»Bridge Ends A new app for Wilfred Notes and queries David Woodward Windsor, Eton & the Great Park: a retreat The Dunsden Owen Association is in the Wilfred himself. When Wilfred’s unmarried throes of testing its brand new Android sister Mary died in 1956, the house was Members are invited to join a four-day and iPhone app which will guide visitors on cleared. It was only at this point that the history retreat, 30 March - 2 April 2015, a tour of local sites connected with Wilfred vast collection of Wilfred’s letters – 673 in in Cumberland Lodge. This educational Owen, the famous First World War poet. all – were discovered. Not neatly gathered, event aims to discover the rich his- Produced with the help of a £22,000 not archived in an orderly fashion, not tory of Windsor, Eton and the Great Heritage Lottery Fund grant received by even assembled in one place. They were • Spring 2015 42 Issue Park. Talks will be given by William partner organisation Outrider Anthems, discovered haphazardly in every room and Newsletter of the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society Shawcross (biographer of The Queen the app features 15 different themes taken every nook and cranny, amongst scraps Mother), Hugo Vickers, (writer, broad- from Owen’s time in Dunsden. Over 80 of silk embroidery and odds and ends of caster and royal historian), Lady Jane images are integrated with professionally material in the house, in tea chests and Roberts, (former Royal Librarian and »Eye on Sonning produced soundtracks to bring the world nailed-up boxes in the garden shed. Only Sponsor heritage skills Keeper of the Print Room at Windsor of Wilfred Owen to life. The app, featuring one letter had been carefully stored in [his Annabella Marks a view from the Bridge Castle) and Mark Flanagan (Keeper of an interactive map which provides routes mother] Susan’s jewellery box – carefully The Society has some funds generated environment what it is. There are Mike Hart, Chairman the Gardens, Windsor Great Park). for walks on foot or journeys by car, is the enclosed in an envelope and labelled in from sales of the book ‘Village Voices’ short courses as well as apprentice- What makes a village special? Ten years Situated in the heart of Windsor result of weeks of dedicated work by Jen- pencil, ‘Wilfie’s first letter’. that was published following on from ships that are available and the Society ago Country Life magazine ran a campaign Great Park, Cumberland Lodge, a nifer Leach of Outrider Anthems. It is hoped that the app will be officially the successful exhibition in 2009. It would help the candidate find what to find England’s Favourite Village. The former royal residence, is now run The main sites featured are the church, launched in Dunsden on May Day (4 May). is eager to use these funds to help a would be most appropriate for them. At panel of five judges selected Kingham in by an educational foundation. More graveyard,vicarage and school, and outly- Events on the village green will include a young person, or a group of young present the society could donate up to Oxfordshire over other contenders includ- information can be found here: www. ing sites such as the house in Emmer family fun day, with refreshments in the people, to develop an interest in their £3,000 to help fund the course(s) but ing Cerne Abbas in Dorset. The seven cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/history-retreat Green to which Wilfred’s parents retired. village hall and the official unveiling of a local environment. This may be either would look to fundraise in the future if criteria selected in the campaign were Berkshire Gardens Trust events to note The clip relating to this house (now private- blue plaque which commemorates Wilfred helping with training with a view to a the scheme is successful. architectural merit; charm, beauty and set- Don’t miss this great opportunity ly owned) provides a flavour of the trail: Owen’s time in Dunsden. For more informa- career or in a project that helps in their The sponsorship is open to any ting; quality of life; amenities; vibrancy and to see the restoration work at Shaw ...it is from this house that a final Owen tion please see www.owenindunsden. understanding of the locality. young person in Sonning or Sonning community spirit; transport; and village House in Newbury. Kate Harwood, an story can be spun; a colourful and ec- org. Dunsden Owen Association is also on There are several local organisations, Eye whether they plan to do vocational green. The choice of Kingham surprised experienced lecturer from Hertford- centric story that would have pleased Facebook and Twitter. and many nationally, that specialise in training or to study at university. The many people as it was not a chocolate box shire Gardens