- A HISTORY OF -
- HAWLEY CHURCH AND OTHER NOTES CONCERNING THE
Parish of Hawley
By
G. Vernon Cleare
1934
Foreward
My sincere thanks to Henry Churchyard for the
loan of the original materials, from which I have
transcribed the History of Hawley Church into this
document. I have added a poem written by Henry,
which I thought worthy of inclusion.
Mike Shaw
Harthover House, Hawley
mikeshaw9@btinternet.com
February, 2009
“Life’s Clock”
The clock of life is wound but once.
And no man has the power
To tell just where the hands will stop
At late or early hour
To loose one’s wealth is sad indeed;
To loose one’s health is more;
To loose one’s soul is such a loss
As no man can restore.
The present only is our own
Live, love, toil with a will Place no faith in “tomorrow” - for
The clock may then be still.
Henry Churchyard
- i-
Interior of Holy Trinity Church, Hawley.
- ii-
Preface to Magazine Articles.
Having been always keenly interested in history and
possessed of a mania for collecting notes and pictures on
historical subjects, I conceived the idea of writing a history of
the Parish of Hawley. Accordingly, I set to work and
collected what at first sight appeared as a great wealth of
material. On subsequent sifting, however, much of it was
found to have little direct connection with Hawley, and for a
while I gave up the idea. Later, I felt it was a shame that all
the energy spent in collecting my notes should be wasted and
I resolved to write them, up, merely for my own satisfaction
and the thought that some of my more intimate friends might
care to peruse them.
Several people, who have seen my manuscript, have
urged me to publish it; but I fear the demand would not be
sufficient to justify its production. The Vicar has agreed,
however, to publish it as a series of articles, which will
appear month by month in the Parish Magazine,
commencing in the July number. My manuscript is well
illustrated by photographs, but it will be impossible to
reproduce any of them here, as the cost of half-tone blocks is
prohibitive.
Doubtless many of my readers will know of interesting
facts and scraps of history which I have not managed to
discover. I sincerely hope that everyone who has any
information whatever regarding the history of our parish, or
who disagrees with any statement of mine, will not hesitate
to communicate with me. Thus, by united action, we may be
able, eventually, to build up a comprehensive booklet of
interesting facts about our parish which will serve as a useful
guide to new-comers to and future residents of Hawley.
G. VERNON CLEARE.
1934
- iii-
CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Introductory
Prehistoric Remains.
The Parish of Hawley.
The Parish Church.
The North Aisle.
The Baptistery.
The Chancel, Sanctuary &
South Aisle.
Mosaic Work.
The Stained Glass Windows.
The Tower and Spire.
The Organ and Choir.
The Vestry.
The Chapel of the Resurrection
Dormer Windows.
Lighting.
Litany Desk.
The Lych Gate.
The Vicarage.
The Church Plate.
Blackwater and the Old Coach Road.
Hawley Village.
Blackwater Fair.
The Railway.
The Poor's Allotments.
The Alms Houses.
Hawley Green.
Death of Queen Victoria.
Coronation of Edward VII.
The School.
- iv-
Page
1.
5.
7.
9.
11.
14.
14.
16.
18.
22.
26.
27.
28.
28.
28.
28.
29.
29.
30.
32.
35.
39.
39.
40.
41.
41.
44.
44.
44.
CONTENTS
Page
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
All Saints Home.
Addition to Churchyard.
Football Club.
Churchwardens’ Staves.
The Parish Room.
The Growth of the Population.
The Yateley Charities.
Prominent Residents of the Past.
Important Local Buildings and Institutions
A Blackwater Token.
An interesting entertainment
in January 1891.
Post War Events.
Conclusion.
45.
45.
45.
46.
46.
46.
47.
49.
56.
60.
63.
65.
69.
Appendix.
The New Altar Panels
- v-
71.
A History of Hawley Church
and other Notes concerning the
Parish of Hawley
1 – INTRODUCTORY
The parish of Hawley cannot boast of a noble history,
dating back for centuries, as some parishes can, for, until 1838,
it was but one corner of the Parish of Yateley and Yateley was
never very important, being only a chapelry of Crondall.
Nevertheless, there are a few facts which should prove
interesting at least, to those who look upon Hawley as ' home.'
