REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1991

Secretary's Report has emerged. Now most sections finance their own events from takings, whilst the parent 1991 was the final year of the Presidency of society organises and finances the publica­ Adrian Ranee and of the Secretaryship of tions, postings, insurance and so on. But not in Michael Hicks. Following the retirements of the New Forest, where the New Forest Section Paul Caudell, Tom James and Ken Qualmann resembles a smaller version of the old Field in 1989-90, it thus marks a clean break with Club and depends wholly on the parent So­ the managerial and editorial team that over­ ciety for its unique mixture of fieldwork and saw the recovery of Society and Proceedings in lectures. Such differences produced friction the 1980s and ushers in a new team led by late in 1990 and resulted in the Secretary's Stephen Locke as President, who will face the paper, The Society and the Sections, printed in the very different challenges and exploit the op­ March 1992 Newsletter. This paper has now portunities of the 1990s. The first challenge, of been accepted by Council and all the Sections. course, will arise from the increase in subscrip­ It will provide, it is hoped, the shared under­ tions in 1992. standing needed for the future and will The new officers will benefit, however, from encourage the New Forest Section to develop two inestimable advantages. First of all, they its own programme along the paths that the can rely for the continuation of smooth routine newer sections have blazed. on the Membership Secretary (Mrs Turnbull), Reference has already been made to the Programme Secretary (Miss Fletcher), Back- Local History Fair and the AGM and Crawford numbers Secretary (Miss Rushton), Publicity Lecture are reported below. However, for the Officer (Mrs Moore) and Newsletter Editor first time for many years, there was no Annual (Mr Stagg). Secondly, they can count on the Conference in 1991, Council taking the view most varied and exciting programmes into the that the quality and variety of section confer­ indefinite future from the experienced, ences made such an event redundant. thoroughly professional, and apparently The Annual General Meeting on 29 May 1991 tireless section committees, to whom the suc­ was again held at King Alfred's College, Win­ cesses of the 1980s are really due. chester, a move to the Winchester Guildhall 1991 was another memorable year. Among having proved abortive, and was attended by so many rewarding activities reported below, thirty members - a slightly disappointing total particular triumphs were those in the north in the light of the improved numbers of recent and south-east of the county, where so many years. Once again the business meeting pre­ Field Club initiatives have failed: the Archaeo­ ceded a splendid buffet, the work of Mrs logy Conference at Odiham, attended by 90 Moore and Mrs Turnbull, and was followed by people, and the third Local History Fair at the Presidential Address. The programme pro­ Portsmouth Central Library. Those behind the ved as crowded and as worthwhile as ever. reforms of 1979, notably Miss Cash, Mr The President spoke at length about the Collinson, and Dr Course, not only salvaged health of the Society and was supported in what remained of the old Society, but provided detail by the other officers and representatives a framework and impetus for the revitalisation of the sections. The President paid tribute to from which all current members are bene­ Council and especially the Secretary and fitting. Treasurer, the Secretary paid tribute to Mrs Over the past decade, relations between the Turnbull (Membership Secretary), Miss White central Society and the constituent sections (Publications Secretary), Mrs Moore (Publi­ has inevitably evolved and a new equilibrium city Officer), and Mrs Hughes (Programme 182 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Secretary), who had retired in favour of Miss no gentleman, whose innovations were more Fletcher, and everybody expressed thanks to readily accepted abroad and were particularly the Honorary Auditors. Appreciation was anathema to the Admiralty, yet he generally expressed for the invaluable support in so overbore his opponents and made a fortune many ways of Hampshire County Council. from almost nothing. The Treasurer, Mr Wingate, showed that Paine's triumphs spanned both World Wars the apparent surplus in 1990 had been and he died less than thirty years ago, yet achieved only by drawing on bank interest. It almost nobody, even in Southampton, has was therefore necessary to raise subscriptions heard of him and his monuments have gen­ in 1992 to £6 for Proceedings from £4, £10 for erally passed away. His daughter now lives in Ordinary Membership (£7.50), £12 for Joint America, his factories have been built over and Membership (£10), and £16 for Institutions converted to other uses, and