ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 13 JUNE 1890

BOROUGH BENCH.— This Day.

Before Messrs.H.Dowling and T.H.E.Compton

A REFRACTORY PAUPER.—John Barker, a tramp, was brought up in custody charged with refusing to perform his allotted task while an inmate of the casual wardat the Andover Union on the 12 inst.—Newton Rumboll, the master of the Workhouse, said prisoner was admitted as an inmate of the casual ward on Wednesday evening. On the following morning he was allotted the usual task of breaking 7 cwt.of stones; but although visited two or three times during the day , when evening arrived prisoner had only broken about 90lbs. out of the 7 cwt., a quantity any ordinary person could have got through in an hour. Witness then sent for the police and gave him into custody.—Prisoner was sent to gaol for seven days with hard labour, the Chairman remarking that this kind of offence deemed to be increasing, and that if lenient sentences did not have the desired effect they must make them heavier.

[Editor’s note: 7 cwt = 784lbs = c.356kgs.]

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 11 JUNE 1915

WHITCHURCH PETTY SESSIONS — OWING TO THE WAR

John Lance was summoned for being asleep whilst in charge of a horse and cart at Ashe Warren on May 12, and pleaded guilty.—Dr.F.A.Coates, of Whitchurch, spoke to driving his motor along the road at Ashe Warren, and seeing a man in charge of a horse and cart with his head forward. Witness sounded his road clearing device but the man took no notice. Later, when he had awakened the man he asked for his name and address two or three times, but defendant refused to give the information.—Defendant admitted he was asleep. He had been very busy baking bread for the soldiers at Overton all night and he was tired and dropped off.—The Chairman said the magistrates were of the opinion that defendant was to blame, but as his firm had done all they could for the soldiers they would give him a warning and dismiss the case on payment of half the costs, 2s.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 14 JUNE 1940

HAVE YOU ERECTED YOURS? — AIR RAIDS SHELTERS SHOULD BE READY

As from Wednesday, every householder who has received an Anderson shelter but had not erected it and covered it with the necessary earth committed an offence under the Defence Regulations, and is liable to substantial penalties unless he had previously informed his local authority in writing of his wish to keep the shelter and of the reason why it had not been properly erected and covered with earth.

If a householder has given the local authority a good reason for the non-erection of the shelter, for instance, because there is no able-bodied person in the house, and no help can be obtained from neighbours, the local authority may help him. If no communication has been sent, the householder will lose his shelter, as well as being liable to penalties.

Every shelter must be covered with 15 inches of earth on the top and 30 inches at the back and sides.

FIFTY YEARS AGO —11 JUNE 1965

TWO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOR ANDOVER?

The Roman Catholic Church authorities hope to build both a secondary and a primary school in Andover.

Negotiations are proceeding for a site to the rear of the Chapel River Press.

LORD DENNING AT ST.PAUL’S

Lord Denning of Whitchurch, Master of the Rolls and president of the Magna Carta Trust, read parts of the Magna Carta at a service yesterday in St.Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 750th anniversary of the great charter.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO —15 JUNE 1990

ANDOVER FIRM FOR SALE

The financial squeeze on farming has led to national group, Dalgety plc, deciding to sell off the long established Andover agricultural business, Watson and Haig.

General Manager, Andrew Martin, hoped 70 jobs in the Mylen Road showroom and engineering works would be safe, plus another 40 a t Alton and 12 on the Isle of Wight. The Winchester branch with 12 employees was disposed of a month ago.

“The decision to sell is not a shock in the present climate. The agriculture industry is having a tight time and this is reflected in farmers’ incomes. We shall continue to trade as normal.

Dalgety acquired Watson and Haig 20 years ago.

TEN YEARS AGO — 10 JUNE 2005

HISTORIC COTTAGE CAN BE MOVED

Planners have given the go-ahead for developers to rebuild Andover’s derelict Ford Cottage at another location — removing one of the main obstacles to redevelopment plans for the site next to the Chantry Centre.

Kallash Estates want to build a hotel on the existing site of the ramshackle Grade II listed cottage.

T K Maxx have already said they would be interested in taking over the retail outlet and Travelodge would provide a 50-bed hotel.

There would also be some homes.

But the planning application was withdrawn last year because of a range of problems, including plans for the cottage.

Now members of Test Valley Borough Council’s northern area planning committee have given permission for the cottage to be re-erected and re-furbished on land near to St Mary’s Church.

They also gave the thumbs up to listed building consent for the same process.

The plan involves a detailed specification for re-erection and, where appropriate, repair of the super-structure.

The proposed use of the cottage in its new location would be residential, and therefore the plans involve a small extension at the rear to accommodate a flight of stairs linking ground and first floor levels.

Cllr Ian Carr, leader of the council, said: “It’s about time this happened. We’ve been talking about this for 20 years.”

Nut there is still a long way to go because Kailash Estates can do nothing until they get listed building consent to remove the cottage from its current location.