The origin of the name Hawley is rather doubtful. In the
Crondall records it is spelt Hallie, while on an old map, dated
1609, it is spelt Haly, and on another old map Holly. Or we
might explain it by ’Haw,’ from the hawthorn, and ‘ley’ or ‘lea,’
which was the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘meadow’. Either
derivation might be correct for both the holly and the hawthorn
grow here in abundance.
Blackwater does not present the same difficulty, for it
obviously takes its name from the river on whose bank it
stands. The river Blackwater is an important river; not as
regards navigation perhaps, but it marks a boundary and it has
been a boundary for quite a thousand years as you shall
presently see.
Hawley was a tithing in what was known as the Hundred
of Crondall. The whole country was divided into hundreds for
administration or military purposes, but the origin of the name
- 1-
is somewhat obscure. By some it is supposed to imply the
territory occupied by a hundred families; by others the space of
a hundred ‘hides’ of land, or the capacity of providing a
hundred soldiers. Each hundred had its hundred court, with
powers similar to those of a manor court.
The Hundred of Crondall belonged originally to the
Crown, but was presented to Winchester Cathedral by King
Edgar the Peaceful on his accession, 'for propitiation of my sins
and those of my sons, and of the people of the entire kingdom,'
to quote the words of the actual document. Edgar, by the way,
ruled from 959 A.D. to 975 A.D., and was acknowledged, we
are told, as 'supreme ruler over the English and Danish people
from the Firth of Forth to the Channel, and even the chiefs of
the Scottish Highlands and the Princes of Wales paid him,
homage.' He claimed the proud title of "King of the whole Isle
of Albion."
In 976 A.D., King Edgar's gift was confirmed by a
document in which the boundaries of the famous place called
by the well-known name of Crundell are set down. I do not
propose to set down the whole of this document here, for,
although it is interesting enough, it does not directly concern
us. Next month we will consider the entry describing the
boundary in this immediate neighbourhood.
The following is reproduced from an old document which
describes tile boundaries of the Hundred of Crondall.
"Thence to the springs of the Icel to Ethelbrihite's
boundary at Ylfetham; thence out upon the heathfield to
Fugelmere, so to Bromhurst and along the bourn to Bedecanley,
thence over all the heathfield up to Hnaefs' shelf, thence west
along the boundary to the road; thence west to Coelbrihte's
stone and so west to the main dyke, so to the boundary to
Everscombe thence along the boundary to Mule's fen thence to
- 2-
Dudda's brook and along the stream to Bryda's ford, thence to
Fearnley ford, so into Escesslew."
This is as far as we need go with this extremely interesting
document and I will now try and modernise it and, I hope,
render it more intelligible.
Icel is the Itchel river, the course of which is followed to
Elvetham (Ylfetham). Fugelmere is probably the old name of
Fleet. The Fleet pond is not on the boundary, or it might mean
that; but it is possible that the pond extended in the shape of a
marsh, farther in those days than it does now. Bromhurst; now
Broomhurst, is the name of a farm on the boundary that still
exists. Then over the Heath field, now called Heath Wood, to
Hnaef's Shelf, which is evidently the old name of the Hartford
Bridge Flats. Coelbrihte's stone is apparently missing.
Everscombe is obviously Eversley. Then we come to Dudda's
brook which is the present Blackwater river.
At first sight there seems little connection between the two
and a little explanation is necessary. In ancient British, dhu is
black and dwr is water. The Saxons would no doubt spell these
words phonetically and they would become Dudda. In later
years the word was translated into English and became
Blackwater once more.
The next name mentioned is Bryda's ford. Now there were
several fords across the river until quite recently but I think the
ford which is now spanned by Blackwater bridge is most likely
to be the one referred to. For it must be remembered that the
London road has been a main road for many centuries and at
the time when this document, which we are perusing, was
written, Winchester was the capital of England and a
considerable amount of traffic must have forded the river at
Blackwater on its way there.
- 3-
At this point I would like to refer my readers to a
paragraph in Charles Kingsley’s "Hereward the Wake."
Kingsley, you will remember, was Rector of Eversley from
1844-1875.
He is describing Hereward’s journey from Ely to
Winchester as he went to surrender himself to King William.
We are told he passed "over the Blackwater by Sandhurst, and
along the Flats of Hartford Bridge, where the old furze grown
ruts show the trackway to this day…..
After this digression we must return to our document.
