STEEP AND STROUD NEWSLETTER NO 563 JULY / AUGUST 2018 UNEXPECTED VISITORS charge. I thereupon lit a small fire, No sign of a flycatcher this year, but and very smartly they flew off. It was two other birds took up our time no good; next morning they were instead. The first was a pair of jack- back again, and I learned from the daws which persisted in trying to web that a man had had a fire every build a nest in our chimney. Now day for three weeks and the birds I’ve always found jackdaws rather still came back. At this point I decid- b e c o m i n g ed to leave them in peace, and just birds, with their wait until they sociable chiak- had hatched king noise, but their brood though we hear and flown off. them most The very next evenings mak- day however, ing their way down the back to their chimney came roost near the not just the Harrow, they daily ration of have never twigs, but a before come very discom- into the garden. Now here two of bobulated jackdaw too. After some them were, hard at it, building a time thrashing about with a fishing nest across the top of a very large net I managed to catch the bird, and chimney – a mug’s game you might then released it. That was the end think. The first evidence of their of that, for we never saw the pair of presence was a steady trickle of them again. We were quite sad really. falling twigs into the grate, and Our second visitor was a little bird much chiakking going on as we we hardly ever see, a treecreeper, peered up the chimney. However, and it had obligingly made its tiny when we had filled four large sacks nest tucked into a crevice in our old with sooty twigs I became less indul- yew tree, just a few feet from where gent and decided it was time to take 077919 62327 New home no: 02392-042547 Mobile (as before): 07908-529318 New E-Mail [email protected] 2 we sit outside. Treecreepers are For two weeks we watched the fran- small, brown-spotted and white, tic coming and going, careful not to with a pointed and slightly curved attract marauding woodpeckers bill which is ideal for and jays. We then winkling out bugs in the watched as the parents bark of trees. They are appeared to be coaxing rather furtive and reclu- the young to leave and sive as they move hoped we would see mouse-like up the trunk the great event, but no, of a tree (they always go we suddenly found they up; our more frequent were gone, and that visitor, the nuthatch, was that. We were sad always points down- about that too. wards). David Dobson 25 YEARS AGO STEEP VILLAGE HALL The Memorial Village Hall was built in the early 1920s in memory of the twenty -nine parishioners who fell in the First World War. The land was given to the parish by Bedales, and originally run by The Village Club, but then handed over by the Parish Council in the 1930s. History has it that the artist Stanley Spen- cer offered to paint a mural in the Hall but was turned down, as was a similar offer to Bedales. He moved instead to Burghclare near Newbury where his memorial chapel is now owned by the National Trust and is a place of pilgrimage for artists from all over the world. … Rollo Wicksteed Copyright. The content of the newsletter (excluding the ads) is the copy- right of Steep PCC, unless otherwise indicated. If in doubt, contact the editor. 3 DIARY DATES We meet at 2.15pm at the Physic Garden Details Susan Kuruber 261351 STROUD REVELS Saturday 28th July see page 21 WELCOME CLUB There will be no meetings in July and August. We start again on September 13th. [email protected] Judy 267362 HISTORY CLUB There are no meetings in July and August but see special lectures ← STEEP FLOWER SHOW Steep Flower Show, Saturday 25th August, seems a long way ahead at STEEP PARISH COUNCIL the moment, but it is time to be Next meeting will be at 7.30 p.m. on planning. Schedules went out with Monday, 2nd July in the small meet- the May newsletter, and will be ing room at Steep Village Hall. available from the usual places – STROUD EVENING WI the Harrow, the church, Petersfield 10 July - Guided Walk around Library or directly from me. You can Hambledon with Andrew Negus also find schedules and entry forms followed by a pub supper. on the village website, 14 August - Park Project in Uganda www.steepvillage.com. with Joe Williams, QECP Ranger. Steep Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. As always for an event like this there Enquiries: Pauline Cook - 263406 are jobs needing done on the day. If you would be able to spare half an STROUD AFTERNOON WI hour or so helping in the tea tent or 19 July - Handbags - a historical with games or stalls, please contact journey with Sara Delves. the Chairman, Judy Thompson 16 August - Summer Meeting. (01730 267362). 