, once again organised by the Hamp­ After lunch Miss Gillian Rushton exploited shire Record office, this time on quarter ses­ her work on probate records to illuminate such sions, poor law and highway records. The topics as the occupations, personal posses­ afternoon featured papers by Dr Richard Wil­ sions, and house contents of Tudor and Early liams on the work of the J Ps in 18th-century Stuart Lymington. There followed a most Hampshire and Dr Russ Foster on the entertaining and animated talk on Old Lym­ government of the county during the lord ington and borough of Lymington itself, in lieutenantcy of the Duke of Wellington. The which Mr Arthur Lloyd - another renowned day ended with an entertaining talk and fasci­ local historian — offered many new interpreta­ nating slides on the county council since 1889 tions of Lymington's past and challenged long­ delivered by the then Councillor Mrs Sue standing orthodoxies. Dr Close-Brooks then Bartlet, Chairman of Hampshire County interpolated a brief account of the late medie­ Council. val building recently discovered at 27 High This year's summer outing visited both the Street, Lymington, and Gavin Ogilvie con­ New Forest Museum and Visitor's Centre at cluded the lecture programme with a lavishly Lyndhurst and Hurst Castle. The museum illustrated talk on 'Photography and Local contained a fascinating array of exhibits on History'. The final part of the programme, the such subjects as verderers and agisters, forest tour of Lymington conducted by Mr Klitz and crafts and industries, the history of the Forest, Helen Theobald of the Lymington Guided conservation, flora and fauna, local characters, Walks Association, miraculously escaped the tapestry, commoners' holdings and common severe gales that otherwise marred a rights. After a pleasant lunch at the Gun, thoroughly enjoyable day. Keyhaven, about 20 members proceeded by JH/M H boat to Hurst Castle, one of Henry VIII's forts defending the Solent, where a full and enter­ taining tour was conducted by Jude James, NEW FOREST SECTION who was particularly informative about the architecture. The only problem encountered New Forest Affairs was the large amount of traffic on the roads. The third and final event of the year was the 1989 saw the final publication of two impor­ annual conference at Lymington community tant documents. The principal recom­ centre in conjunction with both the New mendations of the New Forest Review were to Forest Section and the Lymington and District redefine the Forest area to include land out­ Historical Society. As usual, the conference side the perambulation which had links with treated in general the history of the venue and the Forest, coinciding with the New Forest its environs. The theme was introduced by the District Council's Heritage Area, and to form a local expert Dr Robert Coles, who used a committee to advise authorities with responsi­ wealth of illustrative material, much of it pre­ bilities within the enlarged area. Members 198 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY would be appointed by the authorities con­ Lyndhurst bypass the Verderers have reaffir­ cerned. A steering committee has been formed med that Route 5A remains unacceptable. A to promote these two proposals. public inquiry opened in November into the The Highway Strategy has been approved by compulsory purchase of land at Stoney Cross Hampshire County Council, and the first for an all-movements junction. The Section speed limits are to be imposed in the north of made a presentment to the Verderers Court, the Forest in January 1990. The use of main asking it to oppose the proposal and to allow roads is to be encouraged for through traffic, the present closure of the crossing to remain. and two other categories of road will have It is felt that recreational pressure would restrictions designed to keep them for local increase, traffic volume would be higher on the traffic. minor unfenced roads, and the consequent The Open Forest Advisory Committee now animal accidents would lead to the virtual includes a sub-committee to consider the con­ destruction of commoning in the Fritham area. servation of the unenclosed ancient woodland. The Ramblers Association has suggested Section Affairs and Programme that the New Forest should be designated a National Park, with distinctive status on the At the AGM Mr A H Pasmore was re-elected lines of the Norfolk Broads. Though there may Chairman. The Fieldwork Group excavated a be some advantage in funding being available site in the northwest of the Forest which had from Government and the EEC, the Section been damaged by nineteenth century digging, Committee considers that this would be more and which, it was believed, had been misin­ than offset by the loss of the Verderers' powers terpreted in date, both by John Wise in 1863, to greater planning control. and by Heywood Sumner 50 years later. The largest fire in the Forest for some time The Section succeeded in proving the exist­ occurred at Bratley in September. It was a ence of a previously unknown inclosure, prob­ particularly dangerous and fierce fire, going ably of Romano-British origin, and in showing deep into the peat, so that regeneration will that it is of earlier date than a massive earth­ take many years. The total area destroyed was work, which surrounds 350 acres south of just under 200 acres. Latchmore Brook. The excavation was well The other serious incident of 1989 was the attended and blessed with excellent weather. epidemic of equine influenza, which spread Other members were taken on a tour of the site over the whole Forest in late summer, and towards the end of the excavation. Mr K killed 53 ponies. Barton spoke in January on excavations at Beaulieu in 1988. Mr A T Lloyd led a tour of Planning and Development the Lymington Salterns in May. In view of the recent dismissal of proposals Clyde Petroleum has not appealed against the for Buckland Rings, and its subsequent pur­ refusal of permission to drill for oil at Ipley. chase by Hampshire County Council, it was Hampshire County Council has purchased the particularly interesting to hear Dr Joanna site of Buckland Rings at Lymington, follow­ Close-Brooks speak in Lyndhurst about this ing the rejection of permission for large scale site, in a joint meeting in December with development there. The Central Electricity Lyndhurst Historical Society. Generating Board has withdrawn for the time The Section's display was again taken to the being proposals for a power station and coal New Forest Show at Brockenhurst. port at Fawley. As a follow-up to the JI