You will remember we had got to Bryda's ford which is now
spanned by Blackwater bridge. This bridge was built in 1805,
the year of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, but little may be seen
of the original structure; for in 1930 the bridge was considerably
widened and strengthened, in connection with the bridge
carrying the main London, Southampton and Exeter road over
the Southern Railway.
[2009 Plaque from original 1805 bridge now
incorporated into the 1930 bridge]
After Bryda's ford, Fearnley ford is next mentioned. This
must have been where the Blackwater is crossed by the bridge
at Frimley which carries the Portsmouth road. The old name of
Farnborough was Ferneberga, fern and "berga" meaning a hill.
Escesslew was probably the old name of Ash.
- 4-
PREHISTORIC REMAINS
We have seen how the river Blackwater was called by that
name by the ancient Britons, but I am going to take you back
several centuries earlier, to a time before Great Britain and
Ireland were islands, but were joined to the mainland of
Europe. All the land at this time was wild and uncultivated—
bleak moor, tangle jungle or undrained swamp—but it was not
uninhabited. In pursuit of the mammoth, the great ox and the
bear, had come a savage race of men, armed with rough stone
weapons, clad in skins and making their homes in caves.
The existence of these early people is proved by the
discovery of their rough stone implements, many of which have
been found locally. One of these paleoliths, as they are called,
was brought to light at Manor Lodge, Hawley, unearthed
probably on the spot where it was dropped from the hand of
some careless or terrified hunter. It was during draining
operations, the stone was thrown on one side with the other soil
and would probably have been reburied in the trench had it not
been noticed and rescued in time.
Stone tools of a much finer type than those of the
Paleolithic Age have also been found locally. These belong to a
race which succeeded the Old Stone Age men, and to whose
period of occupation the Archaeologist has given the name
Neolithic or New Stone Age. They were rude and barbarous it
is true, but much more advanced in the arts of life than their
predecessors.
This race gave way in turn to yet another race still more
advanced, for the pick and shovel reveal instruments, tools and
weapons of bronze and also pottery. These people, who are
thought to have occupied the land from 1000 to 500 B.C., buried
their dead in round "barrows" or mounds and it is chiefly from
- 5-
excavations of these that our knowledge of the Bronze Age has
been gained.
If you take a walk over The Flats and along the Private
Road to Minley Manor, just before you reach the lodge gates to
the estate yon will see on your left, a low mound, which is
thought to be one of the burial mounds of the Bronze Age. So
far as I know, it has never been opened, but it is marked as a
Tumulus on the Ordnance Survey Map.
A gravel pit opened by Mr. B. W. English at Moorplace
Farm, Yateley, has led to the discovery of Bronze Age pottery,
human bones and cinerary urns, proving the existence of a
burial ground there. The field, where the discoveries have
been made, is marked on all old maps and plans as "Ash-hole
Field" (apparently meaning a place for the depositing of ashes).
The cinerary urns were used to hold the ashes of human beings,
and probably explain how the field got its name many
hundreds of years ago.
Further, in connection with these people, we have the
remains of hill-top fortresses dotted here and there over the
country. These fortresses are often known as Cesar's Camps,
but actually their origin is much earlier. It is possible that they
were strengthened and used by the Romans, but they were
originally constructed by the people of the Bronze Age, who
appear to have been of a fierce and warlike disposition, always
fighting and plundering one another. There are two of these socalled Caesar's Camps in the district—one at Aldershot and the
other on the heathland between Easthampstead and
Crowthorne.
There is also abundant evidence of Roman occupation in
the district. Remains of several Roman villas have been
discovered and traces of Roman roads, while several Roman
coins have been brought to light at different times.
- 6-
Reading Museum houses a very fine collection of the
remains of the early occupants of this district and will be found
well worth a visit.
THE PARISH OF HAWLEY.
As previously stated, Hawley was originally included in
the Parish of Yateley, as was also Cove. Yateley, at this time,
was a very large parish containing three Civil divisions, known
as Tithings. (i.) The Tithing of Yateley. (ii.) The Tithing of
Hawley with Minley.
(iii.) The Tithing of Cove. These
divisions are very old ones, for a tithing was originally an
Anglo-Saxon district containing ten householders, each
responsible for the behaviour of the rest.
