LONGSTOCK20 Junjul 200526.Spub

Page 1 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020

Thank you to our VILLAGE DIRECTORY in June 2020 deliverers for this issue: Church Warden 810 284 Veronica Ayers Peter Bramley Rev’d Philip Bowden, Rector 810 810 Charles Grieve Canon Paul Townsend (RC) 01962 852 804 Angie Filippa Community Sports Hall TV School 810 555 Geoff Merritt Boo Milne Garden Club 810 794, 810 432 John & Selina Musters Mayflies Youth Club (8-16s)(Liz Howard) Gary Oliver 07870 612 127 Nigel Rugman Neighbour Care Scheme for Thank you also to everyone contributing or checking articles & news. Stockbridge/Longstock/Houghton 0845 0943 713 Please contact the Parish Clerk, on 810752, or Parish Council Clerk 810 752 e-mail [email protected] if Pilates at Leckford 810 549 you’d like to help with the newsletter in any way, Scouts Stockbridge (Mo Collins) 01256 895 534 and by Friday 17th July if you’d like to submit an article or announcement, give us some news, Village Hall, Badminton/Bowls 810 459 or place an advert. W.I. 810 603

Green bags are collected on Tuesdays of the Southern Water 0330 303 0368 Rugman N. by Test, River family on young A Photo same week as brown bins. To subscribe please contact TVBC on 368000. Police non-urgent calls 101 Light at the end of tunnel Foil is collected at Chilbolton’s West Down car Neighbourcare Andover 336 020, 339 899 June / park & at Andover Garden Centre. Surgery 810 524 July 2020 Sophie Walters writes Plastic pots are no longer recycled there. Helpline for Carers (Freephone) 0800 032 3456 So, these strange times continue, albeit with an easing and a tiny light at the end of this long tunnel. There are many Glass recycling bins are available at the bus bay Hants County Council information 0300 555 1375 at Roman Road. Test Valley Borough Council 368 000 positives that are coming out of this lockdown like quieter Glass, clothing and foil recycling bins are Citizens’ Advice Bureau 0344 411 1306 roads, clearer skies, cleaner air, fabulous bird songs and much avalable at Chilbolton Down car park, and at To call anonymously with information more time to stand and chat with our neighbours. Wouldn’t it Andover Wyevale Garden Centre. about crime: Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 be nice if that could all continue? Let’s try and walk or ride to This Newsletter is Stockbridge instead of taking the car, let’s set aside 10 minutes There is a collecting box for clean TRANSPORT plastic milk bottle tops in the published by Longstock a day to check on our neighbours, if we all make a small effort, Stagecoach Stockbridge to Winchester Parish Council and delivered church lychgate, and a separate one buses number 68 0345 121 0190 free to every household in we can make a big difference. for batteries. Please don’t put either Longstock. in plastic bags. Batteries can also be Cango buses to Romsey have been replaced with I hope you all enjoyed the Longstock Newsletter Extra. Did disposed of in supermarkets & should shared taxis to your door .Register on you do the quiz? The answers are in this edition, they are 01962 846 786 Anyone else may subscribe not go in dustbins. at £8 a year by contacting informative! Those who got their completed ones in could be Traveline for countrywide travel info The batteries (small, not car!) will be taken for longstockparishcouncil18 getting a prize. Let’s hope that we can still go ahead with the safe disposal; and clean plastic milk bottle tops 0871200 [email protected]. with the HDPE symbol will be recycled to raise Dial-a-Ride (Joyrides Stockbridge). Minibus to Fete as it’s always a high point in Longstock’s year and we can funds for the Gift of Sight’s research into macular Andover. Register on 356 808 have a presentation there! We are hoping that the playground degeneration. NO OTHER TYPES This runs through Longstock on Wednesdays at can reopen again soon. There are plans afoot to extend and re- OF TOPS PLEASE as these are the only 9.30, returning at noon, for £3.00 return. For ones accepted now, and PLEASE don’t put more information, ring John Musters 810 459 site the car parking so when we get the nod it will be action batteries in with bottle tops.The consequences or Dane Oliver 810 839. stations with repairs to some of the damaged equipment. If are DIRE! anyone would like to offer help with playground maintenance,

please do contact me. The deadline for newsletter submissions is Friday 17th July if you’d like to submit any news or comment, or offer to help! [email protected] Page 2 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 2