his prototype (£12). Since the subscription for Proceedings was aircraft have been deliberately destroyed - unchanged since 1979 and for membership even by the Science Museum! - as unworthy of since 1984, these represented much less than preservation. For the informed observer, how­ inflation. It was expected that the increase ever, as Mr Ranee showed, there is much still would more than offset any resignations and it to be seen and discovered for oneself. How many was hoped that further increases could be humble houseboats began their lives as Scott •avoided for some years. Not only were the Paine motor torpedo-boats or sea-plane tenders? increases approved by the membership, but it was questioned whether they were sufficient and in particular whether Joint Members 0 G S Crawford Memorial Lecture, should not pay more. 7 December 1991 Michael Hicks and Mark Wingate were re­ For the second year this was held at King elected as Secretary and Treasurer, Sandy John's House, Romsey and combined the Mackenzie, Paul Marchant and Elizabeth lecture itself and refreshments. Chaired by the Rothery were returned to Council, and Mr President and attended by forty members, it Sanders and Miss Lee were re-elected as was devoted to the 'Archaeology of Twyford Honorary Auditors and a further year. Down' and was shared by two speakers, The President selected for his second Graham Soffe of the Royal Commission on Address the theme of 'Hubert Scott Paine and Historic Monuments for England, on the Hampshire Aviation', the subject of his most archaeological potential of the M3 route and recent book. A wide-ranging account of David Farwell on his most recent excavations. Hythe's role in the heroic age of sea-plane and The talks were followed by refreshments and motor-boat building, it was illustrated by the opportunity to question the speakers. splendidly evocative slides. Paine, it emerged, Mr Soffe's contribution fell into two main was a many-sided pioneer with many firsts and parts. First of all, he showed many slides of the vast achievements to his credit. The founda­ 1920s taken by Crawford himself, the pioneer tion of the Supermarine Company, the win­ of aerial photography, and Professor Christo­ ning of the Schneider Trophy, Sir Henry pher Hawkes, who excavated the hillfort of St Segrave's world water-speed record Scott Catharine's Hill whilst at Winchester College Paine's Miss England, the first passenger- and Oxford. Hawkes' classic report in the carrying sea-plane service, the mass produc­ Field Club Proceedings in 1928, introduced him tion of pleasure motor-boats, the origins of to other Hampshire hillforts, and was the basis Air-Sea Rescue, and the design of the Ameri­ of his division of the Iron Age into periods that can PT boats on which John F. Kennedy made his reputation. Professor Hawkes died served were mere episodes in a remarkably early in 1992 at the age of 87. varied career. All did not run smoothly, for Among these slides were a series of splen­ Scott Paine was an abrasive businessman and didly moustachioed portraits: Crawford him- REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1991 183 self, in several cases in unfamiliar guises, the archaeology, the quality of those involved over young Hawkes, and the future Professors Nor­ 70 years, and the remarkable range of tech­ man Myres and Stuart Piggott. Scenes of the niques employed. Clearly much remained to excavators showed them at formal lunch with be investigated, some for a second time. wine on site. There were early etchings of 'the Further excavation may be required if the M3 treeless hill', photos of it without bushes from passes through any sites of special scientific watery and be-cowed water-meadows, aerial interest. photographs recovered from a Hampshire MAH County Council drawer, and details of the excavations themselves and the finds, now at Hyde Historical Resources Centre. ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION Perhaps most interesting were pictures of the De Havilland byplanes from which Craw­ At our first meeting of the year, Dr Anthony ford hung with a huge camera, his feet securely King explained that a large piece of Roman tied to keep him in die plane, and a more Hampshire would shortly be on display at the modern colour photo of similarly primitive British Museum. Thanks to modern tech­ activity from a 1990s Cessna. One striking nology and the skills of the British Museum's photograph showed Hawkes' glass slides at his Conservation Department an entire section of home, still wrapped in pages of the Times one wall of the recently excavated Meonstoke Literary Supplement for 1929! Some, it was Roman villa was successfully lifted in one reported, were last shown to the Hampshire piece from the site where it had been lying for Field Club in 1928! over sixteen hundred years. Encased in a ten- Secondly, Mr Soffe surveyed the amazing ton steel box and protected