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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

LOCAL HISTORY

Racecourse revamp Plans for high-rise development are approved, November 17, 2011 OLD MEMORIES REVIVED Extracts taken from past columns of the Newbury Weekly News

150 years ago November 23 1871 Material theft AT the Town Hall, on Monday before FL Coxe, Esq, Sarah Levy was brought up in custody, charged with having, at Hungerford, on the 18th Nov inst, feloniously stolen one woolen crossover, half a yard of Maltese lace, half a yard of imitation lace, one ostrich feather and half a yard of net, the property of Alfred Edward Allright, her master. Prosecutor is a draper, carrying on business in the High-street, and prisoner was employed in the capacity of a domestic servant. Recently, a fellow servant of prisoner’s was seen wearing a crossover belonging to Mrs Allright, the prosecutors wife, and she admitted having received it from Levy. This led to the boxes of both the servants being searched and prisoner was given charge of stealing them. Prisoner was given into the custody of Sergt Bennett upon the charge of stealing. Prisoner’s defence was that she found some of the articles, and amongst them the crossover, in the waste bag, and that Mrs Allright had told her anything she found there of any service to her, she was at liberty to take. This Mrs. Allright in her examination denied. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions, and was admitted to bail in the sum of £25.

churches in Thatcham. On Tuesday he reported that he had received about 50 blankets, which are to be taken by car to a collection centre in Reading today. Mr Whitaker said he would continue collecting blankets for a little longer, although most will be flown out to India at the end of this week. 25 years ago November 5 1996 £3m society plan NEWBURY and District Agricultural Society has revealed details of a £3 million plan for new buildings at Newbury Showground, which has already reopened old wounds between the society and its neighbours. The society already has outline planning permission, and intends to apply to Newbury District Council later this month for approval. However, Chieveley Parish Council chairman, Mr Denis Butcher, who, along with Lady Goff, led the successful charge against the society’s last plan, the Newbury Arena, has already criticised the new proposals, saying “It will threaten the whole future of Chieveley and Hermitage.” THE second phase of a £300m redevelopment of Newbury Racecourse, which will include 10 high-rise apartment blocks and a 123-bedroom hotel, has been given planning permission. The proposals, which will irrevocably change the town’s skyline, form part of a development for up to 1,500 homes at the racecourse, with permission for 421 homes in the western area of the 309- acre site, were approved by a single vote in September. The majority of councillors on West Berkshire Council’s western planning committee approved plans for a mix of 366 one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments, including 110 affordable homes, all of which will overlook the Mile Straight. An application for a 123-bedroom hotel, offices, stable lads’ hostel, a children’s nursery to replace the existing Rocking Horse Nursery and refurbishment of the existing stables, together with access, racecourse car parking for up to 629 spaces, landscaping and amenities for the central area, was also approved. Greenham Parish Council objected to the application owing to lack of parking, overshadowing and concerns that one lift per building was insufficient. Greenham parish councillor Diane Smith also added: “Visitors arriving into Newbury by train will wonder what time warp they have travelled to when they see a 1970s’ cityscape.” Phil Barnet, representing Newbury Town Council, and district councillor Roger Hunneman (Lib Dem) also argued that the 388 parking parking bays were insufficient. 10 years ago November 17 2011 High hopes

A HORSE and cart makes its way along a flooded road in Ecchinswell in 1903. Nearly 1,000 years before, Ecchinswell had been mentioned in the Domesday Survey, which established the population of England. In 1086, the village covered 900 acres, enough for 11 ploughs, 18 villagers, 12 smallholders, two slaves, two mills worth 100 pence and a meadow of three acres. n Anyone wishing to submit an image for this page should email editor@newburynews. co.uk, attaching a copy of the picture with details about it, or send it to: Local History, Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, RG14 2AD. acceptable, is to place the record on an inside wall of the church. It would have been better for the names to be directly under the public eye, but this being impossible, the interior of the church is the best place. Help for hospital “THE primary concern of this hospital, whether it becomes government owned or not, is, and always will be, the welfare of the sick,” said Dr.A Gordon Leggat, presiding at the annual meeting of the subscribers to Newbury District Hospital, on Friday afternoon. He asked those present who contacted other subscribers, and people responsible for donations and gifts, to emphasise that the hospital would still be in need of help, financial and otherwise. “Get rid of the idea that because you are giving to the hospital, you are giving to the government,” he added. Blanket boost DOZENS of blankets have been handed in at Thatcham Post Office this week as part of a nationwide campaign to help save the lives of East Pakistan refugees in India. An appeal for 50,000 blankets was made on television by Christian Aid the weekend before last, asking the public to send them to a London address. Mr Jack Whitaker, Thatcham postmaster and also village branch secretary for Christian Aid, decided it would be easier for people to drop blankets into his Post Office than send them through the post, and he circulated notices to all the 75 years ago November 14 1946 50 years ago November 11 1971

125 years ago November 26 1896 Sham shame

brow with cold water. The police ran hither and thither for assistance, and everybody did what they could to alleviate the man’s sufferings. The doctor arrived just as he was going off into another paroxysm. “Now then let’s have no more shamming,” said the medical shamming, I have fits,” said the man in humble tones. But there were no more fits just then, and the imposter was told to get home as quickly as he could. The doctor had recognised him as a former patient, who had given a lot of trouble by shamming a fit. On that occasion he got a bed and several good meals provided for him; next time he is promised a long pin, vigorously applied to a fleshy part, as a sure remedy for fits. gentleman sternly, “Please sir, I’m not Tribute to fallen NEXT year it will be possible for Newbury people to gather around their War Memorial in honour of the Fallen. That memorial is now assured. Sufficient funds have been raised to justify putting the work in hand, and additional donations will enable the committee to carry out the scheme. It now only remains for the committee to settle little points of detail upon which decision had been deferred. The chief of these is the method of recording the names, which, however, raises no difficulty. The diocesan authorities raised no objection to the bronze tablets proposed to be placed on the boundary railings. The alternative, which appears to be generally 100 years ago November 17 1921

A poor fellow was on the ground, kicking and

struggling, biting and fighting, and evidently in the worst of a fit. A kind-hearted lady close by, fetched him her softest pillow, her husband gently bathed his

THERE was a crowd near the Parish Church on Thursday afternoon,