As I said before you are not alone, Longstock is a included grants received and payments related to Cemetery Benches Ð 5 benches have been cleaned Parish Council both the new streetlights, and the initial work on the really connected village and to prove that I had a call and re-oiled with the direct assistance of members of Meeting Dates NP. the PC. from Test Valley Borough Council asking how we Monday 8th June 7.00pm were doing and remarking that they had heard so Highways Ð A significant number of pothole and Monday 20th July 7.00pm Contract Renewals - The PC has renewed two many great comments about Longstock’s other repairs have been carried out by HCC in the annual contracts; a) for the mowing of the recreation connectivity. Praise indeed, how proud am I? As you For the time being these PC meetings past couple of months, including on the Bunny, near ground and the cemetery, and b) for the employment all know the village is divided up into 14 parts and will be held as virtual meetings Suicide Corner and in Roman Road. The of the Parish Clerk. via Zoom. below are your patches and your key person. A huge unfortunate collapse of part of the churchyard wall in Church Road is being dealt with by the Church Recent Planning Applications thank you to all the key volunteers: authorities. Garage Cottages, Longstock Park: conversion of Food Bank North Lodge to Hazeldown Ð Hannah Bassett at Parish Council Report - May 2020 existing garages etc to 3 two-bedroom flats, with The Parish Council realises Oakferns Henry Smith Charity Ð Various donations have associated sewage works Ð (PC Support) by Mark Flewitt, Parish Clerk already been made, but funds are available from this that as well as people who Field House to Peter and Clare Bramley Ð Loz Parish Council (PC) Meetings Ð Due to the current ancient charitable source to support Longstock 10 Longstock: replacement of windows and repairs cannot go out to buy food there Hardy at Charity Farm Coronavirus situation the PC has not been able to residents. If you are aware of anyone in the village to wall Ð (PC Support) may be people whose jobs have Wychwood to Old Thatch Ð Peter and Kim in difficult circumstances during the Covid-19 stopped without pay, and so we meet in person since March. The Annual Parish Recent Expenditure Woodfine at Old Thatch Assembly, which is usually held in April, cannot be crisis, please advise the Chairman of the PC. SSE - Street lighting Electricity Supply £67.18 have some stored food which can be distributed to held as a virtual meeting, and so has been postponed anyone needing it. Please get in touch with Sophie Barn Cottage to the Bunny Ð Annette Stanfield at Recreation Ground Ð In line with Government Groundwork UK number 6 Verlynch for the time being. More information will be guidelines during the Covid-19 crisis, the Rec has Walters (07740 443460). provided in due course. For the regular monthly PC Ð Return of unused NP grant £1,020.00 Church Cottage 2 to Church Farm and Church been closed for all uses until further notice. Please meetings, we have successfully operated virtual remember that dogs are not permitted in this public SL Ð work on cemetery bench cleaning £100.00 Longstock Park Farm Shop Road Ð Sophie Hill meetings via Zoom, and this will continue until area. Sarsen Press Ð newsletter printing £281.36 Food Delivery Upper Manor to The Cowshed Ð Sophie Walters restrictions are lifted. All residents are welcome to MF Ð Clerk’s annual salary plus expenses £1,319.98 join and view the virtual PC meetings. Information Bottle Bank Ð The PC is in contact with Ivy Cottage to Vale House Ð Julie Penfound HMRC Longstock Park Farm Shop has started will be provided for each meeting on the village Stockbridge PC and with HCC about the possible delivering free to local houses, with a minimum Carnesure to Tamlyn Ð Alice and Craig Foster Ð PAYE Tax on Clerk’s annual salary £800.00 noticeboards. move of the Bottle Bank back to a site adjacent to order of £20. Neighbours might like to combine an Lower Manor Cottages to Lindens Ð Gareth and the White Hart. More information will be available HALC Ð Local Council order perhaps? Their website Covid-19 Ð In the past months this crisis has taken in due course. Carolyn Evans over all our lives. The Parish Council has set up a annual subscription and levy £240.66 www.leckfordestate.co.uk lists the items available, Southside Cottages Ð Gemma Baker at number 9 network of 14 “patches” through the village, each Longstock War Memorial Ð Villagers and passers- SW Ð extra newsletter printing costs etc £209.20 or you can phone 810270. Heron Cottages to Windover Cottages Ð Selina with a “key person” to maintain contact with all our by are welcome to sit and reflect on the benches at Musters and Manf Melville residents and ensure that their needs are being met. the War Memorial, but are asked to kindly respect Peat Spade A food reserve has been established with generous the sanctity of this monument to the fallen men from Peat Spade Inn has closed following the Carberry to Meon Hill Farm Ð Gary Oliver at donations from the Home Sense store in Salisbury. our village. Carberry Seasonal food items were distributed to each house Government announcement. They are still open for take aways and accommodation. Please call 01264 Houghton Road Ð Sarah Couch. in the village at Easter, and more basic necessities are available if needed. Every week residents have Parish Councillors: 810612 or check their website at Don’t forget to keep clapping on a Thursday but continued to join the Thursday 8pm ‘clap’ to show www.peatspadeinn.co.uk for more information. make sure you are clapping for not only the NHS our gratitude to NHS and other key workers. The PC Chairman: Sophie Walters and care workers but the Bin Men, Police, Fire has received an initial £500 grant from TVBC to [email protected] 07740 443 460 Brigade, Postmen, Delivery chaps, Supermarket help with community support and communications Councillors: workers, Veg Shops owners and all our essential during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are also grateful David Burnfield, [email protected] heroes who keep this country moving forwards. to TVBC for the continued waste collection services 810 529 during the crisis. John Eastwood [email protected] There is light at the end of the tunnel, be patient 07880 644 977 and we can do this! Neighbourhood Plan (NP) Ð The NP has been put Angie Filippa, [email protected] on hold during the Coronavirus crisis. Dates for two 07817 576 346 Ivan Gibson, [email protected] 810 002 “face-to-face” sessions to explain the NP process to Charles Grieve, [email protected] 810 580 residents will be re-arranged in due course. Once the Selina Musters, [email protected] 810 459 NP re-starts, work will include setting up a housing needs survey for residents to express their views. Clerk Mark Flewitt [email protected] 810 752 Longstock Parish Council Website Ð The new Colin McIntyre, [email protected] Stockbridge Community Cinema website at www.longstockparishcouncil.co.uk District Councillors: Performances are cancelled includes past and current Parish Council Ian Jeffrey, [email protected] for the time being due to Coronavirus. documentation and other useful information. 01794 388872 Please check the community cinema website Alison Johnston, [email protected] Parish Council Finances Ð The Parish Council has 01794 517939 for updates. closed its financial year to April 2020 closely in line Tony Ward, [email protected] www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk with budget. Total income for the year from all 01794 389649 sources was £16,589, with total expenditure on all items of £20,604, leaving a closing bank balance of County Councillor: Andrew Gibson, [email protected] £2,973 as projected. Income and expenditure figures 01264 861138 Page 4 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 4 The Village Hall’s Year With the hall’s closure on 23rd March Celebration Cakes and a Cuppa opportunity was taken to give the main floor its 3- By Teen Frazer John Musters writes: year deep clean and re-seal, at a cost of £1,820. With the Coronavirus lockdown continuing, this Even so the total maintenance bill was a fraction of Coming from an Army family, VE Day has year’s village hall AGM on 21st May was conducted the previous year’s. always been an important date for me to by email. The management committee is sorry that Expenditure on electricity for lighting and commemorate and this year with it being the 75th those who would have hoped to attend were heating was slightly down on the previous year, but Anniversary and the country in lockdown, I wanted disappointed, but this report is intended to tell with the end of the agreement with SSE, a better deal to do something slightly patriotic for the village. Longstock residents what was achieved in the year than SSE’s renewal offer has been negotiated with I decided to bake cup cakes until I discovered the from April 2019 to March 2020. British Gas to take us through the next two years. severe shortage of flour and baking powder!!! First, management committee members elected In sum, income for the year (£10,300) well Luckily, thanks to the wonderful Leckford Estate at the 2019 AGM all volunteered to serve as exceeded expenditure (£7,980) so the treasurer was Farm Shop I was able to buy the baking ingredients representative of their club or group for another year able to report a very healthy position, with a balance and I purchased the final stock of cake toppers from as follows: at year-end of £19,700. Hire charges have remained an on-line supplier which were delivered the day Parish Council (Charles Grieve); PCC (Richard the same since January 2012 and there was no need before VE Day. Robinson); Allotments (Gareth Evans); Garden Club for any increase. With the limited supplies, I managed to bake 72 (John Musters); Badminton (Miles Bulpitt) and Test Valley Borough Council was offering Union Jack cup cakes which my husband John and I Mayflies (Louise Pettigrew). financial support for loss on income to village halls distributed to some of the elderly and young families The three ‘Ex Officio’ members re-elected were through the pandemic and application has been living in Longstock Village by 10.45am, to hopefully Richard Cole, Selina Musters and Margaret Taylor; made. At time of the AGM an answer was awaited, bring a patriotic smile to people’s faces and for them in addition Dane Oliver would continue as but any help will be a boon while the pandemic continues for an uncertain length of time. to enjoy with a cup of coffee in the glorious Safeguarding Officer and running the maintenance sunshine. team and Triston Lakin would continue as our Licence Holder. I also made a memory board of VE Day images which I took to Mary Saunders’s house for us to take The officers re-elected were John Musters as part in the two-minute silence at 11.00am, at a social chairman and treasurer, Gareth Evans as minutes Village Fête 2020 secretary and Selina Musters as executive secretary. distance with me sitting on a bench in her garden and Chairman thanked committee members once again Mary sitting on a deckchair in her utility room. Her for their work in voluntarily running this wonderful husband Jim had served in Burma during the War, community facility for all residents and visitors. John Musters writes but thankfully after 6 years at War he returned safely The fête committee has exchanged views by to Longstock without having been injured. Reviewing the past year, chairman said we had almost a full year’s operation, until the hall was email to review the prospects for this year’s fête. We closed for hire on 23rd March due to the pandemic. decided that it was too early to make a final decision All regular lettings, bar the Thursday babies and when so much is still uncertain, but if social toddlers group which stopped in February, continued distancing is still in force in September it would not through the year. be possible to hold a fête as we know it. Up to now we had enjoyed 100% Business Rate We hope we can salvage something, as we really Relief, but the case for continuing has to be remade need a village gathering if it is considered safe. every three years. This had been achieved in March, so the full relief continues until 2023. In his report treasurer said it had been a very successful year up to the point of lockdown, with income for bookings just over £9,000 (more than £1,000 up on the previous year) and £880 for VE Day Celebrations badminton, which was continuing to thrive. marking 75 years since the end of WW2 in Europe On the other side of the ledger, expenditure was well down on the previous year when there had been 8th May 2020, Roman Road some expensive replacements and repairs to the The residents of Roman Road enjoyed a socially lighting system and the roof. This year there was distanced party to celebrate, with people sitting in some small plumbing work to be done and maintenance was restricted to minor upkeep on their own gardens, drink in hand, bunting and flags window sills and roof leaks, for which tribute was fluttering, while music of the era blasted out for paid to Ali Cox who is always quick to step in with singing along. his problem-solving and expertise. Dane Oliver’s Every Thursday they also join the nation’s ‘clap maintenance team and Margaret and Colin Taylor’s for the NHS’, each vying to make the most noise, cleaning routines had again kept the hall looking and enabling safe connection with their neighbours, young for its years. which is sadly missing in everyday living at the moment. Page 5 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 5 The Village Hall’s Year With the hall’s closure on 23rd March Celebration Cakes and a Cuppa opportunity was taken to give the main floor its 3- By Teen Frazer John Musters writes: year deep clean and re-seal, at a cost of £1,820. With the Coronavirus lockdown continuing, this Even so the total maintenance bill was a fraction of Coming from an Army family, VE Day has year’s village hall AGM on 21st May was conducted the previous year’s. always been an important date for me to by email. The management committee is sorry that Expenditure on electricity for lighting and commemorate and this year with it being the 75th those who would have hoped to attend were heating was slightly down on the previous year, but Anniversary and the country in lockdown, I wanted disappointed, but this report is intended to tell with the end of the agreement with SSE, a better deal to do something slightly patriotic for the village. Longstock residents what was achieved in the year than SSE’s renewal offer has been negotiated with I decided to bake cup cakes until I discovered the from April 2019 to March 2020. British Gas to take us through the next two years. severe shortage of flour and baking powder!!! First, management committee members elected In sum, income for the year (£10,300) well Luckily, thanks to the wonderful Leckford Estate at the 2019 AGM all volunteered to serve as exceeded expenditure (£7,980) so the treasurer was Farm Shop I was able to buy the baking ingredients representative of their club or group for another year able to report a very healthy position, with a balance and I purchased the final stock of cake toppers from as follows: at year-end of £19,700. Hire charges have remained an on-line supplier which were delivered the day Parish Council (Charles Grieve); PCC (Richard the same since January 2012 and there was no need before VE Day. Robinson); Allotments (Gareth Evans); Garden Club for any increase. With the limited supplies, I managed to bake 72 (John Musters); Badminton (Miles Bulpitt) and Test Valley Borough Council was offering Union Jack cup cakes which my husband John and I Mayflies (Louise Pettigrew). financial support for loss on income to village halls distributed to some of the elderly and young families The three ‘Ex Officio’ members re-elected were through the pandemic and application has been living in Longstock Village by 10.45am, to hopefully Richard Cole, Selina Musters and Margaret Taylor; made. At time of the AGM an answer was awaited, bring a patriotic smile to people’s faces and for them in addition Dane Oliver would continue as but any help will be a boon while the pandemic continues for an uncertain length of time. to enjoy with a cup of coffee in the glorious Safeguarding Officer and running the maintenance sunshine. team and Triston Lakin would continue as our Licence Holder. I also made a memory board of VE Day images which I took to Mary Saunders’s house for us to take The officers re-elected were John Musters as part in the two-minute silence at 11.00am, at a social chairman and treasurer, Gareth Evans as minutes Village Fête 2020 secretary and Selina Musters as executive secretary. distance with me sitting on a bench in her garden and Chairman thanked committee members once again Mary sitting on a deckchair in her utility room. Her for their work in voluntarily running this wonderful husband Jim had served in Burma during the War, community facility for all residents and visitors. John Musters writes but thankfully after 6 years at War he returned safely The fête committee has exchanged views by to Longstock without having been injured. Reviewing the past year, chairman said we had almost a full year’s operation, until the hall was email to review the prospects for this year’s fête. We closed for hire on 23rd March due to the pandemic. decided that it was too early to make a final decision All regular lettings, bar the Thursday babies and when so much is still uncertain, but if social toddlers group which stopped in February, continued distancing is still in force in September it would not through the year. be possible to hold a fête as we know it. Up to now we had enjoyed 100% Business Rate We hope we can salvage something, as we really Relief, but the case for continuing has to be remade need a village gathering if it is considered safe. every three years. This had been achieved in March, so the full relief continues until 2023. In his report treasurer said it had been a very successful year up to the point of lockdown, with income for bookings just over £9,000 (more than £1,000 up on the previous year) and £880 for VE Day Celebrations badminton, which was continuing to thrive. marking 75 years since the end of WW2 in Europe On the other side of the ledger, expenditure was well down on the previous year when there had been 8th May 2020, Roman Road some expensive replacements and repairs to the The residents of Roman Road enjoyed a socially lighting system and the roof. This year there was distanced party to celebrate, with people sitting in some small plumbing work to be done and maintenance was restricted to minor upkeep on their own gardens, drink in hand, bunting and flags window sills and roof leaks, for which tribute was fluttering, while music of the era blasted out for paid to Ali Cox who is always quick to step in with singing along. his problem-solving and expertise. Dane Oliver’s Every Thursday they also join the nation’s ‘clap maintenance team and Margaret and Colin Taylor’s for the NHS’, each vying to make the most noise, cleaning routines had again kept the hall looking and enabling safe connection with their neighbours, young for its years. which is sadly missing in everyday living at the moment. Page 6 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 6 Garden Chickens will give comfort and all chickens require a perch For the love of Scrubs! I have had a phone call from Winchester hospital and the Freshest Eggs! during the day. If you like your garden kept in order this morning thanking everyone for all the support then a run around 5ft high will keep the birds Aly Warner writes and said they were quite overwhelmed with what David Warner writes contained in their own space. Otherwise totally free Just exactly what does that title mean? Since the everyone had done and everything they have Whether due to the Coronavirus or not, all of a range is fine but be prepared to have your flower coronavirus epidemic reached our island there has received. Thank you for all your hard work. beds scratched about and dust bathed in. been a whirring of sewing machines all around the sudden chickens have become once more a popular If you feel you could help in any way I am happy addition to the garden for their daily egg. As a Nutrition - I have always given layers’ pellets to country in homes and small businesses making to put you in contact with the local coordinator. poultry keeper and breeder for over forty years, I my hens especially during their laying period. scrubs and draw string bags, along with scrub hats thought it might be helpful to write a few interesting Remember these birds are producing an egg a day and head bands or button bands, otherwise known as Just contact me (Aly Warner) facts on the different chickens available and a few and that’s quite a feat, so nutritious food and water ‘ear savers’ to ease the wearing of masks in [email protected] hints and tips on keeping them needs to be available throughout the day. Layers’ hospitals. Breeds - In this edition I will focus on your basic pellets are a milled combination of grains and So why has this been happening? From the very Doorstep Photoshoot Hybrid, the one you traditionally see as an egg layer soluble calcium, essential for egg production and start of this unusual situation there has been a Fundraising for Andover Food Bank in flocks. This little brown bird is a cross breed of available from all agricultural merchants. Our hens countrywide shortage of scrubs initially identified by traditional old breeds, which was bred purely to lay also enjoy other grains such as whole wheat and are nurse Ashleigh Linsdell who after making her own Helen Jones writes an optimum amount of eggs on small food rations. never happier than when they get their daily sets put out a plea to other crafters via Facebook. In Since my studio has had to temporarily close due They will lay around 280 eggs a year given the vegetables and green stuff - but their favourite treat a very short space of time the group grew to to social distancing rules, I’ve been really missing correct conditions and will live to around 6 years. is grapes. I also make sure the hens have a dish of thousands of members and local area sub groups my newborn photography, cake smash photoshoots These busy little hens will start laying their first eggs grit or oyster shells to peck at to give good shell developed. Our local group which I have been and family portraits. I started thinking of ways that I at around 18 weeks of age provided they have 14 quality. involved with is ‘For the love of Scrubs - could continue to take photos of people, only for my hours of daylight. Their egg is beige in colour and a Next issue I will focus on some traditional breeds Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals’. In family to quickly become irritated with me good medium size. Because of the breeding and just that are part of the ancestry of the Hybrid. In the this group, I believe near 1000 sets of scrubs have constantly asking if they’d pose for me. Scrolling occasionally due to the amount of eggs produced, meantime, if you are new or thinking about taking been made by volunteers already and over 500 sets through Facebook I spotted that several portrait they can suffer from egg duct problems including the plunge into poultry-keeping enjoy the experience of scrubs have been delivered to Basingstoke photographers around the world have been offering prolapse and soft shelled eggs. and enjoy the fact you have the freshest eggs hospital alone. The hospitals are only one area in free doorstep portraits in their local communities, to need, Care homes, Surgeries and ambulance services Housing - Mr Fox will be tempted by your available. help raise money for various good causes, so I had to have benefitted too. Since the restrictions are easing, get involved. Yeast chickens so a house for night time is essential. requests are now coming from schools and other Hybrids don’t require much space but ventilation health workers such as Podiatrists. Other groups I had read in the news that The Trussell Trust If anyone is frustrated in their desire to make “reports its network’s busiest ever period, with 81% bread by a lack of ingredients, I could give some busy doing similar projects have sprung into action, including WI members and quilting groups. more emergency food parcels being given out across sachets of fast-acting dried yeast because I have the UK, including 122% more parcels going to switched to making sourdough when I can get the Many people have not only donated time to sew, children, compared to the same period in 2019.” flour, so don’t need yeast any more. others have coordinated, driven rolls of fabrics and Whilst many have been generously donating to our collected made up items, donated fabrics or opened wonderful NHS, some doctors and nurses have in Selina Musters 810459 their wholesale sites to individuals to buy materials recent days been saying they are embarrassed by the at cost price, donated duvet covers and table linen amount of food being donated, when so many people initially when fabric supplies were scarce, and more are struggling to find enough food to eat. recently businesses have donated fabrics. Unbelievably one in five families in the UK is All of these scrubs and people’s time have been struggling to feed their children during the kindly donated - resulting in the NHS receiving tens pandemic. of thousands of Personal Protection Equipment So I decided to set up a fundraiser for Andover (PPE) items throughout the country all made by Food Bank on Facebook. This works by me taking individuals, many at their kitchen tables. photos from a minimum 2 metre distance of people One of the benefits I’ve noted is that during this (or pets!) in the doorway of their homes and I take time of distancing, people of all ages, from teens to the photos as part of my daily exercise outing Ð their eighties, who have taken part in this project walking, jogging or cycling. I then send via email a have been united through social media and their craft link to download a digital image in high resolution skills, some very novice who had never made format for print and/or low resolution for sharing garments before, others as professionals volunteering online. their time while their business has been put on hold. If you would like to get involved, please get in Mostly though it has given a sense of purpose touch by emailing [email protected] perhaps to some people who may have struggled or call 07941 873088. There is no obligation to have otherwise. your photo shared Ð it can remain private to you and I have taken a couple of quotes from the sites to your family. Any donation you could give, from £5 share as they tell so much Ð to £500, would make a real difference. You can donate via my Facebook fundraising page or you can I cannot thank you all enough! I received my give me cash or a cheque made payable to Andover scrubs today. Actually cried. You have now given me Food Bank, which I will pass on to them. the ability to work and look after my patients and family. I can't thank you all enough! www.facebook.com/hjonesphotog www.hjonesphotography.co.uk

