Check your oil tank security A fire outside North Lodge during the early hours Such thefts, often followed by a deliberate firing of Friday 5th November is believed to have been of any surplus oil, are becoming increasingly Hamstead caused by thieves targeting the heating-oil tank common, according to the police. The thieves near the entrance. follow tankers on their delivery rounds to identify likely target premises. Householders are urged to consider enhanced security such as controlled access or cctv to protect exterior tanks. Hornet At North Lodge the fire, which damaged out- houses, trees, roadside vegetation, telephone lines Issue no. 56 Distributed free in the Hamstead Marshall area December 2010 and the road surface itself, was spotted by a resident at Hamstead Mill, who called the fire brigade at 4.30am. Ironically the burning of the White Hart - a sorry state leaking oil prevented any serious ground contamination. The White Hart continues to be offered for sale by Peter Brunsden Associates, See the Hamstead Marshall firework party on YouTube now at £600,000. The heavily runoured interest of local restaurateurs has seem- Following a very wet set-up in the afternoon around 200 people attended the village bonfire party on ingly failed to materialise – at least at this 5th November, and the barbecue sold out. Four guys were entered for the competition: one made by price, and it is believed that the pub has the Glover children, one by Little Sunflowers, one by Cara Brincat, and an anonymous one, the maker now been repossessed. If so, the creditors’ of which has not come forward. Prizes included a yard of Jaffa cakes, a yard of chocolate fingers and a apparent indifference to recouping what box of jelly babies. Donations were collected at the end of the evening, yielding a small surplus which is owed with a quick, low-price sale, was split between Children in Need and School. perhaps at auction, is unclear. Local residents are worried that if the The Harvest Supper in October raised £1,200 for St Mary’s Church. pub continues to deteriorate to the point as reported by Thames Valley Police of becoming a total eyesore, a property Enborne & Hamstead Marshall Garden Society Hamstead Marshall & Enborne Thames Valley Police have arrested three men in connec- developer might have little difficulty in tion with a burglary in Hamstead Marshall on the 22nd obtaining permission to demolish it and Christmas meeting Community Market September. At around 11.15am a white van entered the redevelop the site as housing. Despite its at Hamstead Marshall Village Hall at Elm Farm, Sat 11 Dec, 10 to 2pm rear of the White Hart Inn and drove out leaving two age and history the White Hart is not a 7.30pm Wednesday 8th December Local produce and Christmas crafts men on the premises. The men were seen carrying a large listed building. Jams & chutneys (Susie’s Preserves) Home-made cakes, jam, marmalade & chutney, metal tool. The van drove up and down the road a few Meanwhile the pub’s near-derelict free-range eggs, Christmas Farm, Hethertons’ times and the two men made off across a field. A boiler a talk and tasting session appearance has already attracted unwant- Bread, local game, goats’ milk & cheese, had been removed from the premises and was found in ed attention. Police were alerted by a Mulled wine & mince pies Ilze’s hand-made chocolates, bespoke metalcraft, the yard. A 46-year-old man and a 19-year-old man both local resident who spotted three men (non-alcoholic drinks also available) wood crafts, Phoenix Cards, jewellery & Lin’s pearls, Laura’s framed pictures, Christmas trees & wreaths, from and 35-year-old man of no fixed abode with a white van behaving suspiciously, Raffle (donations of prizes appreciated) BB’s doggie coats have been arrested on suspicion of burglary of a non- with the result described in the police Membership for 2011 will be available (now £5) dwelling. The van has also been seized. report opposite. Dawn Taylor 01635 32006, Penelope Lake 01635 48701 and the raffle, refreshments, etc as usual All change around the houses Scottish Country Dancing Property transactions over the last few months using both old and new names) and Meadow Liz Harris will be holding four practice sessions in the village hall on Tuesdays 4th, 11th, 18th and have seen no fewer than nine village houses sold View have new occupants. 25th January 2010 from 8 to 10pm, followed by a or on the point of new occupancy. The North Lodge Studio has sold as a Burns Night Supper on Saturday 29th January Holtwood Corner, the large new house on separate dwelling to a family who are expected to the site of the now demolished Holtwood House, move in very soon. The main house, North Experience not necessary, but you must be willing to attend classes in order to enjoy has been occupied by new residents to the Lodge, is under offer. Burns Night. Cost of course and supper £12 per head. 16 people needed as minimum. village since the late summer. No 8 Salters and Harvest Cottage are also If you are interested and able contact David Harris on 01488 658330 Redhill House (now reverting to its former believed to be under offer, as is the five- name of Redhill Cottage) changed hands bedroomed Dower House in Hamstead Park, News stories from the Hamstead Hornet are posted and updated on www.hamsteadmarshall.net which also carries detailed information about the village. around the same time and is undergoing major which has been advertised as available since last The Hamstead Hornet is edited and published by Penelope Stokes at The Holding, Hamstead refurbishment. summer to let at £4,000 per month. Marshall, Newbury, Berks RG20 0HW T 01488 658759 Hobsons Cottage /Hillside (also apparently What’s on in the village Vote for better broadband on Planning applications 19.00 Garden Society Christmas meeting Dawn Taylor 01635 32006 Wed 8 Dec talk on preserves, in village hall Penelope Lake 01635 48701 Hamstead Marshall residents have good reason to be cynical about The new owners of Redhill any BT promise with regard to broadband, having learned the hard House, which is now reverting Christmas Fair at Elm Farm 10.00- Sue 01488 658932 way that our community is too small to warrant investment by BT to its former name of Redhill 14.00 organised by the Community Market in the necessary infrastructure. Indeed, a few years ago the BT Sat 11 Dec Lanie 01488 658168 Cottage, have applied for food, crafts, gifts etc director for the south-east region came to the village in person to permission to extend. Jamie Gladstone impart this unwelcome news. In the application the 16.30 Carol service at Elm Farm Sun 19 Dec 01635 44868 However there is now a plan to instal fibre optic lines in house is described by some rural areas, and BT is inviting subscribers to vote for architects Gotelee Orchard- 19.00 Wed Carol singing around the village Sarah Ward their home patch on a dedicated website. Lisle as formerly a pair of 22 Dec meet at Craven Hill (with torches) 01488 658817 Most households with 01488 numbers in the village will have eighteenth-century cottages, Hamstead Marshall & Enborne Community Market their votes registered for , rather than specifically for and there was indeed a build- 10.00- Sue 01488 658932 13.00 in village hall Hamstead Marshall, but if Kintbury were to obtain fibre optic it ing marked on the site on the Lanie 01488 658168 Sat 8 Jan food, crafts, gifts etc would also improve landline broadband speeds in Hamstead John Rocque map of 1761. It Marshall. was named as Redhill Cottage Jo Wheeler (parish clerk) 20.00 parish council meeting in village hall Mon 17 Jan [email protected] Michael Kaye and Lucy Dawson are aiming to obtain votes from on the 6-in Ordnance Survey 75 per cent of households in the area served by the exchange at map of the 1880s. The house 19.30 Circle of Friends (ladies’ group) in village hall Sue Watts Halfway (one vote per adddress). Voters need not be BT customers. was last extended in the 1990s, Thu 3 Feb Lorraine Jorden talking about Neal’s Yard Remedies 01488 658932 Those who don’t have or wish to give an email address may enter before which it had been on the online form. unaltered since the 1930s. Hamstead Marshall & Enborne Community Market 10.00- Sue 01488 658932 The same logic of voting for the larger neighbouring settlement 13.00 in village hall The application is pending Lanie 01488 658168 Sat 12 Feb food, crafts, gifts etc in order to get a knock-on improvement in Hamstead Marshall consideration. also applies to subscribers served by the 01635 Highclere exchange. The Old Post Office 19.30- Circle of Friends (ladies’ group) Sue Watts 21.30 It’s very easy to vote on the above website (which can also application to create a new in village hall 01488 658932 Thu 10 Mar be reached by direct link from ) and voting carries no obligation whatsoever. September at the same time as 10.00- Sue 01488 658932 13.00 Sat in village hall an objection to the application 12 Mar Lanie 01488 658168 food, crafts, gifts etc The joint benefice of , , Enborne, was lodged by the WBC trees officer, on the grounds that the Jo Wheeler (parish clerk) Hamstead Marshall and Combe, together with 20.00 parish council meeting in village hall Mon 21 Mar [email protected] Kintbury, now has a website up and running on proposed pond would be too . close to a mature oak tree on regular events There are separate pages for each of the churches, the boundary. including St Mary’s, Hamstead Marshall. Comments The Foxlee Farm

5 evenings Scottish dancing: 4 classes leading to Burns Night David Harris and suggestions are welcomed by the webmasters Phil application mentioned in the in Jan celebration (class attendance required) 01488 658330 Ireland and Cathy Pynn, who can be contacted September Hornet is still 10.00- directly from the site. pending consideration. Inga Craven 11.30 yoga classes Weds 01488 658744 termtime VILLAGE CAROL SINGING 2010 13.30- Do you sell/supply/offer a service from within the village? 16.00 oil painting classes Newbury College If so, you may be eligible for free listing on Mons for beginners & improvers 01635 42824 will be on Wednesday 22nd December, termtime meeting at 7pm at Craven Hill and Teresa 01635 253201 finishing at Sarah and Mick’s home at weekdays Little Sunflowers nursery school and also to have your details included in the welcome pack termtime Trudy 01635 255363 Gully Cottage for something to eat and drink. This year the money raised given to new arrivals in the village. Send your details to will go to West ’s Alzheimer’s or drop a business card Society. Not many people know that... into The Holding, RG20 0HW (Chapel Corner). All are welcome and are requested to “Marshall Street [off Broadwick Street in Soho, London W1] almost certainly takes its name from wear bright coloured clothes and bring Sometime between 8pm and 10pm on the 29th November a a torch. Hamstead Marshall, the Berkshire seat of the Earl of Craven, the ground landlord, who allowed garage in Hamstead Marshall was broken into. Entry was the land on which it was built to be used for pesthouses and burial grounds in 1665 [the year of More info from Sarah and Mick Ward gained by forcing the door. Nothing is believed to have the Plague]. It was built in 1733-36.” on 01488 658817 or been stolen, and police believe that the offenders may have [email protected] The London Encyclopaedia Macmillan, 1983 been disturbed.