Wargrave Local History Society

December 2001

The Wargrave Local History Society held a successful Christmas Party in December, when Alan Copeland gave an enjoyable audio visual presentation as an entertainment. The theme was "Curiosities on Your Doorstep" - a look at reminders from the past to be found in the Chilterns area. Alan began with several of the old style road signs, which had words as well as diagrams, and then took us on a picture ‘tour’ from Marlow via local villages to Henley, Nettlebed and Oxford, and back through Pangbourne and Goring Heath. Amongst the many interesting items explained were the series of milestones which have Hatfield shown more prominently than London, a private full size railway near Henley, the stories of the Medmenham Ferry, and the spire of St Brides Church, Fleet Street, to be found at Remenham. Further afield, ‘lock-ups’ were seen (places mainly used where drunken men could be kept overnight!), various ‘memorials’, and the oldest Church aided school in the country, built in the fifteenth century and still in use at Ewelme. The evening concluded with festive fare that had been prepared by Helen de Carles and Wendy Smith, and a punch to Dick Worthy’s traditional recipe.

On Tuesday, January 8th Angela Spencer-Harper’s subject is Dipping into the Wells, when she will talk about the history of the Chiltern villages of Stoke Row and Highmoor, whilst on Tuesday, February 12, Sheila and Patrick Rooney will tell us about the various Fires of Windsor Castle, and the subsequent restoration work. Our meetings start at 8 pm, and take place in the Hannen Room. Our meetings start at 8 pm, and take place in the Hannen Room.

All interested are welcome to all Society meetings. Please contact me, Peter Delaney, on 940 3121 for more information about the Society.