LDHS Yearbook1415 14May15
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Linton and District History Society 2014 -2015 Yearbook Published 14th May 2015 by the Linton and District History Society herefordshire LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY Linton and District History Society 2014 -2015 Yearbook CONTENTS Chairman’s Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Retrospect on Programme for 2014-15: The Newsletters 2 Chapter 2 2015 Founders Lecture: Margaret of Anjou – John Reid 60 Chapter 3 2014 Chairman’s Lecture: Linton Life in 1914 – Fiona Morrison 62 Chapter 4 Lest We Forget – Roger Davies 78 Chapter 5 Anniversaries in 2015 ed. Richard Hoare 112 Chapter 6 Linton and District History Society: Information 124 LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY 2014-2015 YEARBOOK CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION Chairman’s Introduction It gives me great pleasure to be part of the launch of a new venture for the Linton and District History Society – the Yearbook. The LDHS was founded in 1983. Its purpose is to host a lecture and fieldwork programme on historical topics which extends from the local to the international. The LDHS also provides a forum for local research and record keeping. The aim of the Yearbook is to celebrate what we have achieved over the previous year. It gives me an opportunity to thank all the people who work so willingly to make the enjoyment of History part of the community life of Linton and the area around it. I hope you enjoy reading about the society and all its activities. If you wish to join us, you would be very welcome. Fiona Morison Chairman Linton and District History Society . April 2015. LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY page 1 of 128 2014-2015 YEARBOOK CHAPTER 1 NEWSLETTERS Chapter 1 Retrospect on Programme for 2014-15 The Newsletters LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Number: 1 23rd September 2014 In many ways, the last week has been momentous in history for us all with the Scottish referendum. Although I would have qualified for a Scottish passport, I am delighted to be writing this newsletter with the 1707 Act of Union still in place for the foreseeable future. In their drive for independence, the SNP politicians were very successful in creating a romantic movement but conveniently forgot our shared history. Scottish wealth is not a recent phenomenon based on oil but had accumulated through the exploitation of the British Empire. Three cheers for Gordon Brown who amazingly does appear to have saved the Union. After such a scare, and with national parliaments now to the fore, we should all remind ourselves that the future security of this realm demands a united kingdom. Winston Churchill would be worried as a new Cold War is brewing in Eastern Europe and the Middle East is again a powder keg ......... Thank goodness that light relief is available:- THE NEW LDHS AUTUMN PROGRAMME 2014 is, of course, the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. It only became the First World War after hostilities broke out again in 1939. The LDHS programme for the remainder of 2014 will accordingly have a strong but not exclusive focus on WW1. Apart from a selection of talks on WW1 topics I am very pleased that we also welcome back four excellent speakers in Heather Hurley (Herefordshire River Trade), Tim Ward (Roses round the door), David Harrison (William Hogarth and C18th England) and past LDHS chairman Lee Hines (A history of Maps and Map-makers). I hope that everyone’s historical tastes will be catered for! LEST WE FORGET (Wednesday, 1st October) I must admit slight bias here as I shall be giving this talk. I have attached a poster which I shall be grateful if you can display or share with your neighbours and friends. The title is probably self-explanatory but essentially I have spent the summer months photographing all the WW1 memorials in the area, including Ross, and researching the story behind the names and regiments of the war dead. Although LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY page 2 of 128 2014-2015 YEARBOOK CHAPTER 1 NEWSLETTERS time is limited on the night, I hope to cover in some shape or form- Ross, Weston, Hope Mansell, Lea, Aston Ingham, Linton, Gorsley, Clifford’s Mesne, Brampton Abbotts, Upton Bishop and Kempley! If nothing else, hopefully you will like my new photos of this corner of Herefordshire. I certainly found the experience both humbling and enlightening. DORIAN OSBORNE - THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR ONE (Wednesday, 8th October) LDHS is delighted that Dorian Osborne, who is an acknowledged expert on the First World War, has agreed to speak to us on the origins of the conflict. He will shed a new light on the political shenanigans of the time by all the major powers. Did Europe descend into war by mistake or by design? As you may know, Dorian has a collection of WW1 