by polystyrene range of archaeological features - lynchets, foam it travelled by lorryyto London where pits, ditches, hollow ways, settlements etc - specialists will prepare''it for exhibition. Dr visible in aerial photographs and on the King's illustrated lecture showed, stage by ground. Three areas are now scheduled his­ stage, how meticulous excavation by King toric monuments: St Catherine's Hill, which Alfred's College students revealed the fallen would repay further excavation; an Iron Age wall with its brick arches, columns and pat­ village partly and poorly excavated in the terned stonework virtually intact. For the first 1920s; and the Dongers - an extraordinary time in Britain we could prove that Roman collection of hollow ways along the line of the villas were not always simple, half-timbered Winchester to Morestead Road. The M3 route farmhouses; here was an imposing building threads in between over open downland. with decorative features in brick and stone, an Mr Farwell then outlined his excavations architecture that foreshadowed the more fami­ last summer. Much had been lost through the liar features of early Romanesque churches in effects of ploughing and the subsoil was found Britain and Europe. 'New light on Roman to be very shallow. Near the Iron Age village Architecture' was an apt title for a description all that was found were shallow ditches, appar­ of a find that will be eagerly studied by archi­ ently animal enclosures, bones, and pots. tectural historians. One further season of Further east many of the features stemmed excavation is planned for next year, to eluci­ from soil-drift near the lynchet, but a severely date other aspects of this interesting building. damaged ring-ditch revealed the remains of no Much will never be known, since most of the less than 37 buried or cremated individuals. villa is still beneath a main road that passes Probably these were the burials of a farming the site; but we look forward to learning what community. further secrets the site holds, and to the even­ tual publication that will establish Meonstoke Himself an archaeologist, the President as one of the most important excavations we (Adrian Ranee) drew attention to the import­ have seen in Hampshire for many years. ance of the area in developing international 184 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Droplets of quicksilver in a medieval cess­ assumed that the wool was first processed in pit in Southampton might be the earliest the settlements and then sent to the central recorded use of mercury as a laxative, said Dr places for spinning and weaving; excavations, A Russel in our second lecture, on 14 Feb­ however, have produced spindle-whorls and ruary. He was quoting the most recent results loom-weights in quantities that suggest that of the long-running excavation in South­ textiles were actually produced at source. The ampton's Lower High Street site. The biggest Basingstoke sites are typical of many in the surprise was the discovery, in the lowest levels, region; they enabled the specialists to employ not only of the lost defences of the Late Saxon the full range of modern techniques of investi­ town, but evidence that it must have had a gation, ranging from false colour air photo­ stone wall. High civic status indeed. Norman graphy to phosphate analysis. development on the site was succeeded by one The summer series started on 16 June in of the most prestigious houses of the medieval sunshine with a visit to Beacon Hill and Ladle city, that of Walter le Fleming, wealthy mer­ Hill, led by David Johnston. For some, this was chant and mayor in the fourteenth century. a first opportunity to compare two of Hamp­ His stone wine-vault remained in use until shire's finest monuments — the multivallate about 1800, the house itself surviving until the defences of Beacon Hill and the single bank 1930s. Painstaking collection of oral history and ditch of Ladle Hill - unfinished, and has added to the existing documents to give a therefore displaying the 'dump' construction full history of this part of the city before it was in progress, incorporating an earlier Bronze flattened in the Blitz. Partly excavated by Age linear ditch. The views, of course, were volunteer enthusiasts in the 1960s, this area magnificent, enhanced by the sight of distant has now been fully exposed and restored by thunderstorms that seemed to be sweeping Southampton City archaeologists and archi­ across the rest of die county. tects. In the last fourteen months, said Dr Rain, however, dampened our next meeting Russel, some 50,000 visitors had passed on 11 July to the new Butser Archaeological through the gaily-painted hoardings to see the Farm. As Peter Reynolds explained, it was archaeologists at work. As part of the re­ time to start again; to continue the experimen­ development of this heavily bombed area it is tal programme under new conditions of hoped to display