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 21 SEPTEMBER 1860

BOROUGH REGISTRATION

The annual court for revising the Voters’ List was held at the Guildhall was held on Tuesday before G N Oxenham, revising barrister. New claimants to be added to the list had to show that they occupied a house worth £10 or more in rent. Henry Gregory claimed for a house occupied by him in New Street, owned by Mr Samuel Turner, for which he paid £9 per annum but that he was liable for repairs which in the last year amounted to 30 shillings. Auctioneer and valuer, Mr R Drew, had inspected the premises and considered £10 to be a fair rental but Messrs Moore and Son of the same profession estimated the premises at £9 per annum. The claimant also had to admit that repairs in the past had cost him only 14 or 15 shillings annually. His Honour concluded that as Mr Gregory had failed to show a £10 rental on the last year the claim would be disallowed.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 1899

STONEHENGE

Dr Eddowe read a paper recently on some new observations on Stonehenge. He believed that the 30 large upright stones with the intervals indicate that the circle was divided into 60 equal parts, that the grooved stone which is the best selected, worked and preserved stone in the whole ruin was used for supporting a pole in a definite and permanent manner, and that the signs of wear at the mouth of the groove, together with the two worn horizontal hollows or waists, and the dimples on the back of the stone, indicate both how and where the pole was fixed. Such a pole would form the pointer of a sun dial for daily observation – or more importantly indicate the time of year by the length of its shadow. The levelled avenue along which the sun’s shadow would fall about 3 pm and the flat ‘slaughter stone’ with its arrow-headed marking seemed, he thought, to support that view.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 1924

THE CORONET PAVILLION

It is not often the case that an advertised company fails to turn up at the Coronet Pavilion in Junction Road, but unforeseen circumstances were responsible for this state of affairs this week. The Impromptus were coming but something detained them. Mr Dudley Moore however, was soon in touch with headquarters, and at the usual hour on Monday evening the Futurists had taken the boards. We know nothing about the capabilities of the former company but if they are better than the Futurists, they are very good indeed. With black and red as an effective background and the artistes dressed as pierrots and pierrettes, in the first half at any rate they put up a jolly good programme, with heaps of mirth and frivolity. The singing was a marked feature of the proceedings, whether in soprano, tenor or chorus. The accompaniments and the trick playing of the pianist were decidedly clever. A dainty little dancer of tender years amused with clogs and keeping time to the applause on a little mat not much larger than her feet. While many of the songs, solo and concerted, were old favourites, a few of the stories we heard were new and quite original. The tongue-twisting propensities of the light comedian were highly diverting and the patter with his chief was hilarious. The skits were very entertaining and Blobs, as the police recruit, sent the audience into screams. He obtained the easy beat he was after, but it did not turn out as rosy as anticipated. All in all, the two hours programme was as popular as any we have seen recently.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1949

ANDOVER’S OLDEST SPORTSMAN

Mr A W Barton of Junction Road who at 84 is the town’s oldest sportsman, played for Andover Bowling Club captain’s side against the vice-captain’s team on Thursday, which was the last match of the season. In the same rink with him was another founder member of the club, Mr A G Baker. The only other founder member still on the club’s playing strength, Mr D Soper, was in the vice-captain’s selection. Mr Barton was formerly in business in the town as a hairdresser in premises on part of the site now occupied by Woolworth’s stores in the High Street, and although following his retirement he left the borough, he returned some years ago. He has not been a regular match player this season but his interest in the game is undiminished. Like other veterans, he has been giving the youngsters a chance!

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1977

COUNCIL AGREE LAND REQUEST

About 20 house owners in Valencia Way and Vigo Road, Andover, are to have bigger gardens – thanks to Test Valley Council. But, it is only on a temporary basis, and the land will eventually have to be handed back to the council. The council-owned land lies between the two roads and is zoned as open space for use as allotments and a possible pedestrian link to the town centre. At present the land is overgrown and no money has been earmarked in the estimates for maintenance or clearing the land. House owners in Valencia Way had asked if the council would allow the land to be incorporated into their gardens – on a temporary basis. The council’s Recreation and Amenities Committee was told that the scheme would involve initial clearing of the land, using a tractor, and fencing off into individual plots. The officers pointed out: ‘Members may wish to consider whether or not this method of dealing with the land could be considered a way of jumping the allotment waiting list which, at present, totals 219 although the council has no finance available to lay out further allotments at the present time.’ The committee agreed that the officer negotiate temporary licences with interested owners in Valencia Way and Vigo Road on terms to be agreed.