4 If you have never entered before, do disappointing, especially for chil- please consider it this year. We are dren. a very friendly show, and most of us As usual the show will be held in are by no means experts. There are Bedales’ grounds, and we are very over a hundred classes, not just grateful to them for their continuing flowers and produce but also arts support. There will be welly-wanging, and crafts, cookery, photography, splat the rat and other games, a flower arranging, children’s classes produce stall and the usual deli- – in short something for everyone. cious teas. Live music this year is New this year is a class for a deco- from a new ensemble, drawn from rated wheelbarrow of any size, any- the Petersfield Guitar Academy. The thing from a builder’s barrow to a show is open from 2pm with prize- child’s toy - the possibilities are end- giving at 4 o’clock. A great day out less. for the whole family. A few hints for exhibitors. Please Kate Ford (secretary) read the schedule carefully, and 01730 262890 please also read the hints at the beginning. In collections of vegeta- STANSTED PLAYERS bles you may not show two varieties Green Stockings by A E W Mason of the same vegetable (eg cherry August Wednesday 29th Thurs- tomatoes and ordinary tomatoes). day 30th Friday 31st and Saturday In the domestic section you must September 1st all at 7.30 pm at not use commercial jars or tops, and Olivier Theatre, Bedales School all bottles and jars should be la- £5 from Alastair Langlands, Spar- belled, including the full date. Eggs row's Hanger, Selborne GU34 3JN should be displayed in a basket or telephone 01420 511 371 on a plate, not in a commercial egg [email protected] box. There are always a few exhibits also available at the door which are disqualified, which is very COPY FOR THE SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER not later than midday on Wednesday 15th August To David Dobson at Downgate Cottage, Steep Marsh, GU32 2BE Or [email protected] and [email protected] FOR STROUD to Jeremy Mitchell at Fairlands, Finchmead Lane, Stroud GU32 3PF or [email protected] - tel 267214 5 Convert your aga range cooker to Electric Power Reduce running costs up to 80% Hobs and ovens controlled independently Rapid heat up time from cold Hampshire Cookers Conversions www.hcconversions.co.uk Call Paul on 07730 988361 No Job Too Big or Too Small 6 STEEP AND STROUD NEWS REVISION TO STEEP BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS RECORD AND COMPILATION OF A STEEP LOCAL HERITAGE ASSET LIST The Steep Buildings and Monu- this means that Steep has a unique ments Record was prepared as part architectural and cultural heritage, of the Steep Parish Plan and pub- which needs to be more widely rec- lished in October 2012. It identified ognised and respected. those buildings and monuments in In addition to the statutory list, Steep of interest from an historic or National Planning Guidance has literary point of view. It was recog- strengthened the importance of nised that it would require regular identifying unlisted ‘heritage assets’ updating and revision. Only a limited - buildings, monuments, places, or number of the documents were pub- landscapes that have a degree of lished and no more are available. significance meriting consideration The original record was based on in planning decisions. Updating the published and on-line sources, many Record would assist the compilation of the photographs being taken es- of an asset list. pecially for the purpose. Since then, the Steep History Group has investi- Steep Parish Council has agreed to gated and recorded local history for the revision of the Buildings and Steep and has particularly identified Monuments Record and to compile material about families and person- a local heritage asset list for Steep alities that supplements the original in collaboration with the South building records. Downs National Park and East Hampshire District Council. Steep Parish has an extraordinary number of buildings and monu- Consultation with the community ments which through the influence and the public nomination of local of the Arts and Crafts Movement has heritage assets will be undertaken given it an importance comparable this summer and anyone who would to contemporary centres in the Cots- like to get involved or contribute, is worlds. Together with the involve- requested to get in touch.