these spectacular vaulted climate, soil and vegetation, but close enough structures to the public. The finds of Venetian to the old site for comparison to be useful. glass, walrus ivory, pewter and rare pottery Researchers will continue to record and moni­ will be conserved and displayed in the nearby tor everything as it grows, matures and decays God's House Museum, giving us a memorable - crops, animals, buildings. Even the simple vision of luxurious life in the merchant houses earthwork - a mere bank and ditch so far - has of our medieval ancestors. subtle variations in its construction that wind On 28 March we combined with the Lower and weadier will convert into complex data. Test .Valley Archaeological Society in Romsey: New research projects seem to be sprouting over forty people heard Dr Richard Newman from the ground at every point. Since work describe some ten years' excavation by various started last October two authentic prehistoric bodies on Iron Age sites around Basingstoke. buildings, mud-walled and thatched, are al­ These represented a decentralised, rambling ready in use for demonstrations, with a small pattern of peasant settlements, by contrast visitors' centre. Fields of prehistoric crops, not with the fortified 'central places' such as Dane­ yet ready for their first harvest, contrast with bury. Analysis of seeds, grain and animal the rolling, modern fields of golden corn bones has proved that arable cultivation, prin­ around them. Neat pens house a sequence of cipally of corn, was practised side-by-side with five breeds of sheep, displaying an evolution animal husbandry. Interestingly, some 60% of from the New Stone Age to modern times; the animals were sheep, and it is usually herds and flocks graze at will on the surround- REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1991 185 ing downland as they did in prehistoric times. many valuable products - meat, fat, bone, Future plans include displays of farming prac­ sheepskins, horns - even dung. From the long- tice from Roman and Saxon times. The legged, hairy sheep of prehistory, domes­ framework is already rising of what will be an tication has developed the varieties we know enormous round-house exactly replicating an today. Many of the audience had already excavated example. A labyrinth of ancient visited the new Butser Archaeological Farm design is being planted as an experimental where living examples of the various stages herb garden. The work involved is staggering, can actually be seen. Interestingly, the bone and much has been achieved by a few structure of sheep is almost identical to that of dedicated workers in a remarkably short time. goats, and the identification of excavated The highlight of the summer, however, was specimens is a job for the real expert. But it is a privileged visit by coach on 10 August to the fleece that matters, and even those varie­ sites on Salisbury Plain, normally out of ties with coarse hair have a soft underwool bounds to all but military personnel. An ener­ which can be recovered by careful combing. In getic day's walking led by Mark Corney took the right archaeological conditions, samples of us first to Yarnbury Castle with its complex the resulting textiles have been preserved in­ earthworks and internal features that include tact. Sheep come in various colours - black, the rectangular pattern of an eighteenth- brown and white - and these natural contrasts century sheep-fair. Then on to the Restricted were exploited in tartan-like fabrics worn by Area, at Knook, with a small ring-fort beside our prehistoric ancestors. two Romano-British villages, a linear ditch On 9 November we drew attention to 'The system and beautifully preserved lynchets and Other Half: the archaeology and local history field systems. Despite the long grass that of North-East Hampshire' at our annual Con­ masked the finer detail, the chance to explore ference. Held at Robert May's School, the two villages was a truly memorable experi­ Odiham, and hosted by the NE Hampshire ence; the climax was a saunter down the main Historical and Archaeological Society, the street of one to the village pond which must event attracted over ninety members and have held water continuously since Roman guests. Mr Edward Roberts opened with an times. illustrated account of the medieval timber- September 13 saw the start of our new framed houses in Odiham. These display a season when we gathered in Southsea Castle great variety of styles and techniques, often for our annual social event, the Cheese and disguised by later brick facades, forming the Wine Reception. This included a private view best series in any Hampshire town. This of the current exhibition 'A Tale of Three lecture was an excellent introduction to the Cities' - Portsmouth, Southampton and Win­ guided walk around Odiham itself later in the chester. day, led by Mr Roberts. The well known On 3 October Dr Michael