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 22 JUNE 1860

ANOTHER FIRE AT THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE INN

On Sunday evening last, a third attempt was made to destroy the farm buildings adjoining the above inn by fire, the result of which was that the barn, waggon, stable, sheds and the whole of the outbuildings were entirely consumed. That it was the cowardly act of an incendiary cannot be doubted, as the buildings were on fire at the commencement in two different places, 50 or 60 yards apart. A man named Poore, a carter in the employ of Mr Marsh, the occupier of the premises, was arrested on the spot, on suspicion of being concerned in the outrage.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 JUNE 1899

HATHERDEN – A SINGULAR OCCURRENCE

Whilst several men working in a field at Hatherden were resting at dinner time, their attention was drawn to a young rabbit which had run from its hole a short distance away. At the same time a stoat was seen to emerge from the bank and pounce upon the youthful bunny, which at once raised a squeal. This alarm apparently roused the parent rabbit in the hole, as instantly it came out with a rush and bowled the stoat over quite unawares, the result being that both the old rabbit and the young were able to escape back to their burrow. There is no doubt but that the parent rabbit by its action was the means of saving the life of its offspring, and the incident must be chronicled as quite singular.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 20 JUNE 1924

CORRESPONDENCE – THE AVENUE ROAD

Sir: I notice in your paper of Friday last the decision of the town council to take over the Avenue road, and to make the residents pay the whole cost of putting the road in order. Alderman Webb ‘reminded the council that the question cropped up ten years ago, and the proposition was then carried that the Avenue should be taken over. If the work had been done then, the cost would have been much less.’ Cllr Humber said that for many years the public had enjoyed the use of the Avenue and they should pay something towards the cost of making up the road. Surely sir, this is only fair. The public have used the Avenue since it was made 21 years ago. It has been well looked after, there is no cleaner road in the town, and it has not cost the town council one penny. Eighteen houses, including Croye, have been built on the Avenue and have paid rates ever since they have been inhabited. The owners or occupiers have paid towards the maintenance of the borough roads but the borough has not paid towards the maintenance of the Avenue. Now the town council proposes to make the owners of land on the Avenue pay the whole cost of putting the road in order according to the estimate of their surveyor. Surely this is neither fair nor just? Yours faithfully, J W Hayward, 15 Bishops Way, Andover.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 JUNE 1949

CORRESPONDENCE – NO HANDS

Sir: In the Vigo Road area, in particular, the dangerous practice of young people riding their bicycles with no hands on the handlebars is becoming a menace and will likely result in a fatal accident. They should be aware that if caught by the police they will be prosecuted. Furthermore, if the front wheel should happen to strike a stone, or the tyre burst, the rider will surely fly over the handle bars, break his neck, and have an earlier trip to the cemetery than he anticipates. The riders of cycles, particularly the ‘cocky’ ones who sail along with their hands in their pockets, with an air of ‘look at me, I’m clever’ will be sure to meet their Waterloo in time, but it is to be hoped that they finish up in a pond or river, and be taught a lesson they never forget.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 24 JUNE 1977

SELLING COUNCIL HOMES IS ‘IMMORAL’

Plans to sell council houses have been slammed as immoral by two Labour councillors. Cllr Dick Lawrence told Wednesday’s meeting of the Test Valley Borough Council’s Policy and Resources Committee that it was the statutory duty of the council to rent houses to people who could not afford to buy them. ‘I am totally opposed to this ridiculous plan to sell council houses. It is quite immoral even if there is only one person on the waiting list. If the tenant indicates he wants to buy then he ought to go over to the private sector.’ Cllr Bill Hennessy said that he knew the difficulty in trying to save for a deposit on a house and he felt that young couples would be badly hit. But Cllr Peter Sumner said that everyone should have a chance to buy. ‘Once a chap owns a home he smartens it up and it raises the tone of the area. We are not stopping people on the waiting list from getting houses because once a house is rented it is not an available unit and we will only sell to people already in the houses. The profits will then be used to buy land and build more.’