When Hawley Church was built, in 1837, a district was
assigned to it. This did not make Hawley a parish, but it was
described as a "Particular District" and the Incumbent was
called, a Perpetual Curate. It was much later on in Queen
Victoria's reign that the district was made the Parish of Hawley
Green and the incumbent called a Vicar.
In the Act which severed Hawley and Cove from Yateley
[1st and 2nd William IV. cap. 38] there is a curious omission,
due no doubt to careless draughting. All ecclesiastical duties
are specified to be performed by the clergy of the new churches
except marriages. Consequently Cove and Hawley could claim
the right to be married in Yateley Church and this right was
acknowledged by the Diocesan Registrar.
The Deed of Assignment, 1838, states that the "New
District" is to include " the whole of the Tithing of Hawley and
all Blackwater upwards of two miles from Yateley Church and
all that part of the village of Yorktown extending as far as the
upper lodge of the Royal Military College." Hawley Church
- 7-
had thus quite a large district to begin with. In 1844, the church
of Cove and South Hawley (St, John's) was built, and this new
district comprised all the Tithing of Cove and the greater part of
the Tithing of Hawley and all Minley, leaving for Hawley
Church "Hawley Street and back lane (Chapel Lane) round
Hawley Park and Plantations and Blackwater. The farm and
cottages at Hornley are likewise within this district." The
building of St. Michael's Church, Yorktown, in 1851, also
reduced the size of the district and allowed several pews in the
church to be made free.
St. Andrew’s Church, Minley, was built in 1872, and a
district for it was carved out of Cove and Hawley and formed
into a Consolidated Chapelry in 1874. In 1924, Minley was
linked with Hawley again.
The actual boundaries of the Parish of Hawley Green are
rather difficult to define, for they have been fixed to a certain
extent, by mutual agreement between the neighbouring
incumbents. For instance, Woodside (or Starveacre), is less
than two miles from Yateley Church, as the crow flies, and
therefore, according to the above definition, should be in the
Parish of Yateley. Obviously it is better served by Hawley
Church and is included in the ecclesiastical Parish of Hawley
Green, but is still in the civil Parish of Yateley. The civil Parish
of Hawley follows very nearly the same boundary as the
original tithing did and hence people living out at Bramshot
have to come to Hawley Schools in order to register their votes
at election time. Hawley Parish Council was formed in 1894
under the "Parish Councils' Act" of that year.
THE PARISH CHURCH
"We love the place, 0 God,
Wherein Thine honour dwells."
(Hymn A. & M. 242).
- 8-
The Parish Church of Hawley Green is dedicated to the
Holy Trinity. The original building was built and endowed by
the Rev. John Randell in 1837, on the site of a gravel pit, and it
was consecrated on St. Thomas' Day, December 21st, 1837.
Holy Trinity Church, Hawley, 1837.
- 9-
Previous to this there was only one church in the wide
spreading Parish of Yateley, which then extended from the
borders of Berkshire almost to the Farnham Hills. This church
is St. Peter's, Yateley and it was very inconveniently situated
near the northern boundary of the parish.
The First Hawley Church was a very plain and simple
building, as may be seen from a picture hanging in the church
porch. In comparison with the present building the Altar stood
where is now the Chancel steps, and the walls stood where are
now the pillars and arches separating the nave from the north
and south Aisles. The church was thus, roughly, the size of the
nave of the present building, being forty-six feet by twenty-four
feet within the walls. There was a very small apse and a large
gallery at the west end. The building was surmounted by a
small bell-turret containing a single bell. There was seating
accommodation for 306 persons, one third of the pews being
free. None of this building now remains excepting the
Foundation Stone, which was removed from its original
position in 1860 and may still be seen just inside the north door.
The inscription on it is as follows:—
The Foundation Stone
Of This Church Dedicated
to The Holy Trinity was
laid July 28th A.D. 1837
by Mrs. Dumbleton of
Hawley House
Robert Ebbels Architect
[2009 Photo Added]
The Rev. John Randell, first Incumbent of Hawley, died
June 24th, 1856. There is an entry in the Vestry Book as
follows:—
- 10-
Holy Trinity Church, Hawley, (Interior) 1857.
"1856, July 1st. Rev. John Randell buried in a vault beneath
the apse of the church." This would be just by the present
chancel steps.
