Each week the Advertiser's heritage writer David Borrett brings readers interesting news stories and letters from editions of the paper from years gone by.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 1859

VICTORIA HOUSE, NEWBURY STREET, ANDOVER

C Fay, grocer and general dealer of the above address, begs to call the attention of the public to his celebrated teas, which for strength, flavour and economy in prices not to be equalled. To all overs of good home cured bacon, pay a visit to this establishment.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 1898

FIRE

Just before midnight on Friday last, a fire was discovered in one of the bedrooms at the Eagle Inn, Chantry Street, which, but for being found out in time, must have ended disastrously. It appears that Mrs Wear, an old lady of over 80 years of age, slept in this room, and for some reason struck a match, part of which fell on the bed hangings, which caught fire. She was unable to raise an alarm, but fortunately Mr H Wear, the landlord, had not retired, and the smell of the burning fabric reaching him, he instituted a search, with the result that on entering the old lady’s room he found the bed curtains aflame. The fire bell was immediately rung, and members of the fire brigade turned out quickly, and with other assistance the fire was got under just in time to prevent serious conflagration. Mrs Wear was removed to Mr Nutley’s house, greatly upset by the occurrence, but fortunately she has in great measure recovered from the shock, which to one of her age might have been serious.

(Compiler’s note: The Eagle Inn in Chantry Street was to catch fire four years later and virtually burn to the ground, after which it was demolished and a pair of houses built on the site).

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 14 DECEMBER 1923

ENHAM: THE PRINCE OF WALES’ GIFT

The Prince of Wales [later King Edward VIII] has sent £50 towards the cost of a cottage which is being built by the Enham Village Centre, at Enham, and which will be known as Prince of Wales Cottage. When completed it will be inhabited by a disabled ex-serviceman and his family. Four cottages, known as the Royal Cottages have already been built as the result of the sum which was sent to the Centre last year by Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles (being half of the amount obtained from the exhibition of her wedding presents), and there is also an Alexandra Cottage.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER 1948

NATIONAL AWARD TO WHERWELL BREEDER

Mr J A Smith, the well-known breeder and exhibitor of Wherwell Poultry Farm, Andover, has added more awards to his long list of show successes. At the National Poultry Show at Olympia last week, when there was a record entry of 4,000 birds to be judged. Mr Smith was awarded a special prize for the best Light Sussex in the show, together with two first prizes, one second and one third for this breed. He also secured two first prizes for Black Leghorn, and a third prize for Rhode Island Red. First prize for the best pair of layers and second prize for the best pair of table birds also went to Mr Smith’s entries, and he was awarded second prize for his stately White Turkey.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER 1976

DROWNING SORROWS IN WINE

Andover and District Winemakers Circle, the first to be formed in the country, were happy to be the last formal hosts to the ‘801st’ and final holder of the title ‘Mayor of Andover’ at their annual dinner and dance last week, at the Fiesta Hall. Welcoming the mayor, Cllr Peter Sumner and Mrs Sumner, the chairman, Maurice Bellinger, said how many people shared his own sorrow that this privilege was being lost to the population of Andover. These sentiments were reiterated by the circle president, Mr Cyril Berry, a founder member of the circle and a former mayor of Andover himself. Special welcome was also extended to the two winemakers from New Zealand, Mr and Mrs Tom Verney, of New Plymouth, North Island, who were on the last few days of their holiday in England before flying home for Christmas. Dancing was to the Nutones. A raffle, organised by Mrs Pauline Hurford, raised £27.50 for the Mayor’s Appeal.

(Compiler’s note: The late Peter Sumner, who died only recently, was the last mayor for Andover, and his period of tenure lasted only six months. In 1974 the borough council had become part of the newly-created Test Valley District Council which was an amalgamation of Romsey and Andover borough councils and the two rural district councils of the surrounding villages. However, Andover was still able to elect a mayor as head of the Andover Charter Trustees, a council-like body created in 1974 to retain some degree of Andover self-government based on its ancient charters. But in 1976 Test Valley District Council was granted borough status by HM Queen Elizabeth II, to become Test Valley Borough Council. This legal enhancement forced the abolition of the Andover Charter Trustees and the associated mayoralty with immediate effect and Peter Sumner was thrown from office. Since 2010, Andover has had a town council that permits a mayor but the role of that council is largely an advisory one with no real administrative powers apart from what is voluntarily devolved to it by TVBC).