Back Through The Pages: Advertiser stories from the past

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 1860

STEALING PEACHES

Charles Ball, a lad about 12 years old, was charged with stealing a quantity of peaches, the property of Mr Frederick Ellen, from a garden in Eastfield, near the new buildings. Alfred Garrett, another boy, deposed: About three weeks ago I saw Charles Ball get over Mr Ellen’s fence near the new house. I did not see what he did in the garden, as the palings were so high, but about five minutes afterwards he came over the fence again, when I saw him pull about seven or eight peaches out of his pocket. He went on up the path and hid the peaches in the hedge. Before he put the peaches in the hedge I saw him give one to a boy named Waters. We then went on together, and I told Ball I would tell Mr Ellen. The defendant said that several boys had been playing together and it was Garrett who had asked him to ‘bunch’ him over the palings into Mr Ellen’s garden, which he did. He did not know what Garrett was going to do, but he came back in about five minutes with some peaches and gave defendant one. As there was no other evidence forthcoming and the other boys who were in company with the defendant could not be found, the magistrates adjourned the case till Monday next, in order to give time for further enquiry.   

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 1899

STONEHENGE

The feeling throughout South Wilts is strongly in favour of the government acquiring Stonehenge at a reasonable price for the nation. On Wednesday night, at a meeting of the Wilton Town Council, it was decided to petition the government in favour of acquiring the ancient monuments, and the council are calling upon the county authority and the archaeological and antiquarian societies to support the petition. Several members of the council questioned very much whether Sir Edward Antrobus has the power of selling the ground around Stonehenge, which has been open to the public from time immemorial. There are several roads and footpaths in close proximity to the monument, and the council were unanimous in their opinion that the right of the public to the use of those roads should be maintained. Stonehenge is a source of considerable revenue to Salisbury and the district.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 29 AUGUST 1924

ANDOVER AIRMEN KILLED AT GOODWOOD

On Tuesday afternoon, the news reached Andover that one of the machines belonging to the Andover Aerodrome had crashed at Goodwood and a little later the sad information came through that Flying Officer Harcourt-Vernon and Air Mechanic Carpenter had both been killed by the fall. The unfortunate officer was a son of Mr and Mrs C J Harcourt-Vernon, of Clery, Wrexham; he followed up his years at Bedford School by entering Sandhurst in 1917 and two years later he was subaltern with the 1st Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers. While at Sandhurst he played rugby for the college, and later he played for the army at the same game. He was next attached to the Royal Air Force, and came to live in Andover as a consequence. He represented the RAF in the rugby field and became their champion at putting the shot and throwing the javelin. He had gained considerable experience as a flying officer and the friends he had made in Andover were exceedingly sorry that his career had ended so unexpectedly. On Wednesday an inquest was held, when the evidence was that the machine was engaged in conjunction with troops and was flying slowly at only sufficient height to clear the trees. When making a turn the machine lost speed, and dived into a field of cut corn. The height was not sufficient to give the pilot the necessary time to recover. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1949

CORRESPONDENCE – HYGIENE IN SWEET SHOPS

An Andover housewife says: I can add to last week’s ‘Opinion’ regarding food in shops and the lack of proper supervision by managements. One day this week I entered a store in Andover and asked for some sweets for my child. Whilst the young lady assistant was taking my order she was busily engaged in scratching her head with her fingers. Those self-same fingers plunged down among the unwrapped sweets which I had selected and she fingered them as she weighed them up. The same procedure was repeated for the next customer. During the space of a few seconds that assistant had touched her hair, handled a ration book and fingered money, and at the same time handled my sweets. Now, is that really hygienic? What is more, the firm in question actually has scoops on sale.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1977

FACCOMBE ESTATE UP FOR SALE

The village of Faccombe is to be sold later this month. The estate – owned by the late Mrs Sophie Isobella Butler-Henderson who died in June – is expected to fetch up to £3 million. The estate, which covers the entire village, comprises around 2,500 acres of farmland and woods; about 40 houses and cottages; a public house and the 42-bed-roomed Faccombe Manor, the home of the Butler-Hendersons for the past 40 years. The estate – world-famous for its prize-winning pedigree herd of Red Poll cattle – is one of the largest estates still in private hands in the south of England. The unique sale is bound to create considerable interest in the property and agricultural markets. In addition to the estate, which has a population of just 100, Faccombe boast the Church of St Barnabas which was consecrated in 1866. The village is a farming community clustered around the impressive manor house and its farmlands. The Lady of the Manor, Mrs Butler-Henderson who died at the age of 89, and her husband, Capt. Eric Butler-Henderson acquired the estate in 1936. He died in 1955 and Mrs Butler-Henderson remained at Faccombe, efficiently supervising the day-to-day running of the huge estate. She is survived by five children, 18 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.