Ryder delighted Hampshire archaeologist, Miss Dorothy Lid- us at the first of our winter series with 'Sheep dell, was celebrated by Mr Steve Cosh who is and wool in the archaeological record'. This reinterpreting his excavation, in the 1930s, of was, as he put it, a 'Wool History' in which he the North Warnborough Roman Villa. Un­ surveyed the evolution of sheep over some usual in many details, this villa can be usefully eight thousand years up to the medieval compared with other Hampshire examples period. The evidence can come from unexpec­ that have since been studied. Military Alder- ted sources, such as manuscripts like the Dead shot was next the theme of that town's well- Sea Scrolls; even, he suggested, the pages or known local historian, Mr Tim Childerhouse. binding of the Winchester Bible should be With none of today's sensitivity over 'new examined for possible information about the Towns' the Government of the day easily animals whose skins were used for it! Sheep, acquired the heathlands of Aldershot and living and dead, have long provided man with swept away the archaeology. The resulting 186 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY civilian and military complex, in which towns­ Historic Resources Centre, Winchester, by people strolled among the barracks with no Elizabeth Lewis, on nineteenth-century Win­ apparent breach of security, attracted Queen ' chester shops. Michael Hare spoke at King Victoria both to paint and to review her troops. Alfred's College, Winchester, on the Anglo- Before long, a new Museum and Trust will Saxon minster of St Peter, Titchfield. Both enable us too to marvel once more at the meetings were well attended and illustrated pageantry of a great imperial army. Recent important pieces of research being published excavations at Odiham Castle were described in Proceedings. The informal evening, also at by Mr David Allen, of the County Museum Hyde House, included short illustrated talks Service. To the long history of the stronghold by members, followed by refreshments. Our from which King John set out to sign the work was well covered by regular articles, Magna Carta in 1215, with its octagonal keep notices and reviews in the Newsletter, but there and surrounding earthworks insensitively remains a need for more contributions from severed by the Basingstoke Canal, can now be the membership and from other organisations added the structural detail of successive refur- concerned with the county's historic buildings. bishments. The day concluded with two illus­ Our first summer meeting held on May 11th trated reviews of recent archaeological was entitled Getting our Bearings, a discussion of activity. Mr Geoff Hoare summarised the the current revision of the 'Hampshire fieldwork and excavation of sites in the north­ Pevsner'. The Hampshire edition of the east of the County; and Mr Mark Corney Buildings of England series, by Sir Nikolaus presented an eye-opening review of field sur­ Pevsner and David Lloyd, was published in vey and aerial reconnaissance in Hampshire 1967. It is now being revised and enlarged by by the Royal Commission on Historical Monu­ David Lloyd and Rodney Hubbuck, who were ments. A wealth of archaeological sites and our guest speakers in the morning session at historic landscapes has been discovered and King Alfred's College. The afternoon was recorded in recent years. Many are unique and spent in the company of the speakers explor­ all have contributed valuably to our under­ ing an area north-east of Winchester where a standing of this County's historic past. number of important buildings owe much to At the AGM we sadly accepted the resig­ the influence of the Baring family at the begin­ nation of our Hon. Secretary Sue Gordon, who ning of the nineteenth century. The architec­ has worked so hard and effectively for the ture of George Dance the Younger (1741— Section in recent years; since the meeting we 1825) was also much in evidence, particularly have welcomed her successor, Sue Bray (Win­ at Stratton Park (1804-6) where only the chester City Museums) to take her place and monumental portico survives from the 1960 maintain our high standards. We also bade demolition, now fronting a modern house farewell to our Hon. Treasurer, Tony King, which defies description. Dance's principal after many years of service, and unanimously entrance and lodges to the park, semi-derelict elected John Barton in his place. Our new and overlooking the M3 motorway, should now Committee now looks forward to a further be saved and restored but they have an un­ successful year. certain future. The group was astonished by DEJ Dance's remodelling of the nave and chancel of St Mary's church, Micheldever (1806) with its arched and vaulted octagon. After seeing HISTORIC BUILDINGS SECTION the Dance estate cottages and the parish church at East Stratton, we visited the Grange The principle of holding two formal and an — another great house with its neighbouring informal winter meeting proved very success­ church at Northington, before retiring to New ful last year and so the arrangement was Alresford for a cream tea. repeated. A lecture was given at the Hyde On 6th July, in hot sunny weather, we REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1991 187 visited two little known country houses and followed by John Maunder's report on the St their gardens, South Stoneham House and Agatha's Trust's recent progress in the restor­ Townhill Park. They now survive as student ation of Sumner's masterpiece in Portsmouth. halls within the Southampton suburb of Jane Brown concluded proceedings with an Swaythling. The meeting was led by Rachel account of the 'Resurrection of Sir Edwin Fuller, John Brushe and Grahame Soffe, and Lutyens and Miss Jekyll'. At the AGM Jude we were guests of the South Stoneham Trust. James, John Stott and Elizabeth Birkett were At the medieval church, formerly the centre of elected new committee members. Re-elected a vast parish, we examined the monuments of members were Francis Green (chairman), the Dummer family, who were seated both Dilys Hall (secretary), Peter Davies here and at Cranbury Park. In both houses we (treasurer), Martin Doughty (editor), Edward unravelled enigmatic eighteenth-century and Roberts (Newsletter editor), Grahame Soffe later architectural developments with John (programme secretary), John Crook, Karen Brushe and heard interesting observations Parker, Audrey Sutton and Ann Jones. from David Lloyd. At Townhill Park the eccen­ Maureen Gale resigned earlier in the year and tric influences of Lord Swaythling, and in the we thank her for her continued valued service garden, the work of Gertrude Jekyll, were to the Section. noted, and at South Stoneham a small Capabi­ GS lity Brown landscape and the Salmon Pool were viewed from the top of the modern tower block. LOCAL HISTORY SECTION The visit to the medieval buildings of Salis­ bury on 21st September led by Edward Rob­ 1991 was a successful and interesting year for erts and Grahame Soffe, was a repeat of last the Local History Section. year's study tour which was well oversub­ The year's programme commenced with a scribed and very successful. It included all symposium on 'Winchester: The County Town buildings visited before except the King's - Public Buildings and Public Service', held at House. The cathedral however was included as King Alfred's College, Winchester, on 27 a bonus to take advantage of the current repair April. Dr Michael Hicks provided a broad and restoration work on the tower and spire. introduction to the subject, and this was foll­ The group therefore gained much from an owed by two talks on specific buildings in the extensive exploration of the medieval carpen­ city - Pat Thomson speaking on the Georgian try in the roof spaces and the remarkable and Victorian prisons and Robin Freeman medieval iron reinforcement and timber scaf­ examining the Corn Exchange. After lunch, folding in the tower and spire. Gill Rushton described the sources in the Our conference and AGM on 19th October Hampshire Record Office relating to Winches­ was held at King Alfred's College with the ter's public buildings, and Philippa Stevens theme 'Architecture and Design of the Arts spoke about the development of the public and Crafts Movement in Hampshire and library. The symposium concluded with a talk Beyond'. It proved a very successful and enjoy­ by Rosemary Dunhill and Geoffrey Burnaby able occasion and an opportunity to discuss on the new Record Office to be built near the recent work. The speakers, chaired by John station and how the architects have attempted Crook concentrated on the work of individual to meet the needs of researchers and the artists and architects. Francis Green gave an requirements for document preservation there. account of Romsey architect, Comley-Rolls, The summer outing, held on 13 July, a day followed by a description of the wealthy and of inclement weather, was to Netley. The party well-connected Christopher Tumor, by Gra­ initially assembled at the station to hear a talk hame SofTe. Jane Barbour examined some by Edwin Course on the significance of the lesser known aspects of Heywood Sumner, coming of the railway to Netley. The country 188 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY park and imposing site of the Royal Victoria continued, and the remainder of the Forest Hospital were then explored. After lunch, Mr will be brought into the scheme in 1992. David Lloyd showed the party round the vil­ lage and Netley Abbey, and finally Chris Cur- Lymington Ferries. Wightlink's proposals for rie talked to the group about the aquaduct and introducing larger ferries on the Lymington to the castle. Yarmouth crossing are causing concern for the The Section's Annual General Meeting was effect on the river and marsh environment and held on 5 October