personal memorabilia that can probably rival the IWM! Copies of much of his material, particularly his postcard collection, will be on view in the Linton WW1 exhibition due to be held in St Mary’s church in November. OUT & ABOUT: WHAT’S ON? HEREFORD MUSEUM: The ‘Herefordshire in the Great War’ exhibition closes formally on 8th November. Admission Wednesday to Saturday (11am-4pm) is FREE. SOLDIER’S OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE MUSEUM: This museum in Gloucester docks has recently undergone a major Heritage Lottery funded refurbishment. Tracing the history of the Glosters there are some excellent exhibits from WW1 and WW2 but don’t miss the section on the Korean War! Open daily 10 til 5 admission is £4:75 (adult). More details on www.soldiersofglos.com . BRITISH MUSEUM: ‘MING - 50 YEARS THAT CHANGED CHINA’ EXHIBITION: This major exhibition explores a golden age in China’s history between 1400 and 1450 when the country was a global superpower. It is not just porcelain! The exhibition runs until 5th January and one not to be missed. Admission is £16:50 (adult). Open daily 10am-5:30pm (Fridays until 8:30pm). Admission to the general galleries is FREE. IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM (IWM) LONDON: ‘TRUTH & MEMORY’: This free exhibition covering the British art of WW1 opened to great acclaim in July and closes on 8th March 2015. The IWM boasts that this is the largest exhibition of such art since 1918 and includes famous works by Paul Nash and William Orpen. More information is available on www.iwm.org.uk. ROYAL ACADEMY: ‘GIOVANNI BATTISTA MORONI’ EXHIBITION (Opens 25th October): For those of you venturing up to London sometime after 25th October and before 25th January 2015 please make a note in your diary. The official RA website reads: “In 16th century Italy, Moroni was an artist ahead of his time. He is best known for his startlingly realistic portraits – important stepping stones in the development of naturalistic painting. Three centuries before Manet famously brought Parisian society to life, Moroni was immortalising the people of Bergamo in equally vivid fashion. He depicted a wide social spectrum, from aristocrats to workers; in fact, his iconic portrait, The Tailor, was revolutionary in the dignity it conferred on a man working with his hands. This remarkable painting is just one of the unmissable highlights of our career-spanning exhibition.” Admission is £13:50 and the exhibition is open Saturday to Thursday 10am – 6pm and Friday 10am – 10pm. LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY page 3 of 128 2014-2015 YEARBOOK CHAPTER 1 NEWSLETTERS LINTON & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Number: 2 3rd October 2014 As I am sure many of you will know, we kicked off the new 2014-15 programme with ‘Lest we forget’ last Wednesday evening in Linton village hall. If nothing else, I am hopeful that the audience will now be more informed when the names of the fallen are read out on Remembrance Sunday. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I certainly found the experience of researching the many lives cut so tragically short by the Great War as both humbling and enlightening. Thank goodness we were not living in 1914. I wonder if someone will dig out my photographs in 2064 for the 150th anniversary? Anyway, we will continue next week with our WW1 theme before we welcome two prominent local historians with Heather Hurley and Tim Ward on 15th and 22nd October respectively. Both are distinguished authors and publish their work with the Logaston Press. Heather will talk about her latest book ‘Herefordshire river trade: Craft & Cargo on the Wye & Lugg’. As all readers of Tim Ward’s books will know, his postcard collection is fabulous! Although his newest publication is entitled ‘Ross on Wye Revisited’ he will be talking for LDHS on social history and the role of women in local employment through the decades up to the 1940s. His lecture is called ‘Roses round the door’. I can guarantee that all are in for a treat as I have helped to prepare Tim’s slides using his unique source of old Herefordshire postcards. The original postcards and old photographs used in his talk will also be on view on the night. DORIAN OSBORNE - THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR ONE (Wednesday, 8th October) Dorian Osborne is an acknowledged expert on the First World War. He has conducted extensive research on the period over many decades and has an unparalleled insight into the various factors at play. LDHS is delighted that he has agreed to speak to us on a subject that continues to generate much controversy. Why did Britain go to war after the assassination of a minor Royal? Very few in this country had ever heard of Serbia let alone knew where it was. What was the real motive of our ally, the French? Dorian will shed new light on a war that would ultimately cost the lives of 720,000 British soldiers.