Page 7 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 7 Garden Chickens will give comfort and all chickens require a perch For the love of Scrubs! I have had a phone call from Winchester hospital and the Freshest Eggs! during the day. If you like your garden kept in order this morning thanking everyone for all the support then a run around 5ft high will keep the birds Aly Warner writes and said they were quite overwhelmed with what David Warner writes contained in their own space. Otherwise totally free Just exactly what does that title mean? Since the everyone had done and everything they have Whether due to the Coronavirus or not, all of a range is fine but be prepared to have your flower coronavirus epidemic reached our island there has received. Thank you for all your hard work. beds scratched about and dust bathed in. been a whirring of sewing machines all around the sudden chickens have become once more a popular If you feel you could help in any way I am happy addition to the garden for their daily egg. As a Nutrition - I have always given layers’ pellets to country in homes and small businesses making to put you in contact with the local coordinator. poultry keeper and breeder for over forty years, I my hens especially during their laying period. scrubs and draw string bags, along with scrub hats thought it might be helpful to write a few interesting Remember these birds are producing an egg a day and head bands or button bands, otherwise known as Just contact me (Aly Warner) facts on the different chickens available and a few and that’s quite a feat, so nutritious food and water ‘ear savers’ to ease the wearing of masks in [email protected] hints and tips on keeping them needs to be available throughout the day. Layers’ hospitals. Breeds - In this edition I will focus on your basic pellets are a milled combination of grains and So why has this been happening? From the very Doorstep Photoshoot Hybrid, the one you traditionally see as an egg layer soluble calcium, essential for egg production and start of this unusual situation there has been a Fundraising for Andover Food Bank in flocks. This little brown bird is a cross breed of available from all agricultural merchants. Our hens countrywide shortage of scrubs initially identified by traditional old breeds, which was bred purely to lay also enjoy other grains such as whole wheat and are nurse Ashleigh Linsdell who after making her own Helen Jones writes an optimum amount of eggs on small food rations. never happier than when they get their daily sets put out a plea to other crafters via Facebook. In Since my studio has had to temporarily close due They will lay around 280 eggs a year given the vegetables and green stuff - but their favourite treat a very short space of time the group grew to to social distancing rules, I’ve been really missing correct conditions and will live to around 6 years. is grapes. I also make sure the hens have a dish of thousands of members and local area sub groups my newborn photography, cake smash photoshoots These busy little hens will start laying their first eggs grit or oyster shells to peck at to give good shell developed. Our local group which I have been and family portraits. I started thinking of ways that I at around 18 weeks of age provided they have 14 quality. involved with is ‘For the love of Scrubs - could continue to take photos of people, only for my hours of daylight. Their egg is beige in colour and a Next issue I will focus on some traditional breeds Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals’. In family to quickly become irritated with me good medium size. Because of the breeding and just that are part of the ancestry of the Hybrid. In the this group, I believe near 1000 sets of scrubs have constantly asking if they’d pose for me. Scrolling occasionally due to the amount of eggs produced, meantime, if you are new or thinking about taking been made by volunteers already and over 500 sets through Facebook I spotted that several portrait they can suffer from egg duct problems including the plunge into poultry-keeping enjoy the experience of scrubs have been delivered to Basingstoke photographers around the world have been offering prolapse and soft shelled eggs. and enjoy the fact you have the freshest eggs hospital alone. The hospitals are only one area in free doorstep portraits in their local communities, to need, Care homes, Surgeries and ambulance services Housing - Mr Fox will be tempted by your available. help raise money for various good causes, so I had to have benefitted too. Since the restrictions are easing, get involved. Yeast chickens so a house for night time is essential. requests are now coming from schools and other Hybrids don’t require much space but ventilation health workers such as Podiatrists. Other groups I had read in the news that The Trussell Trust If anyone is frustrated in their desire to make “reports its network’s busiest ever period, with 81% bread by a lack of ingredients, I could give some busy doing similar projects have sprung into action, including WI members and quilting groups. more emergency food parcels being given out across sachets of fast-acting dried yeast because I have the UK, including 122% more parcels going to switched to making sourdough when I can get the Many people have not only donated time to sew, children, compared to the same period in 2019.” flour, so don’t need yeast any more. others have coordinated, driven rolls of fabrics and Whilst many have been generously donating to our collected made up items, donated fabrics or opened wonderful NHS, some doctors and nurses have in Selina Musters 810459 their wholesale sites to individuals to buy materials recent days been saying they are embarrassed by the at cost price, donated duvet covers and table linen amount of food being donated, when so many people initially when fabric supplies were scarce, and more are struggling to find enough food to eat. recently businesses have donated fabrics. Unbelievably one in five families in the UK is All of these scrubs and people’s time have been struggling to feed their children during the kindly donated - resulting in the NHS receiving tens pandemic. of thousands of Personal Protection Equipment So I decided to set up a fundraiser for Andover (PPE) items throughout the country all made by Food Bank on Facebook. This works by me taking individuals, many at their kitchen tables. photos from a minimum 2 metre distance of people One of the benefits I’ve noted is that during this (or pets!) in the doorway of their homes and I take time of distancing, people of all ages, from teens to the photos as part of my daily exercise outing Ð their eighties, who have taken part in this project walking, jogging or cycling. I then send via email a have been united through social media and their craft link to download a digital image in high resolution skills, some very novice who had never made format for print and/or low resolution for sharing garments before, others as professionals volunteering online. their time while their business has been put on hold. If you would like to get involved, please get in Mostly though it has given a sense of purpose touch by emailing [email protected] perhaps to some people who may have struggled or call 07941 873088. There is no obligation to have otherwise. your photo shared Ð it can remain private to you and I have taken a couple of quotes from the sites to your family. Any donation you could give, from £5 share as they tell so much Ð to £500, would make a real difference. You can donate via my Facebook fundraising page or you can I cannot thank you all enough! I received my give me cash or a cheque made payable to Andover scrubs today. Actually cried. You have now given me Food Bank, which I will pass on to them. the ability to work and look after my patients and family. I can't thank you all enough! www.facebook.com/hjonesphotog www.hjonesphotography.co.uk