The North Aisle.—the next entry in the Vestry Book is
dated. July 14th, 1856, and reads:
"Alterations in the church commenced."
Shortly before his death, Mr. Randell caused plans to be
prepared for the enlargement of the church by the addition of a
North Aisle, and the above entry refers to this. At the same time
the apse of the original building was replaced by a rather larger,
semi-circular apse, lighted by five stained glass windows. The
- 11-
appearance of the church at this period is shown in two water
colour paintings to be seen in the church porch.
The church was re-dedicated on Friday, May 15th, 1857.
The entry in the Vestry Book reads as follows:—"The works for
the enlargement and improvement of the church being
completed the church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of
Winchester. The service commenced at a quarter before 12
o'clock. Prayers were read by the Rev. J.I.P. Wyatt; the lessons
were read by the Rev. Henry Parsons, perpetual curate of
Sandhurst. The Bishop preached. The Holy Communion was
celebrated. The evening service took place at five o'clock, when
a sermon was preached by the Rev. H. Parsons. The collection
both services amounted to £80 15s. 0d."
Holy Trinity Church, Hawley, 1857.
- 12-
(Blank page)
- 13-
The Baptistery.—In 1860 the Church was enlarged by the
lengthening of the North Aisle and the construction of a
Baptistery at the end of it. The position of the font previous to
this was just inside the main door, as may be seen from one of
the pictures in the porch. The work was commenced on May
1st and was finished on December 22nd. The carved capitals
were placed on the marble shafts of the font in March, 1861. The
carving is the work of Mrs. Wyatt.
The Font Cover is "dedicated to the Glory of God and in
loving memory of John Lintorn Arabin Simmons, FieldMarshal, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.,R.E., who worshipped in this Church,
1898-1903."
"The cover, which is of oak, was carved by Oscar Zwink, of
Oberammergau repute, and is a most beautiful example of his
artistic talent. The subject represents our Blessed Lord seated
upon the crest of a rocky eminence in the act of blessing little
children, of whom some are being brought in the arms of their
parents, one is sitting at His feet, one on His left arm, and the
other stands with bowed head before Him. The grouping of the
figures, the expression of the faces, and the lines of each
separate figure are all that could be desired."
The Chancel, Sanctuary and South Aisle.— The greatest
alteration to the Church took place in the years 1867-68, when
the Chancel, Sanctuary and South Aisle were built. We have
the following entry in the Vestry Book :—.
"Easter Tuesday, April 28th, 1867. Commencing of the
works for the enlargement of the Church. The plans embraced
the following alterations : The removal of the existing Apse, the
construction of a Chancel with apsidal termination, the building
of an Aisle on the south side of the Church. The objects were
obtaining appropriate position for an organ and choir in the
Chancel. About 100 additional places would be gained by the
- 14-
The Font.
enlargement. Designs were also supplied, by Mr. Buckeridge,
the architect from Oxford, for a Tower and spire to be carried
out at some future time."
It was at this time that Hawley Church was made the
beautiful building we know it to-day. It is undoubtedly one of
the prettiest village churches in the district. Worthy of notice is
the Chancel Arch, with its fine lines and mouldings, which is
shewn off to great effect as the light from the Dormer Windows
play on the arch and throw the Chancel into deep shadow.
Another feature is the beautifully carved capitals on the marble
shafts and columns in the Chancel and Sanctuary. This stone
carving was the work of Mrs. Wyatt and it is worth while
pointing out that it is done straight from nature itself and no
use is made of any of the conventional designs that are often
seen in buildings. The vaulting of the Chancel roof has often
- 15-
been admired and also the mosaic work with which the
Sanctuary is decorated.
The next entry in the Vestry Book tells us that the
proposed alterations and additions have been carried out and
describes the consecration service. The Church was
reconsecrated on June 2nd, 1868, by Dr. Ryan, Bishop of
Mauritius, acting for the Lord Bishop of Winchester.
Mosaic Work.
The Sanctuary and Reredos are ornamented extensively
with Mosaic Work. This is a very old, but very effective, type
of decoration. It was brought to a fine art by the Romans, who
often paved the floors and decorated the walls of their
buildings in this manner. The patterns and pictures are built
up of small coloured cubes, of marble or other material, cleverly
fitted together. It is impossible to fit in all these pieces of
material exactly square, nor is this desirable, for the fact that
here and there a piece is set slightly askew produces a glittering
effect when light is reflected from it. You have, doubtless,
noticed this effect on the Reredos when the candles are alight or
a beam of sunshine has lit up the Altar, for the tesserce, as the
small cubes are called, are of glass, and in the gold coloured
portions of the designs are backed with gold leaf.