at Hursley. Members ini­ on traffic through the Forest. The Hon. Secre­ tially met in the parish hall and heard a talk by tary represents the Hampshire Field Club and Mr Len Peach about the historical develop­ the New Forest Association on the Roads ment of Hursley and the impact on the village sub-committee of CALF - the Campaign of IBM's arrival at Hursley Park. After a Against Larger Ferries. lecture by Rev Philip Barrett on John Keble - not as one of the Oxford's Movement's leaders Oil Drilling. Brabant has gained permission but as the incumbent of Hursley, the group to drill an exploratory well on the outskirts of was taken on a tour of the village and the Lymington, and has begun operations. Should church, and, then, the AGM was held. In the oil be found, there will be concern over the afternoon, the Section re-assembled at Hursley effects of any permission for exploitation, Park, and was shown over part of the particularly on traffic. buildings. The group also heard two talks on the estate - the first, by Liz Hughes, on the National Park. Government's response to the Heathcote family, and the second, by Edward Edwards report, which recommended National Roberts, on the park. Then, Mr Peach showed Park status for die New Forest with a 'Tailor- some fascinating slides of the early machinery made' constitution, is awaited. This recom­ of IBM. Some members, despite the foul mendation is in direct contrast to the New weather, ended the day by exploring Merdon Forest Review's conclusion reported in our Castle. 1990 Report, that a new statutory body would At the AGM, the officers in post were all be unnecessary and overbureaucratic. The re-elected (Colin Haydon, Chairman; Ann Section continues to be of the opinion that the McLellan, Secretary; Sarah Lewin, Treasurer; Forest is better protected under present legis­ and George Watts, Newsletter editor). The Sec­ lation. tion's committee was also re-elected. CMH Section Affairs. The Section has had a suc­ cessful programme in 1991. In March a well- attended meeting held jointly with the Hamp­ NEW FOREST SECTION shire Branch of Butterfly Conservation heard New Forest Keeper John Gulliver give a fasci­ Heritage Area. The New Forest Committee nating and instructive talk on the Natural commissioned Land Use Consultants to con­ History of the Hornet. April saw our Annual sider the proposed boundaries of the Heritage General Meeting, after which slides were Area outside the Forest perambulation proper, shown by Mr Pasmore on the 1990 boiling and as a result of their report the boundaries mound demonstration, and by Mr Trend on a have been revised in certain places, with some similar experiment in Ireland. Summer field areas being deleted and others included. meetings included a study of breeding birds in These final recommendations await Appleslade Inclosure, jointly with the Hamp­ Government approval. shire Ornithological Society, and of butterflies and dragonflies at Pigbush, led by Alison Highway Strategy. The experimental restric­ Bolton, jointly with Butterfly Conservation. tions in the north-west of the Forest are to be August saw us working again in Sloden Inclo- REPORTS ON THE YEAR 1991 189 sure, and a fungus foray at Whitley Wood led on private enclosed land to which the public by Mr and Mrs Goodall yielded a total of 51 has no access. species (see Appendix). The year was rounded off by a joint meeting with Lyndhurst Histori­ 2. Information will be supplied to the Fore­ cal Society at which 4 'snapshots' were pre­ stry Commission for the exclusive use of its sented by members - 'Explosives in the New officers in respect of any site on Crown land. Forest' by Mr Pasmore, 'Industries of a New Such information has always been given on Forest Village' by Mrs Pasmore, 'Flora and condition that it will not, without the con­ Fauna' by Mr Hanna, and 'History in Sound sent of the New Forest Section, be made and Vision' by Mrs Irvine. available to third parties. In a response to a request from the County Archaeologist to the Deputy Surveyor for in­ 3. Information relating to any sites not formation on archaeological sites in the New covered by 1 above will be supplied to an Forest, the Section committee agreed the foll­ organisation or individual for purposes ap­ owing: proved by the committee of the Section, provided that a written undertaking is given not to publish that information or make it The committee confirms its long-standing available for publication or make it available policy with regard to the supply of informa­ to third parties without the express written tion on New Forest archaeological sites. consent of the Section. This policy is as follows: In order to protect New Forest sites from 1. Information will be supplied to any per­ treasure hunters and vandals information son or organisation having reasonable will not be supplied except as noted above. grounds for requesting it in respect of sites JI