Page 8 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 8

¥ The revised budget for 2020 approved. This Church News shows the reduction in income to the lack of A man went into a pub, and said to the landlord, donations at church services (as they cannot take Gladys (Topsy) Fakes Pet Stories “I’ve got a unique white mouse here. He can play place), the lack of fundraising and now the costs of the piano.” rebuilding the collapsed churchyard retaining wall. 1919 - 2020 A few light-hearted stories The landlord roared with laughter. “Come off it,” he The PCC noted there could be a substantial deficit, of dubious truth to raise a said, “pull the other one.” Maddie Hedley writes unless we achieve grant funding. smile. “Well, I’ll prove it to you,” said the man, and sat his At the moment the churches remain locked, ¥ The work to date following the collapse of the white mouse down on the stool of the pub piano. although the vicar is able to go into the church for A young girl wanted to give her puppy a drink. The mouse then proceeded to play a number of the wall was approved together with the appointment of She asked if anyone had seen the dog bowl. “No, I morning and evening prayer. As Churchwarden I the Structural Surveyor and the Architect. This The Fakes family writes classics and various tunes from musicals. The may be at the church for evening prayer on one or haven’t”, replied her Father, “but I saw him take a landlord was amazed, and gave the man £100 for the includes grant applications for funding and for a Topsy Fakes, who moved to Longstock in 1946, brilliant catch on the lawn the other day.” two evenings. I will ring the bell when I am there, local campaign starting in the summer to raise funds sadly passed away at the Willow Court Care Home mouse. praying. There will be no services for a few weeks to help meet the costs of rebuilding the wall. in Andover on April 24th. Topsy enjoyed a long and Next day the man came in with another white yet. ¥ To maintain the churchyard as well as possible happy life in Longstock living at the North Lodge mouse. Zoom services at 10am on Sundays are proving after Garry’s Hedley’s work on its restoration; for with her husband David who worked as the River “What does this one do then?”, asked the landlord Keeper for the Partnership. They retired to Leckford “Why are you looking so miserable?” suspiciously. popular Ð its not quite the same, but does provide this purpose a small working party will be “I’ve just lost my dog.” some sense of community. I am looking forward to established. where they celebrated their Golden Wedding “Oh, this one can sing. If you don’t believe me, ask Anniversary in 1997. Topsy lost David in 2003 but “Well why not put a notice in the village the pianist mouse to play something and this mouse when we can start asking for volunteers to come and ¥ When the rebuilding of the wall can commence, Newsletter?” clean the church! celebrated her 100th birthday in December 2019 will sing it.” work establishing the status of the churchyard will “That wouldn’t do any good. He can’t read.” So the landlord asked for ‘Singing in the Rain’, and continue. with her large family of 9 children, 14 Work to fix the wall is slow Ð we need planning grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 4 great- the mouse sang it in a high treble voice. permission, Diocesan permission and I have started The Annual Meeting for the church will take great-grandchildren! “Remarkable,” said the landlord. “My customers looking for places offering financial grants to help place when the lockdown is over. We are still will love it. Here’s another £100." with the cost. We have very little income, but plenty Topsy is buried at Leckford Churchyard next to seeking PCC members, church wardens and a her husband David. The family gives their thanks to The next day the man came in again. “What have of continuing expenses. The Church Architect has treasurer. you got this time?” asked the landlord. “Have you now drawn up the specification for the work and we all the friends and neighbours who lined the Meanwhile, if anyone has any questions, please Leckford main road as a mark of respect at her got a mouse who can dance?” have invited bids for the work. Meanwhile, Aly Cox “No,” said the man. I’ve got nothing today. “It’s has done a fantastic job of clearing the rubble and let me know (810284) or email funeral that could only be attended by the closest Top left. Topsy with her son David, Peter Bramley and Mary family on May 19th. Topsy used to say to the family Saunders,all Partnership pensioners, on the front cover of merely that my conscience has been troubling me. cleaning bricks and flints which can be re-used. The [email protected]. Waitrose Chronicle in 2016. when they were leaving “put me in your pocket” - You know I said the second mouse could sing. Well, exposed wall is now covered with tarpaulin and left Top right and bottom. Topsy in the Andover Advertiser with If you would like a word with the vicar, or be put she is there and in our hearts. it can’t. The first mouse is also a ventriloquist!” ready for when we can start the work of re-building. on the mailing list for joining zoom services, please family at her 100th birthday in 2019. This has to wait until we have Planning Permission contact Rev’d Philip Bowden Ð 810810 or email and a Faculty for the work from the Diocese. [email protected] everyone could enjoy them, so it was decided the patch of grass in the bus bay would be the ideal The churchyard is being maintained Ð but I have Thank you place. The boys helped plan where the plants should noticed quite a few weeds coming through which go and dig the holes. They were so proud of their Garry would not have tolerated! efforts and we then made sure they were watered A ‘Zoom’ PCC meeting took place on 20 May. Becky Griffiths writes every couple of days. We had compliments from At the meeting the following decisions were made: A massive thank you to the nursery in Crawley neighbours and locals using the bottle bank. A ¥ Maddie Hedley appointed as Treasurer for the for donating so many plants to the local villages. neighbour took the trouble to mow around the remainder of 2020. This was a welcome gift at the start of lock down flowers and plants and it was looking great. You can ¥ The 2019 Annual Audited Accounts were Work on the and the flowers and plants are blooming in our only imagine our disbelief when we went to water the approved. church yard gardens. I was lucky enough to be the distributor in plants a few days ago to discover the whole lot had wall. Roman Road and my two boys William and Charlie been mowed down... presumably by the council... the ¥ The financial position up to end of April 2020 loved helping. There were 4 houses that didn't want was noted. boys will continue to water the remaining stumps in any of the plants so we were left with 24. The boys the hope that they will come back up and this time decided that it would be lovely to put them where leave a sign up for any future mowers! R C Church of St. Thomas More Behind Rosalind Hill House, Stockbridge High Street Mass usually celebrated at 09.00 each Sunday - Currently please contact Father Mark Hogan, Parish Priest Tel: 01962 852804

Services at St. Mary’s are currently on hold The St Mary’s church continues to be open for individuals to go in and pray. There will also be other opportunities for prayer. The wardens and rector will find a way of communicating these. Please ask people to watch out for emails or letters advising them of prayer and worship opportunities. Church Warden: Maddie Hedley on 810284 Page 10 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 10 Page 11 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 11 Page 12 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 12

