Back Through the Pages: Advertisers from years gone by

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 25 MAY 1860

CORRESPONDENCE

Sir: I see in your paper that Mr Thomas Alexander Banks has presented a petition to the secretary of state, complaining of the treatment he received from the magistrates of Andover. I hereby declare, as senior magistrate for the borough of Andover, that Mr Banks received every comfort that any person or any magistrates dare to allow to anyone lying under the dreadful charge Mr Banks did at that time. It is my sincere wish (as one of the committing magistrates), that the real offender might be convicted, therefore I will add fifty pounds to the government reward, and on the same conditions, the fifty pounds to remain in force for one year from this date, 14 May 1860. Robert Dowling, Cold Harbour House, Andover. (Compiler’s note: Mr Banks was accused of murdering draper William Parsons in a field off the Salisbury Road on 22 November 1858. The Andover magistrates committed him and his wife for trial at Winchester but after spending several months in the prison there waiting for trial, the judge threw out the case on the basis that the evidence was all circumstantial which would not stand up in court. Banks and his wife were then immediately released. He subsequently accused the Andover magistrates of being too eager to convict him because he had earlier criticised them in print over a quite different case brought by him earlier in the year.)

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 26 MAY 1899

RESIDENCE FOR LET

To be let, at £66 per annum, a recently-erected residence, situated on high ground, just outside the town on the Winchester Road, with very fine views, standing in about three acres of ground. The house, which has been designed by a London architect, is built of red brick with tiled roof, and both inside and outside will appeal to a gentleman of taste. On the ground floor are entrance hall, dining room, drawing room (opening to a large conservatory), kitchen, scullery, larder, WC, and lavatory, servants’ WC, and coal store. On first floor – four principal bedrooms, bath room, and WC. On second floor – three secondary bedrooms and store room. Hot and cold water supply throughout the house. For order to view, apply to Mr Allan Herbert, Estate Agent, Andover. (Compiler’s note: probably Digby Croft, built by Henry Gamman in 1899.)

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 MAY 1924

THUNDERSTORMS

On Tuesday afternoon and evening, Andover was visited by thunderstorms, and on each occasion the bottom of High Street and Winchester Street went under water and also a portion of Bridge Street. Among the premises to suffer from Nature’s spring clean were the two principal hotels, a seed store, and a solicitor’s office, while another hotel was damaged from the pressure on the roof causing an inflow at the top of the premises. The new storm water drain made a great deal of difference to the rise of water in Winchester Street and South Street. We are informed that the damage caused will be brought to the notice of the town council with a view to improvement in municipal draining.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 27 MAY 1949

FIRST LADY MAYOR

History was made at Andover on Tuesday, when for the first time in its 700-year history as a borough, the mayoralty was conferred upon a woman – Cllr Mrs Olive Harvey, who has chosen as her mayoress, her school-time friend Miss Elvie Cooper. The new mayor, who has been a member of the council for three years, and retained her seat at the recent election, has always with her husband, been prominent in the business and social life of the town, and their families have been intimately connected with its development. Moreover, Mrs Harvey is a native of Andover and has served on a number of committees outside of her borough council work, as well as being an outstandingly successful member, carrying the very difficult job of chairman of the Housing Committee, showing the tact and strength of character so necessary to such a task. Council members who elected her spoke one by one to praise her qualities and to wish her well in the coming year, though all official documents will continue to refer to HIS Worship the Mayor, which, perhaps surprisingly, is the correct form whether or not the incumbent of the office is a man or a lady.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 27 MAY 1977

‘GREENISH LIGHT’ IN THE SKY

Two Cricklade College students have reported spotting unidentified flying objects on Tuesday night. Just before 11 pm, 18-year-old Wayne Stevens, of Strathfield Road, Andover, was looking out of his bedroom window towards the south when he saw a large oval greenish light moving rapidly eastwards. The oval shape then seemed to stop suddenly and completely disappeared. About 10 minutes later, Wayne spotted another, or perhaps the same, oval object flying eastwards very rapidly across the sky. The movements of that craft were rapid and more pronounced. It then stopped suddenly, appeared to dive abruptly before climbing steeply again. It then came north towards Andover and seemed to get bigger before making a turn westwards and disappearing completely out of sight. Wayne’s earlier sighting was confirmed by 18-year-old Joy Robertson, of Newcomb Close, Andover, who also saw the large oval greenish light.