The Mosaic work was carried out in 1875, the ground
of the Reredos and Arcade around it having been up to this
time quite plain. The mosaics were wrought by Messrs.
Salviati, of Venice, from designs by Messrs. Clayton & Bell.
On the centre panel of the Reredos there is a floreated
cross; on either side of it the first and final letters of the Greek
alphabet, Alpha and Omega, the emblems of Eternity. On the
right hand panel is represented the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sins of the world. On the left hand
panel is shown the Pelican of Piety feeding its offspring with its
- 16-
own blood; a type of Him Who shed His Blood for the life of all
mankind.
In the Arcade on the left hand aide of the Altar are figures
of three principal Saints of the Old Testament. The name is
inscribed in Latin under each figure. On the extreme left is
Melchisedeck, the first of the priests, who is seen holding the
bread and wine.
The middle figure on the left is Moses, holding the tables
of stone on which the Commandments are written.
The figure nearest the Altar on the left is King David,
holding a harp.
On the right hand side of the Altar are the figures of the
three most eminent Saints of the New Testament.
The figure nearest the Altar on the right is Saint John,
bearing in one hand a book and in the other a serpent, in
accordance with an early legend concerning him.
The middle figure on the right is Saint Paul, armed with a
sword and holding a book.
The figure on the extreme right is Saint Peter, holding a
key.
At the time when the Mosaic work was carried out the
stone steps of the Sanctuary were re-placed by the present steps
of Devonshire marble, and the .oak rails by brass ones. The
whole of the glass Mosaics, as well as the marble steps, were
offered by Miss Tipping as a memorial of her mother.
There are also two marble Mosaic pictures in the Chancel.
One of them represents our Lord's triumphal entry into
Jerusalem, and the other the martyrdom of Saint Stephen. On
- 17-
the upper part of the latter is shown the stretched-out hand of
the Lord as succouring His suffering servant, and holding out
to him the Martyr's Crown.
These pictures, executed by Messrs. Bourke & Co., of Paris,
from designs by Messrs. Clayton & Bell, were offered by the
Rev. J. I. P. Wyatt, and were erected in April 1883.
The Stained Glass Windows.
A description of the decoration of the Chancel and
Sanctuary would not be complete without some reference to the
Stained Glass Windows in the Apse. These five windows are
the work of Messrs. Clayton & Bell. In them are depicted a
series of events in the last days of our Blessed Lord's earthly
life. Commencing from the left hand side there is represented:(1). The Agony in the Garden, of Gethsemane.
(2). The Arraignment before the High Priest
and the Jewish Council.
(3). The Mock Trial before Pilate.
(4). The Procession to Calvary.
(5). The Crucifixion : figures of St. Mary and St. John.
(6). The Resurrection: the appearance of the Angel to the
Women at the Sepulchre.
(7). The Lord appearing to Mary Magdalene.
(8). The Supper at Emmaus.
(9). The Ascension of our Lord.
(10). The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the
Day of Pentecost.
The two marble mosaic pictures in the Chancel, to which
reference has already been made, were added to complete this
series. On the first is represented the Scene on Palm Sundaythe Procession to Jerusalem, and on the other the Martyrdom of
St. Stephen.
- 18-
Turning now to the other stained glass windows in the
Church. On entering the North door, which leads to the
Baptistery, there is a large window on the left hand side. The
upper part of this was originally a rose window, the gift of
James Randell, Esq., in 1857. After the Baptistery had been built,
this window, in 1863, was lengthened by the addition of four
lights, the gift of Miss Tipping. The subjects
represented are:—
(1). The Expulsion from Paradise.
(2). Noah in the Ark receiving the Dove.
(3). The Three Holy Beings appearing to Abraham.
(4). The Passage of the Red Sea.
(5). The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, with
the figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. Simeon.
(6). Our Lord blessing little Children..
(7). The Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan
by St. John Baptist.
(8). The Baptism of the first Gentile convert,
Cornelius, by St. Peter.