Walking Through Longstock as a Child By Geoff Merritt

Longstock Village Sign at Southside Cottages (now removed, with Jane Gate at top of track as seen from the allotments What’s left of the ‘Kissing Gate’ (the dog) Dear Reader accommodate the workers for that mill?) chimney fire there!) This building is built on In this issue we continue to follow Geoff the house known as Jack's Retreat, almost opposite ‘Atner's Hill’, where there is a huge chalk scarp, left the entrance to Longstock Mill. This track was I am fascinated by the long wooden latticed fence, Merritt’s memories of growing up in Longstock bordering the garden of Heron Cottage alongside the over from the filling in of the canal, with the railway in the 1940s and 1950s. We resume Geoff’s mentioned in the article 'Our village', written by being built on top of the chalk. But I digress! Winifred Beddington : main road. Almost opposite ‘Heron Cottage’ is the walk through Longstock at the bottom of track that leads up to ‘The Allotments', a huge part of Back in Longstock, on the same side of the road Southside Cottages, walking towards Bottom “There appears in the Parish minute book, a the ‘Back Field’ was loaned throughout the Second as ‘Halfway Cottage’, and adjacent to the Road… question of repairing a footpath alongside the main World War in the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign and is ‘Allotments’ track, in a house named ‘Keeragh’ , road between the Mill and South Lodge, of which still in use, it is complete with a range of Apple trees which is the home of Mr Wilson my head teacher at Leaving Southside Cottages ‘Alley’, we there is now no trace; it probably disappeared when as well! There are usually a few gardeners up here Stockbridge Primary/Secondary Modern School. now pass the Wilts & Dorset request bus stop the road was widened”. tending their plots, but I never know where they are Next door to him lives the retired Stockbridge on the same side of the road (For years, when In 1911 Edgar Dollar, the Town Crier for getting the water from! Baker, Mr. Wiltshire, who once traded at the present asking to be dropped off at this stop it was known as Stockbridge, was living at ‘Halfway Cottage’ when On the opposite side of the road, just a little way day Co-op building in Stockbridge High Street. the ‘Council houses’). Many people think that the he was widowed, aged 66. From here to from the entrance to the ‘Allotments’, is a steep bank (Mr Wiltshire once stopped me when I was Longstock boundary actually begins at Southside ‘Butterflies’, there are low banks separating the leading down to a huge bend in the River Test, this is walking past his house with Jane our Alsatian, to Cottages, but they are misled because of this properties from the main road, this may well have named ‘Starve Corner’, and is where Longstock’s show me the socks that he was wearing “These signpost stating Longstock. (Removed present day). been where the footpath was. From ‘Butterflies’ to other Corn Mill was once situated. There was still a socks were made by your Dad for me many years At times when we have not got a football between ‘South Lodge’ we have similar low verges that may mention of this mill in 1877. When it snows we use ago” he said, “And they are still as good as new!” us, we take it in turns to go to the next house on the have accommodated the footpath. There we are, in a our sledges to slide down this bank. Looking Wounded and severely disabled in the First World right-hand side of the road, named “Lindens” and nutshell, the disused footpath!) upwards and towards the river, there is a footbridge War, my father made socks in a shop opposite the ask kindly if we could borrow Nick’s ball - Nick Opposite ‘Halfway Cottage’ is ‘Heron over on the left hand side, which takes us to our Grosvenor Hotel in Stockbridge High Street, to help being the son of Tom and Monica Harding. It was Cottage’ (Known today as ‘Kingfisher Lodge’), nearest swimming spot in the River Test. out his war pension). opposite “Lindens”, that Gilbert Dance, a lad from originally three cottages built for mill workers. Miss Another one of my teachers, Mr. Thomas, lives in Southside Cottages, fell out of a tree and landed in Pound lives here and my sister May ‘does the Right over in the background, is a building named ‘Atner’s Tower’ (little did I know then that one day, the next building. My brother Len visits every other the road, ending up with a broken arm, he was hero cleaning’ for her. (Possibly both sets of cottages - evening to pump water for Mr Thomas, using a for weeks after that, with his arm in plaster! two at ‘Halfway’ and three at ‘Heron Cottages’, five when I grew up and became a Fireman, I would be climbing about on that rooftop attending a pump in the small building at the side of the house. The high bank on the left-hand side of the road, in total - were built for the mill workers for the now The Coster family live in the end building (present that runs between Southside Cottages and our next long defunct mill at Starve Corner (more later) in the day ‘Butterflies’). The adjacent field is known by us port of call, Halfway Cottage (now Bumble Bee 1700s. If not, why were they built so far from the as ‘Coster’s Field’, where there is a public footpath Cottage), has a track running along the top of it, other mill, which already had enough housing to that takes you right through onto the Danebury always used by us nippers. The track runs parallel Road. (This path is still present, and used to make a with the bottom house of Southside Cottages and nice family walk for us just after the war. At the top leads up to the gateway into the ‘back field’, of the field is the ‘Kissing Gate’, great fun as a five- continuing along the high bank opposite ‘Lindens’, year-old, passing through it several times until being and then swooping down to the gateway at Halfway scolded to “catch up!”. Today part of the kissing gate Cottage. As nippers on our way home from school, is still there, but is sadly rusting away unused). when the weather is dry, we climb up the high bank The next exciting place we visit is on the right- opposite Heron Cottages and walk along the two hand side of the road, just past the unmetalled track fields to Southside Cottages, playing Cowboys & that leads down to Lower Manor Farm. We love this Indians along that bit of track. The track terminates place and it is known to us affectionately as the at ‘Halfway Cottage’ (renamed Bumble Bee ‘Beech Trees’. Here, there are plenty of trees to Cottage), which originally was two cottages climb and carve our names on using our sheaf purpose-built for mill workers. knives, there is a huge pile of gravel, probably used (This was over 70 years ago. Sadly, today this is by the council for repairing the roads, we run up and now overgrown and impossible to walk along. The down on this, filling our shoes at the same time! Just footpath began from the track that now leads up to Latticed fence with May, (my guardian sister) and Jane the dog Starve Corner on the River Test above head height there is a very bent Pine tree, that Page 14 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 14 one can sit astride and make it bounce up and down. tree and look into birds’ nests, but as country lads The thick undergrowth affords a place where one can we knew well enough not to take the eggs or to build dens and play Cowboys and Indians to our disturb the nest. We were both perched up the tree, hearts' content. Hide and seek is a favourite game as when a tractor hauling a trailer with a load of straw well. After the Beech trees have shed their nuts, if bales appeared from out of Bottom Road and the the casings are not open, we stamp on them, then bales were on fire! It pulled across the main road becomes the long painful business just to peel one to and was blocking it… almost immediately the fire eat. engine from Stockbridge pulled up, and the firemen Of course, as young lads we are tempted to got to work. Of course the police arrived as well, so explore the barns at Lower Manor Farm, ensuring we were stuck up the tree for a long time, hidden in first that there is no farmer around! There is the the leaves, afraid to come down and have awkward lovely smell always in our nostrils coming from the questions fired at us by the police … we were both diesel pump that is used for re-fuelling the tractors. late getting home for tea that day but at least we We have to walk past the cottage down here (Today’s remained undiscovered). Terstan) to get to our swimming spot in the river. Back onto the main road, between Lower Manor Farm and South Lodge, on the same side of the road, we pass the meadow known locally as ‘Joyce’s Field’, where there are the remains of a derelict Alasdair John Cox building, completely demolished and overgrown, but still good enough to explore! In 1891 it was known Carpentry specialist; garden maintenance; as Harnett’s Cottage. Just a few steps along from the building work inside & out. entrance to the meadow, at the top of the incline in Fully insured, good references. the main road, is a huge hollow tree, the top has long gone but there is enough room inside for at least Free quotations; no job too small. three of us kids to sit in! 2 Manor Farm Cottages, North Houghton (I recall one summer afternoon in the early 1950s, 810311 or 07900 621842 a pal and I decided to climb a tree, which was right next to the present day gateway at the entrance to the meadow opposite South Lodge. We would climb a Page 15 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 15 one can sit astride and make it bounce up and down. tree and look into birds’ nests, but as country lads The thick undergrowth affords a place where one can we knew well enough not to take the eggs or to build dens and play Cowboys and Indians to our disturb the nest. We were both perched up the tree, hearts' content. Hide and seek is a favourite game as when a tractor hauling a trailer with a load of straw well. After the Beech trees have shed their nuts, if bales appeared from out of Bottom Road and the the casings are not open, we stamp on them, then bales were on fire! It pulled across the main road becomes the long painful business just to peel one to and was blocking it… almost immediately the fire eat. engine from Stockbridge pulled up, and the firemen Of course, as young lads we are tempted to got to work. Of course the police arrived as well, so explore the barns at Lower Manor Farm, ensuring we were stuck up the tree for a long time, hidden in first that there is no farmer around! There is the the leaves, afraid to come down and have awkward lovely smell always in our nostrils coming from the questions fired at us by the police … we were both diesel pump that is used for re-fuelling the tractors. late getting home for tea that day but at least we We have to walk past the cottage down here (Today’s remained undiscovered). Terstan) to get to our swimming spot in the river. Back onto the main road, between Lower Manor Farm and South Lodge, on the same side of the road, we pass the meadow known locally as ‘Joyce’s Field’, where there are the remains of a derelict Alasdair John Cox building, completely demolished and overgrown, but still good enough to explore! In 1891 it was known Carpentry specialist; garden maintenance; as Harnett’s Cottage. Just a few steps along from the building work inside & out. entrance to the meadow, at the top of the incline in Fully insured, good references. the main road, is a huge hollow tree, the top has long gone but there is enough room inside for at least Free quotations; no job too small. three of us kids to sit in! 2 Manor Farm Cottages, North Houghton (I recall one summer afternoon in the early 1950s, 810311 or 07900 621842 a pal and I decided to climb a tree, which was right next to the present day gateway at the entrance to the meadow opposite South Lodge. We would climb a Page 16 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 16 Fingers crossed. The Breeding Season for Birds reduction in areas of winter stubble. Flax seeds Longstock Allotments Update We are shortly to undertake a survey of birds were once thought to be the favoured food. So it Carrie Ross writes Gareth Evans, Chair Longstock Allotments writes which visit the allotment. That should be very Stockbridge Community Cinema appears their name is derived from the old English interesting, especially if we get some rarities. I'm Early April: I used to suffer from Spotted word for flax (lin) … linnet. In the 19th century The allotments have been in Longstock for 10 hoping for kestrels and owls which would help with Performances are cancelled Flycatcher envy, but that departs with the arrival of a linnets were often kept as caged birds for their years. It started as a concept led by Carrie Ross, gorgeous pair, nesting in a dense yew hedge just which quickly led to support from a group of our mouse population. Echoes of Geoffrey Snagge in for the time being due to Coronavirus. song. Remember that song “my old man, said Letters from Longstock. He always had trouble with outside our lounge window. For years other people follow the van ...”