Trust, will lecture on conservation projects e.g. learning to hope is that we can support someone to type of village. The judges chose it be- late Tudor and early Stuart Gardens Conservation Area Appraisal build in a way that is sympathetic to develop a lifelong interest in conserva- cause it was more of a working village than with relevance to Shaw’ House’s own heritage properties, using traditional tion and their local environment, even if a tourist destination and because it had a Mike Hart early gardens, on Thursday 26 March, materials, learning traditional crafts this is not the focus of their career. great all-round atmosphere which catered at 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm in Shaw House, As you will recall, the Society has been showcased in Pearson Hall in February which are in danger of being lost for Please contact Annabella Marks by for everyone within its community. Newbury, West Berkshire. Tickets are assisting Sonning Parish Council with 2013. ever, or developing a deeper knowledge email at [email protected] if you would Sonning and Sonning Eye residents are £12.50 for members, £15.00 for non- an update of the Sonning Conservation The updated drafts have been re- of the things that have made the local like to discuss this opportunity further. justifiably proud of their villages, which members and £25.00 for two. Area Appraisal, the previous version viewed by Sonning Parish Council who comprehensively tick the boxes of archi- Visit West Green House, near Hartley of which was adopted in 1996. Teams have appointed a planning consultant tectural merit, charm, beauty and setting. Wintney, Hampshire on Monday of residents were assigned differ- to liaise with Wokingham Borough These are hugely important but I believe 8 June. There will be an exclusive guid- ent character areas of the village and Council and prepare a final draft. This that the most important factors making ed tour of these constantly evolving asked to record good and bad features version will be open for a 6-week public both so special are the intangible ones gardens, as well as a cream tea. using a Toolkit developed by English consultation within the coming weeks. of quality of life, vibrancy and community Erratum re WBC conservation advice Heritage in association with the Oxford We will notify Society members by spirit. Preservation Trust and Oxford City email when this public consultation is In future editions of Bridge we would WBC wishes readers to note that its Council. The surveys took place in the due to take place and would urge you like to publish your views on what makes Conservation Officer is full-time and summer of 2012 and the results were all to respond. Sonning and Sonning Eye so special. We available five days a week, and not part- compiled into the first draft which was would welcome hearing what about both time as mentioned in the last issue. DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES 4 May 2015 (tbc) places ticks your boxes. Please contact Wilfred Owen events in Dunsden us on either of the addresses below. Members are welcome to attend Executive meetings. Bridge: Newsletter of the Sonning Please note that meetings now begin at 7.30 pm 5 June 2015 and Sonning Eye Society Private visit to Hardwick House near Mapledurham 13 March 2015 (More information on the web and in the next issue) Education & Social Panel Conservation of wildlife habitats along the Thames and its c/o Red House Cottage, tributaries - a talk by Richard Mahon-White Pearson Hall 10 June 2015 Pearson Road, RG4 6UH (see Page 2) Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7:30 pm tel: 0118 9692132 29 April 2015 19 August 2015 Future Events Ray Moseley, Director of Bursledon Brickworks, near Swanwick in Hampshire, coaches a College of Es- email: [email protected] Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7:30 pm Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7:30 pm tate Management postgraduate student in the handling of lime plaster to make a wattle and daub panel. web: www.sonning.org.uk Bridge newsletter • Issue 42 • Spring 2015 Bridge newsletter • Issue 42 • Spring 2015 »Executive Committee & Panels: breaking news What Sidney Paddick did for Sonning Andy Bell, Patrick Hamblin and Pauline Simmonds Co-options onto Executive and an order placed for the work to be ments in a number of areas relevant to Diana Coulter Jeremy Gilmore, Lesley Heaney and carried out. The Scarecrow Committee the village. A report will be available • Façade: is it painted or brick or In June 1981, Sidney Paddick died Pauline Simmonds have been co-opted has agreed to fund the repairs. for submission to the Parish Council in plaster? If Paddick enlarged a shortly after finalising the proof of his onto the Executive for 2014/15.