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 3 AUGUST 1860

CORRESPONDENCE – ANDOVER BRASS BAND

Sir: All lovers of music must have heard with delight that the above Band under the able direction of Mr H Beare, was able to favour the town by coming out once a week (Monday nights) to play a selection of music. They kept their promise and were in the High Street three or four Mondays evenings following, and performed many pieces which gave great satisfaction. There were many respectable people about listening to the performances, who expressed a willingness to aid a subscription for the benefit of the performers. Since then, great regret has been expressed that the musicians are not able to continue their performance on account of the disturbances created by the children. If our much-respected mayor would kindly request one or two of the police force to take some little trouble in maintaining quiet, he would confer a great favour on the inhabitants, and also on his humble servant. T.B.C.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 4 AUGUST 1899

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF GOVERNMENT MONEY

At the Andover County Bench on Friday last Valentine Arthur Drayson, who has been employed as a government civilian clerk at Tedworth House, was brought up on a charge of embezzling £33 15s 1d, the property of the government. Evidence of arrest on a warrant was given by PC Boyle, who stated that when he went to prisoner’s house at Tedworth he found that he had made an attempt to commit suicide by cutting his throat. From then until the present time the prisoner had been an inmate of the Andover Cottage Hospital to enable him to recover from his self-inflicted injuries. As to the alleged embezzlement, the evidence showed that the prisoner was entrusted with the money for government purposes, and instead of carrying out instructions, absconded with it. On this evidence, prisoner was remanded until Friday when the case is to be fully investigated, and it is understood that a second charge of attempted suicide will be preferred against him. He was remanded to Winchester in custody.  

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 1924

CORRESPONDENCE – POLICE TRAPS IN ANDOVER DISTRICT

Sir: An impression one might get after reading Mr Elkins’ letter in your issue of 18 July is that the traders of Andover care nought for law, law breakers, fatal accidents or anything else, so long as they have plenty of business to occupy their time and their coffers. There are two very good reasons why Mr Elkins should know that such is not the case. One is that he himself is a trader, and the other is that apparently, he is an ex-police officer. Of course, as a trader he may consider himself to be in a class quite alone, but this the Andover traders have in common with him – they appreciate the way in which the police carry out their duties. The primary object of the Chamber of Trade is to promote trade in the borough and district, and the meanest intellect will appreciate that success in this direction will benefit the town generally. For a town of this size to be even partially boycotted by the motoring public is quite a serious matter, and if it possible to alter this state of affairs it is surely a matter for consideration. Mr Elkins suggests that the police be more active everywhere, and there is no doubt if such were the case Andover would benefit and I would champion that. Yours faithfully, G E Collins, Hon Sec Andover and District Chamber of Trade.  

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 5 AUGUST 1949

CORRESPONDENCE - OVERLOOKED COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

While the Soviet Union was still our ally, and not, as now alas, our enemy, there was some excuse for placing a publication called ‘Soviet News’ in our public library. What possible excuse can there be for a continuance of the practice now? It is true that one does not have to read the thing, but it is equally true that there are some who do read it; and to judge by what one has seen of these, they are not the sort of people who would be able to read subversive literature unharmed. One must charitably suppose that ‘Soviet News’ has remained on the library list by mistake. The committee of a very admirable institution, for which as ratepayers, we are all grateful, might do very well to look into the matter. Yours faithfully, A User of the Library.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 5 AUGUST 1977

GARAGE COTTAGE MUST STAY

In the way. Ford Cottage in Chantry Street. (Image: Valentine) Crumbling Ford Cottage must stay at Pontings, despite the garage’s offer to re-site the building so that new development can be carried out. On Thursday, the council’s planning committee considered the proposals by the West Street garage to re-develop its east and west sites. Pontings need to improve the layout of the buildings to increase efficiency but does not wish to move away from the site. The firm claims that Ford Cottage is falling down and has offered to arrange to have the cottage moved and placed elsewhere. Ford Cottage is a 16th century timber-framed building with later alterations. It is a Grade II listed building and a 1975 appeal against a refusal for its demolition considered that there was not a good enough reason for its demolition then. But if the cottage were to be used, fire and other safety precautions would have to be enforced and Pontings claim the building is just not practical for use. The sub-committee recommended the re-development in principle except that Ford Cottage must stay and that the proposals to the west of the site should be re-cast to provide a new access to West Street abandoning the access to Portland Grove. It was also recommended that the provision of a permanent pedestrian access between the Cricklade complex and West Street car park be investigated. The same meeting recommended that the council should not acquire Portland Grove by compulsory purchase.