? villagers who were interested in growing on an Please check the community cinema website have been telling me of their flycatcher nests, my allotment. I am pleased to report that more than half mice and never seemed to find a way of ridding for updates. sister-in-law in her Chester garden and no less than It is the female who is of the original members are still actively present on himself of them. three families in Longstock … all with successful building the nest, on her the allotment, growing their fruit flowers and You may remember that we had a dormouse nest www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk fledglings and frequent springtime return visits from own, and incubating the vegetables. in some tayberry bushes last year. We are hoping for 4-6 bluish white purple great things again this year and keep on inspecting the birds which migrate to and from South Africa. speckled eggs which I am also pleased to report that all the allotments Our pair arrived shortly after Boris locked us down, are being used. This year especially they look really from a distance. should hatch in about two We've sowed and planted some native flowers to a little earlier than one might normally expect, weeks. good - probably due to the lockdown - because we during that unexpected warm spell in early April. have more time to concentrate on the land. It is such attract insects and pollinators to the allotments. I am Envy was completely banished! We watched with In late April two wood pigeons are seen going a pity that we can't show you around like we did hoping that soon we can erect some bug hotels to growing delight as the nest was built, such hard in and out of the yew hedge and for a few days we with the open day last year. encourage them to stay. work, with an initial framework of grasses and worry that the nest might be abandoned. There is We are seeing more wildlife on the allotments. We have had several visits from the Hampshire twiglets, followed by the “soft furnishings” of also a spell of prolonged rain followed by showers The slowworm has returned and we have a pond full and IOW wildlife trust to advise us on increasing leaves, mosses and feathers. Since then the activity and very cold weather. of tadpoles. They should take care of the slugs on biodiversity. We shall hopefully meet in the village has quietened down, the male comes in regularly Early May: It’s now the first week of May. No site which is the reason we do not use any slug hall when the coronavirus emergency is over to with food for his mate, so we assume that eggs are worries were required ... all seems well with Fred pellets or any poisonous sprays. The pond has got discuss and have a practical session at the being incubated. This glorious weather spell and Ginger. Thankfully normal activity has the usual insect activity but I'm not sure what else is allotments. provides lots of food. resumed. The weather is warm and sunny and both living there. We need to do some pond dipping I am keen that we take all this seriously and Muscicapa striata is the birds are going in and out of the nest to feed their maybe. I am a great fan of newts and I see no reason record what we see. Someone told me that he saw a Latin name i.e. Musca= fly, youngsters. They seem amazingly calm, organised why we shouldn't see some eventually. crocodile by the pond, but I didn't believe him. capere = to catch, striata = and unflustered. One sits patiently in the yew tree We have a healthy population of worms. Each If you wish to go on our waiting list, please streaked. But why spotted? awaiting his or her turn. This is so unlike the time that I dig a spade sized hole I see about 5 or 6 contact me, details below. Well, the fledglings do have sort frenetic effort put in by blue tits last year. It was worms of varying sizes. By the end of the summer [email protected]; of spots. Yes, the rest is exactly exhausting just watching them. and into autumn that should rise to double figures. 0775 1351507 or 01264 810129 as described on the tin ... the Please hold back on hedge cutting: Last year, up bird perches on a favourite on the Longstock allotments robin fledglings were branch, sees an insect, makes a found in late July, carefully concealed in a snug darting swooping flight and has nest amongst the branches of an overgrown a tasty meal. The adult bird is about the size of a loganberry bush (ask Rosie Flewitt!). Every year, I great tit, slim and buff/grey with little light stripes on see people starting to cut their hedges, often in head and chest. Not spotted but striped. They do early June, at the height of the breeding season, have real elegance. We call ours Fred and Ginger. using electric cutters as well as shears. Please wait Their call is a long drawn out tssssssseeeeep … until August at the earliest to cut your hedges … try it! they look fine if they are a bit shaggy, a bit like our haircuts during this lockdown. Birds are so easily Mid-April: One disturbed and make massive efforts to breed and sunny day a while survive. All sorts of disasters can befall nesting later, I notice a reddish birds from cats, cuckoos, magpies, pigeons. Please tinge on the incoming leave them in peace. male. I had not been following the teaching from my mentor “Always check each detail carefully!” Now that beak/bill … is that really a sharp pointed flycatcher type? On closer observation I note the beak is chunky and much more like a finch. Fred and Ginger have morphed into ... linnets!! As the days pass it becomes clear that his chest feathers are developing into a truly magnificent pinkish red breeding summer plumage (Carduelis cannabina). Linnets are birds of farmland, open coastal heath, and gardens with thick bushes. Their numbers have declined somewhat, thought to be a result of increasing weed killer use, creation of smaller field margins and autumn sowing of crops leading to a Page 17 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 17 Fingers crossed. The Breeding Season for Birds reduction in areas of winter stubble. Flax seeds Longstock Allotments Update We are shortly to undertake a survey of birds were once thought to be the favoured food. So it Carrie Ross writes Gareth Evans, Chair Longstock Allotments writes which visit the allotment. That should be very Stockbridge Community Cinema appears their name is derived from the old English interesting, especially if we get some rarities. I'm Early April: I used to suffer from Spotted word for flax (lin) … linnet. In the 19th century The allotments have been in Longstock for 10 hoping for kestrels and owls which would help with Performances are cancelled Flycatcher envy, but that departs with the arrival of a linnets were often kept as caged birds for their years. It started as a concept led by Carrie Ross, gorgeous pair, nesting in a dense yew hedge just which quickly led to support from a group of our mouse population. Echoes of Geoffrey Snagge in for the time being due to Coronavirus. song. Remember that song “my old man, said Letters from Longstock. He always had trouble with outside our lounge window. For years other people follow the van ...”? villagers who were interested in growing on an Please check the community cinema website have been telling me of their flycatcher nests, my allotment. I am pleased to report that more than half mice and never seemed to find a way of ridding for updates. sister-in-law in her Chester garden and no less than It is the female who is of the original members are still actively present on himself of them. three families in Longstock … all with successful building the nest, on her the allotment, growing their fruit flowers and You may remember that we had a dormouse nest www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk fledglings and frequent springtime return visits from own, and incubating the vegetables. in some tayberry bushes last year. We are hoping for 4-6 bluish white purple great things again this year and keep on inspecting the birds which migrate to and from South Africa. speckled eggs which I am also pleased to report that all the allotments Our pair arrived shortly after Boris locked us down, are being used. This year especially they look really from a distance. should hatch in about two We've sowed and planted some native flowers to a little earlier than one might normally expect, weeks. good - probably due to the lockdown - because we during that unexpected warm spell in early April. have more time to concentrate on the land. It is such attract insects and pollinators to the allotments. I am Envy was completely banished! We watched with In late April two wood pigeons are seen going a pity that we can't show you around like we did hoping that soon we can erect some bug hotels to growing delight as the nest was built, such hard in and out of the yew hedge and for a few days we with the open day last year. encourage them to stay. work, with an initial framework of grasses and worry that the nest might be abandoned. There is We are seeing more wildlife on the allotments. We have had several visits from the Hampshire twiglets, followed by the “soft furnishings” of also a spell of prolonged rain followed by showers The slowworm has returned and we have a pond full and IOW wildlife trust to advise us on increasing leaves, mosses and feathers. Since then the activity and very cold weather. of tadpoles. They should take care of the slugs on biodiversity. We shall hopefully meet in the village has quietened down, the male comes in regularly Early May: It’s now the first week of May. No site which is the reason we do not use any slug hall when the coronavirus emergency is over to with food for his mate, so we assume that eggs are worries were required ... all seems well with Fred pellets or any poisonous sprays. The pond has got discuss and have a practical session at the being incubated. This glorious weather spell and Ginger. Thankfully normal activity has the usual insect activity but I'm not sure what else is allotments. provides lots of food. resumed. The weather is warm and sunny and both living there. We need to do some pond dipping I am keen that we take all this seriously and Muscicapa striata is the birds are going in and out of the nest to feed their maybe. I am a great fan of newts and I see no reason record what we see. Someone told me that he saw a Latin name i.e. Musca= fly, youngsters. They seem amazingly calm, organised why we shouldn't see some eventually. crocodile by the pond, but I didn't believe him. capere = to catch, striata = and unflustered. One sits patiently in the yew tree We have a healthy population of worms. Each If you wish to go on our waiting list, please streaked. But why spotted? awaiting his or her turn. This is so unlike the time that I dig a spade sized hole I see about 5 or 6 contact me, details below. Well, the fledglings do have sort frenetic effort put in by blue tits last year. It was worms of varying sizes. By the end of the summer [email protected]; of spots. Yes, the rest is exactly exhausting just watching them. and into autumn that should rise to double figures. 0775 1351507 or 01264 810129 as described on the tin ... the Please hold back on hedge cutting: Last year, up bird perches on a favourite on the Longstock allotments robin fledglings were branch, sees an insect, makes a found in late July, carefully concealed in a snug darting swooping flight and has nest amongst the branches of an overgrown a tasty meal. The adult bird is about the size of a loganberry bush (ask Rosie Flewitt!). Every year, I great tit, slim and buff/grey with little light stripes on see people starting to cut their hedges, often in head and chest. Not spotted but striped. They do early June, at the height of the breeding season, have real elegance. We call ours Fred and Ginger. using electric cutters as well as shears. Please wait Their call is a long drawn out tssssssseeeeep … until August at the earliest to cut your hedges … try it! they look fine if they are a bit shaggy, a bit like our haircuts during this lockdown. Birds are so easily Mid-April: One disturbed and make massive efforts to breed and sunny day a while survive. All sorts of disasters can befall nesting later, I notice a reddish birds from cats, cuckoos, magpies, pigeons. Please tinge on the incoming leave them in peace. male. I had not been following the teaching from my mentor “Always check each detail carefully!” Now that beak/bill … is that really a sharp pointed flycatcher type? On closer observation I note the beak is chunky and much more like a finch. Fred and Ginger have morphed into ... linnets!! As the days pass it becomes clear that his chest feathers are developing into a truly magnificent pinkish red breeding summer plumage (Carduelis cannabina). Linnets are birds of farmland, open coastal heath, and gardens with thick bushes. Their numbers have declined somewhat, thought to be a result of increasing weed killer use, creation of smaller field margins and autumn sowing of crops leading to a Page 18 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 18 Sieve the dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl. Oven Scones Beat together the eggs and oil in a measuring jug - a favourite recipe, and make up to 1 pint (600ml) with milk. kindly shared by Stir the egg, oil and milk mixture into the dry Anne Roberts - ingredients. Knead (it will be fairly sticky), then on a floured surface pat the mixture out about 1inch (2.5cm) thick. Makes 15-20 scones Cut the scones with a 2 ½ inch (6cm) cutter. HORSEBRIDGE ROAD, HORSEBRIDGE, SO20 6PU Telephone: 01794 388644 1 ½lb (700g) self raising flour Bake in a hot oven 425F (220C) Gas Mark 7 (top right hand oven in a 4-door Aga) for 10-15 Johnofgaunt.co.uk 1 rounded teaspoon salt minutes. 2 rounded teaspoons sugar (optional) We are on the Test Way, midway between Stockbridge and Romsey in the picturesque village 2 rounded teaspoons baking powder These are best made and eaten on the same day, of Horsebridge. We are ideally suited for groups of ramblers or cyclists with a pre booking 2 eggs but they freeze well. You can add some grated service available. We are a Free House specialising in ﬁne ales, wines and home-cooked 2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil cheese to the basic recipe; to this quantity I would locally-sourced food. Choice of freshly cooked roasts every Sunday. About ¾ pint (425ml) milk add 4 tablespoons cheese. We are open throughout the day from 9.30 am and will not close before 10pm, or later if we Yeast Stockbridge Community Cinema have customers. Food served between 9.30 am until 8pm, and later if pre-booked. If anyone is frustrated in their desire to make Performances remain cancelled. We have 30 covers inside and 32 seats available in our garden to the rear. bread by a lack of ingredients, I can give some Please check the community cinema website for For those who like ﬁshing, we have the John O’Gaunt Fly Fishing Club sachets of fast-acting dried yeast flour. updates. with regular club days on Pittleworth Lakes. Selina Musters 810459 www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk

We are opening on 15th June

Open Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat 11am to 4pm

Everything will be discounted. Come on in to get your bargains. Support your struggling high street.

With very best wishes, Jane, Sophie and not forgetting, Betty! Page 19 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 19 Sieve the dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl. Oven Scones Beat together the eggs and oil in a measuring jug - a favourite recipe, and make up to 1 pint (600ml) with milk. kindly shared by Stir the egg, oil and milk mixture into the dry Anne Roberts - ingredients. Knead (it will be fairly sticky), then on a floured surface pat the mixture out about 1inch (2.5cm) thick. Makes 15-20 scones Cut the scones with a 2 ½ inch (6cm) cutter. HORSEBRIDGE ROAD, HORSEBRIDGE, SO20 6PU Telephone: 01794 388644 1 ½lb (700g) self raising flour Bake in a hot oven 425F (220C) Gas Mark 7 (top right hand oven in a 4-door Aga) for 10-15 Johnofgaunt.co.uk 1 rounded teaspoon salt minutes. 2 rounded teaspoons sugar (optional) We are on the Test Way, midway between Stockbridge and Romsey in the picturesque village 2 rounded teaspoons baking powder These are best made and eaten on the same day, of Horsebridge. We are ideally suited for groups of ramblers or cyclists with a pre booking 2 eggs but they freeze well. You can add some grated service available. We are a Free House specialising in ﬁne ales, wines and home-cooked 2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil cheese to the basic recipe; to this quantity I would locally-sourced food. Choice of freshly cooked roasts every Sunday. About ¾ pint (425ml) milk add 4 tablespoons cheese. We are open throughout the day from 9.30 am and will not close before 10pm, or later if we Yeast Stockbridge Community Cinema have customers. Food served between 9.30 am until 8pm, and later if pre-booked. If anyone is frustrated in their desire to make Performances remain cancelled. We have 30 covers inside and 32 seats available in our garden to the rear. bread by a lack of ingredients, I can give some Please check the community cinema website for For those who like ﬁshing, we have the John O’Gaunt Fly Fishing Club sachets of fast-acting dried yeast flour. updates. with regular club days on Pittleworth Lakes. Selina Musters 810459 www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk

We are opening on 15th June

Open Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat 11am to 4pm

Everything will be discounted. Come on in to get your bargains. Support your struggling high street.

With very best wishes, Jane, Sophie and not forgetting, Betty! Page 20 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 20

Part 2: Longstock names No.46), protected under the Ancient Monuments 15. Where was the village Post Office and who last and Archeological Acts, 1979). Its history is ran it? 6. ANSWER: Money Bunt is the wooded hilltop you Longstock Quiz documented in the Andover Museum of the Iron ANSWER: Opposite the Peat Spade, where the can see to the north of Church Lane, and east of Age, where there is a suggestion that the dock may postbox is (a good clue!). It was last run by Mrs Danebury Ring. Ancient rumour has it that a horse have Iron Age origins. The ‘Danish Dock’ or Mercy Mott, whose husband Ernie Mott was Head with golden horseshoes is buried there! ‘Naust’ comprises a roughly square earthwork, River Keeper and ‘a bit of a legend’. with a bank and ditch on 3 sides, and the River Test We hope that you enjoyed finding the answers to this 7. ANSWER: Vicars Cross is on the Danebury Road, (first ever?) Longstock Newsletter Village Quiz. Here where Church Lane ends just before the road forks forming the fourth side. It is believed the dock is 16. Where was the village cricket pitch and pavilion? are the answers, which (to the best of our towards Red Rice. related to the fighting in this area between Cnut ANSWER: In the field on the left as you walk towards and Edmund Ironside. the playground. There is a somewhat dilapidated knowledge) are correct. If you think you know 8. ANSWER: Jim’s Barn is the large thatched barn differently, then please let us know!! building behind the hedge which, we understand, belonging to Charity Farm 12. How old is the baptism font in St. Mary's used to be the pavilion. Cows can often be spotted on church believed to be? the former wicket (what would the groundsman make Part 1: How keen is your observation? 9. Who are the East brothers and where is their ANSWER: The font is documented as being almost grave? of this?!) 1. Where is this, what language is it and what does it the only thing remaining from the former, early mean: ‘GWAIR- TYMHERUS -PORFA-FLASUS- ANSWER: The successful London business man 14th-century church. It has a plain octagonal bowl, Part 4: Local nature and wildlife CWRW-DA-A-GWAL-CYSURUS’? Joshua East bought Longstock House in 1869. His with an octagonal stem and a moulded base. fortune was based on horses and records suggest he ANSWER: This inscription is on the front of Drovers 17. What is the River Test famous for? kept a good stable at the house. Joshua East's two 13. What is a Hall House and which Longstock ANSWER: The River Test is one of Hampshire's finest House and is Welsh. Dating back to when droves of sons were enthusiastic reserve soldiers, and houses were originally built as Hall Houses? Welsh sheep passed through Longstock and Drovers chalk streams, and Ð in addition to its beauty Ð it is Longstock was the background for military reviews, ANSWER: A Hall House is a traditional vernacular world famous for its superb trout fishing. House was an inn, it means: “Seasoned Hay, Tasty manoueuvres and annual sports days for 'Corps' house that dates back to the late Middle Ages, pastures, Good beer, Comfortable beds”. members. Both brothers lived at Longstock House, usually built for the lord of the manor or 18.What are Bulrushes and where can you find them 2. Where would you find this in Longstock: ‘There and they are both buried in a small copse on Chalk landowners of some standing. Hall Houses can in Longstock? shall be one flock and one shepherd’? Hill, South of Hazel Down Farm and East of still be found in in many parts of England, Wales, ANSWER: Schoenoplectus tabermontani. Typhus Ireland and lowland Scotland, as well as northern ANSWER: This is written above the Lychgate as you Longstock Road, where there is a splendid view over maxima (Greater Reedmace) is also wrongly known enter St. Mary’s Church. the valley. Longstock House and Estate passed out Europe! Most are timber-framed but in some as Bulrush. ‘Bulrush’ is a large wetland plant in the of the East family in 1914, when it was sold to Mr regions they were built in stone. Most are built on a ‘sedge’ family. They can be found in the river valley 3. How many eel traps are there by the hut on the Beddington. North/South axis, which runs diagonally through Ð have a look on The Bunny. Bulrushes feature in Bunny? the ‘hall’. In Old English, a "hall" is simply a large many ancient tales, including the ark of bulrushes in 10. Who is Henry Smith and why is he important to ANSWER: 12 room with a roof and walls, with an open hearth in the Book of Exodus, which relates how the three- Longstock? the middle of the floor for cooking and warmth. month-old baby Moses was found in a boat (‘ark’) ANSWER: Henry Smith (1549-1628) was a salt The ‘halls’ had no internal ceilings or chimneys, made of bulrushes, which was placed in reeds by the merchant who travelled widely in England and but were open to the apex of the roof. Foods were river bank (presumed to be the Nile) to protect him elsewhere. Longstock legend has it that when he hung high up to be preserved in the smoke, which from the Egyptian mandate who sought to drown encountered good hospitality and friendly rose from the central fire and found its own way every male Hebrew child. Moses was discovered and communities on his travels, he remembered them. out through the thatched roofs. Hall houses were rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. Bulrushes continue to Henry had no children of his own, and when he died sometimes built as just one bay, or later as two or provide excellent cover for young fish. his Will included a legacy for the ‘Henry Smith three bays for the more affluent 15th to early 16th Q4. Marked stone Q5. Ladybird Charity’, offering help to his wider ‘kindred’ in century gentleman. Poplar Farm House is a former financial need, particularly in the many communities Hall House, and still has traces of the old central 4. On which Longstock public building can you where he owned land or property (and, if legend is fire pit (now concealed beneath floorboards) and find this marked stone? correct, where he had been welcomed in days gone soot deposits on sections of the internal roof ANSWER: This is a very tricky one! It is a small by). Longstock was one of these communities, and timbers, which have been identified by Listed stone built into the south wall of St. Mary’s church, we still benefit from a modest annual stipend which Building experts as dating back to the early 1500s. between the two buttresses. You have to look hard to is distributed to Longstockings in need of help and It is possible that Barn Cottage may have been a see it! It is believed to be part of a stone sundial from support, and to the elderly in the form of an annual Hall House, although it has been substantially the old church, possibly dating back to the 14th ‘old folks’ lunch’. altered. The key is in the roof timbers Ð if they are Bulrushes (by N.Rugman) Iris pseudacorus century. charred this indicates there has been a damaging 19.What plants are locally called ‘Flags’, and what Part 3: Longstock history fire, whereas if they are coated in deep, tarry soot, 5. Which Longstock public building is home to this colour are they? then the chances are the property formerly had an ANSWER: Iris pseudacorus Wild iris are often ladybird? 11. What links Longstock with the Vikings? open hall. Do you know of any other Hall Houses ANSWER: The AngloSaxon Chronicle records how referred to as ‘flag iris’ or ‘flags’. Here in Longstock, ANSWER: This colourful ladybird can be found in Longstock? There must be more, so please tell they are yellow and can be found growing in sunny inside the old bus shelter, in front of Verlynch Wessex towns were burnt during Viking invasions as us if you do! the Danes moved south along the river valleys of the spots near the river in late-Spring. (The larger variety Cottages. Longstock used to enjoy a regular bus is blue, so at a pinch we would accept both answers). service to Andover and Stockbridge, but sadly this Meon, Test and Hamble, which enabled them to 14. Where was the village Primary School and move swiftly and to retreat back to their boats if they when did it close? service ceased in January 2015. The beautiful th 20.When were the pink cherry trees planted in mosaics throughout the village were created in 2000 needed to. In 10 Century, the Danes built a ship ANSWER: Opposite Upper Manor Farm House, Longstock and why? maintenance and construction yard in Longstock for to mark the new Millennium. The village Mayflies next to the Old Rectory garden. The school closed ANSWER: The pink flowering cheery trees were Youth Group spent many long hours crafting the Bus their long ships. This site is situated next to the in the 1920s, and was bought from the church by planted to mark the Queen’s coronation in 1953, and Shelter masterpiece, under the skilled and dedicated River Test, behind Longstock playground area. It is the Bacons in 1950. the white ones to mark the Silver Jubilee in 1977. guidance of Selina Musters. closed to the public and is a purposefully overgrown, protected site (Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM Page 21 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020 Issue No 247 June / July 2020 The Longstock Newsletter Page 21

Part 2: Longstock names No.46), protected under the Ancient Monuments 15. Where was the village Post Office and who last and Archeological Acts, 1979). Its history is ran it? 6. ANSWER: Money Bunt is the wooded hilltop you Longstock Quiz documented in the Andover Museum of the Iron ANSWER: Opposite the Peat Spade, where the can see to the north of Church Lane, and east of Age, where there is a suggestion that the dock may postbox is (a good clue!). It was last run by Mrs Danebury Ring. Ancient rumour has it that a horse have Iron Age origins. The ‘Danish Dock’ or Mercy Mott, whose husband Ernie Mott was Head with golden horseshoes is buried there! ‘Naust’ comprises a roughly square earthwork, River Keeper and ‘a bit of a legend’. with a bank and ditch on 3 sides, and the River Test We hope that you enjoyed finding the answers to this 7. ANSWER: Vicars Cross is on the Danebury Road, (first ever?) Longstock Newsletter Village Quiz. Here where Church Lane ends just before the road forks forming the fourth side. It is believed the dock is 16. Where was the village cricket pitch and pavilion? are the answers, which (to the best of our towards Red Rice. related to the fighting in this area between Cnut ANSWER: In the field on the left as you walk towards and Edmund Ironside. the playground. There is a somewhat dilapidated knowledge) are correct. If you think you know 8. ANSWER: Jim’s Barn is the large thatched barn differently, then please let us know!! building behind the hedge which, we understand, belonging to Charity Farm 12. How old is the baptism font in St. Mary's used to be the pavilion. Cows can often be spotted on church believed to be? the former wicket (what would the groundsman make Part 1: How keen is your observation? 9. Who are the East brothers and where is their ANSWER: The font is documented as being almost grave? of this?!) 1. Where is this, what language is it and what does it the only thing remaining from the former, early mean: ‘GWAIR- TYMHERUS -PORFA-FLASUS- ANSWER: The successful London business man 14th-century church. It has a plain octagonal bowl, Part 4: Local nature and wildlife CWRW-DA-A-GWAL-CYSURUS’? Joshua East bought Longstock House in 1869. His with an octagonal stem and a moulded base. fortune was based on horses and records suggest he ANSWER: This inscription is on the front of Drovers 17. What is the River Test famous for? kept a good stable at the house. Joshua East's two 13. What is a Hall House and which Longstock ANSWER: The River Test is one of Hampshire's finest House and is Welsh. Dating back to when droves of sons were enthusiastic reserve soldiers, and houses were originally built as Hall Houses? Welsh sheep passed through Longstock and Drovers chalk streams, and Ð in addition to its beauty Ð it is Longstock was the background for military reviews, ANSWER: A Hall House is a traditional vernacular world famous for its superb trout fishing. House was an inn, it means: “Seasoned Hay, Tasty manoueuvres and annual sports days for 'Corps' house that dates back to the late Middle Ages, pastures, Good beer, Comfortable beds”. members. Both brothers lived at Longstock House, usually built for the lord of the manor or 18.What are Bulrushes and where can you find them 2. Where would you find this in Longstock: ‘There and they are both buried in a small copse on Chalk landowners of some standing. Hall Houses can in Longstock? shall be one flock and one shepherd’? Hill, South of Hazel Down Farm and East of still be found in in many parts of England, Wales, ANSWER: Schoenoplectus tabermontani. Typhus Ireland and lowland Scotland, as well as northern ANSWER: This is written above the Lychgate as you Longstock Road, where there is a splendid view over maxima (Greater Reedmace) is also wrongly known enter St. Mary’s Church. the valley. Longstock House and Estate passed out Europe! Most are timber-framed but in some as Bulrush. ‘Bulrush’ is a large wetland plant in the of the East family in 1914, when it was sold to Mr regions they were built in stone. Most are built on a ‘sedge’ family. They can be found in the river valley 3. How many eel traps are there by the hut on the Beddington. North/South axis, which runs diagonally through Ð have a look on The Bunny. Bulrushes feature in Bunny? the ‘hall’. In Old English, a "hall" is simply a large many ancient tales, including the ark of bulrushes in 10. Who is Henry Smith and why is he important to ANSWER: 12 room with a roof and walls, with an open hearth in the Book of Exodus, which relates how the three- Longstock? the middle of the floor for cooking and warmth. month-old baby Moses was found in a boat (‘ark’) ANSWER: Henry Smith (1549-1628) was a salt The ‘halls’ had no internal ceilings or chimneys, made of bulrushes, which was placed in reeds by the merchant who travelled widely in England and but were open to the apex of the roof. Foods were river bank (presumed to be the Nile) to protect him elsewhere. Longstock legend has it that when he hung high up to be preserved in the smoke, which from the Egyptian mandate who sought to drown encountered good hospitality and friendly rose from the central fire and found its own way every male Hebrew child. Moses was discovered and communities on his travels, he remembered them. out through the thatched roofs. Hall houses were rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. Bulrushes continue to Henry had no children of his own, and when he died sometimes built as just one bay, or later as two or provide excellent cover for young fish. his Will included a legacy for the ‘Henry Smith three bays for the more affluent 15th to early 16th Q4. Marked stone Q5. Ladybird Charity’, offering help to his wider ‘kindred’ in century gentleman. Poplar Farm House is a former financial need, particularly in the many communities Hall House, and still has traces of the old central 4. On which Longstock public building can you where he owned land or property (and, if legend is fire pit (now concealed beneath floorboards) and find this marked stone? correct, where he had been welcomed in days gone soot deposits on sections of the internal roof ANSWER: This is a very tricky one! It is a small by). Longstock was one of these communities, and timbers, which have been identified by Listed stone built into the south wall of St. Mary’s church, we still benefit from a modest annual stipend which Building experts as dating back to the early 1500s. between the two buttresses. You have to look hard to is distributed to Longstockings in need of help and It is possible that Barn Cottage may have been a see it! It is believed to be part of a stone sundial from support, and to the elderly in the form of an annual Hall House, although it has been substantially the old church, possibly dating back to the 14th ‘old folks’ lunch’. altered. The key is in the roof timbers Ð if they are Bulrushes (by N.Rugman) Iris pseudacorus century. charred this indicates there has been a damaging 19.What plants are locally called ‘Flags’, and what Part 3: Longstock history fire, whereas if they are coated in deep, tarry soot, 5. Which Longstock public building is home to this colour are they? then the chances are the property formerly had an ANSWER: Iris pseudacorus Wild iris are often ladybird? 11. What links Longstock with the Vikings? open hall. Do you know of any other Hall Houses ANSWER: The AngloSaxon Chronicle records how referred to as ‘flag iris’ or ‘flags’. Here in Longstock, ANSWER: This colourful ladybird can be found in Longstock? There must be more, so please tell they are yellow and can be found growing in sunny inside the old bus shelter, in front of Verlynch Wessex towns were burnt during Viking invasions as us if you do! the Danes moved south along the river valleys of the spots near the river in late-Spring. (The larger variety Cottages. Longstock used to enjoy a regular bus is blue, so at a pinch we would accept both answers). service to Andover and Stockbridge, but sadly this Meon, Test and Hamble, which enabled them to 14. Where was the village Primary School and move swiftly and to retreat back to their boats if they when did it close? service ceased in January 2015. The beautiful th 20.When were the pink cherry trees planted in mosaics throughout the village were created in 2000 needed to. In 10 Century, the Danes built a ship ANSWER: Opposite Upper Manor Farm House, Longstock and why? maintenance and construction yard in Longstock for to mark the new Millennium. The village Mayflies next to the Old Rectory garden. The school closed ANSWER: The pink flowering cheery trees were Youth Group spent many long hours crafting the Bus their long ships. This site is situated next to the in the 1920s, and was bought from the church by planted to mark the Queen’s coronation in 1953, and Shelter masterpiece, under the skilled and dedicated River Test, behind Longstock playground area. It is the Bacons in 1950. the white ones to mark the Silver Jubilee in 1977. guidance of Selina Musters. closed to the public and is a purposefully overgrown, protected site (Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM Page 22 The Longstock Newsletter Issue No 247 June / July 2020

DUSTBIN COLLECTION EMERGENCY or USEFUL CONTACTS Black Fri 5th, Fri 19th June Environment Agency bins Fri 3rd, Fri 17th, Fri 31st July Incident Hotline 0800 807 060 Brown Fri 12th, Fri 26th June Hampshire Fire & Rescue 02380 644 000 bins Fri 10th, Fri 24th July Floodline 0345 988 1188 Southern Electric 105 Green bags are collected on Tuesdays of the Southern Water 0330 303 0368 same week as brown bins. To subscribe please contact TVBC on 368000. Police non-urgent calls 101 Foil is collected at Chilbolton’s West Down car Neighbourcare Andover 336 020, 339 899 June / park & at Andover Garden Centre. Surgery 810 524 July 2020 Plastic pots are no longer recycled there. Helpline for Carers (Freephone) 0800 032 3456

Glass recycling bins are available at the bus bay Hants County Council information 0300 555 1375 at Roman Road. Test Valley Borough Council 368 000 Glass, clothing and foil recycling bins are Citizens’ Advice Bureau 0344 411 1306 avalable at Chilbolton Down car park, and at To call anonymously with information Andover Wyevale Garden Centre. about crime: Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 This Newsletter is There is a collecting box for clean TRANSPORT plastic milk bottle tops in the published by Longstock Stagecoach Stockbridge to Winchester Parish Council and delivered church lychgate, and a separate one buses number 68 0345 121 0190 free to every household in for batteries. Please don’t put either Longstock. in plastic bags. Batteries can also be Cango buses to Romsey have been replaced with disposed of in supermarkets & should shared taxis to your door .Register on 01962 846 786 Anyone else may subscribe not go in dustbins. at £8 a year by contacting The batteries (small, not car!) will be taken for Traveline for countrywide travel info longstockparishcouncil18 safe disposal; and clean plastic milk bottle tops 0871200 [email protected]. with the HDPE symbol will be recycled to raise Dial-a-Ride (Joyrides Stockbridge). Minibus to funds for the Gift of Sight’s research into macular Andover. Register on 356 808 degeneration. NO OTHER TYPES This runs through Longstock on Wednesdays at OF TOPS PLEASE as these are the only 9.30, returning at noon, for £3.00 return. For ones accepted now, and PLEASE don’t put more information, ring John Musters 810 459 batteries in with bottle tops.The consequences or Dane Oliver 810 839. are DIRE!

The deadline for newsletter submissions is Friday 17th July if you’d like to submit any news or comment, or offer to help! [email protected]