On the North side of the Baptistery is a small window
representing the Nativity in the Stable at Bethlehem, with
figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph. This was presented
by Miss Mary Scovell, and is a memorial of her parents and of
her sister.
The next window in the North wall represents the
youthful Samuel telling his Divine Message to the aged Eli. It
was erected by Mrs. Hill as a memorial of her husband, Capt. C.
E. Hill, of Hawley Hill, in 1880.
The two adjoining windows in the North wall were the gift
of W. M. Wylie, Esq., and Mrs. Wylie. They represent scenes
from the life of the Prophet Elijah; the first, his interview with
the Widow of Zarephath, and the second, the Angel appearing
to him in the Wilderness.
- 19-
The fifth window in this wall represents Elisha raising the
Shunammite's son from the dead. It was erected in 1880.
Holy Trinity Church, Hawley. The Sanctuary.
- 20-
There are two windows in the north wall of the Chapel;
one represents the Baptism of our Lord and the other His
Resurrection. These two windows were erected in memory of
the Rev. John Randell, the founder of the Church, in 1857, and
were placed on either side of the centre window of the Apse.
They were removed to their present position in 1868, when the
present Apse was built.
There are three small windows in the Apse of the Chapel.
The centre one represents our Lord, and the two side ones
contain figures of Angels.
There are six stained, glass windows in the Vestry. That
having the Floriated Cross occupied the central position in the
Apse built in 1857 and the two windows having the figures of
Angels with scrolls also had places in the same Apse. The
fourth window depicts a pastoral staff and crown. The rose
window on the east side of the Vestry represents the
Transfiguration of our Lord; the central figure is surrounded by
those of an Angel, of Moses and Elijah, and of the three
Apostles, S. Peter, S. James and S. John. This window cannot be
seen very well as it is blocked by the organ. It was erected by
the Rev. J.I.P. Wyatt and Mrs. Wyatt, as a memorial of their
infant son. Another piece of stained glass is a Trefoil light in
the gable above, which may only be seen from outside.
The five windows on the south aisle of the Church were
given by members of the families of Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt. All,
but one, are memorial windows, as their inscriptions show.
Four of them contain representations of the four Evangelists
with their distinctive emblems:—
(1) St. John with the eagle.
(2) St. Lube with the ox or calf.
(3) St. Mark with the lion.
(4) St. Matthew with the human figure.
- 21-
They were erected in the year 1857, and moved to the new
south wall of the Church when the south aisle was added in
1868.
The fifth window represents the Annunciation by the
Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary at Nazareth.
The large memorial window at the west end of the south
aisle was the gift of G. C. Meynell, Esq. The upper series of
subjects display our Lord's miracles of mercy—(1) in feeding
the hungry; (2) in giving sight to the blind; (3) in healing the
sick, and (4) in raising the dead. The lower series shows similar
works wrought by human agents—(1) in giving food to the
needy; (2) leading the blind; (3) in visiting the sick, and (4) in
comforting the mourners.
The Tower and Spire.
In the original Church of 1837, the western extremity of the
roof was surmounted by a small open gable, or cot, in which
the bell was suspended. During the alterations made to the
Church in the years 1856—57, this was removed and replaced
by a turret of timber and plaster-work, the same bell being
retained. When the more extensive additions were made to the
Church in the years 1867—68, a part of the scheme was the
removal of the bell turret and of the whole of the west end of
the nave, and erecting in their place a Tower and Spire. Means,
however, could not be found at that time for carrying out this
work, but in the year 1882 the present Tower and beautiful
Spire were erected. "To the Glory of God in loving
remembrance of some members of the Randell Family."
The original design for the Tower and Spire was furnished
by Mr. C. Buckeridge. This was considered rather heavy and
some modifications were introduced by Mr. A. H. Hoole,
Architect, under whose direction they were erected.
- 22-
The spire was finished on July 1st, 1882, and Six Bells were
placed in the Tower. Ten years later the Treble and Second Bell
were added to complete the peal. They were dedicated on
Quinquagesima Sunday, February 28th, 1892.
- 23-
The six largest Bells are inscribed as follows:
The Tenor Bell, which weighs 16 3/4 cwt., and which is
tolled at funerals bears the inscription “Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in Peace," on one side, and the inscription”
Praise ye the Lord “on the other.
No. 7 Bell—" Let every thing that hath breath, Praise the
Lord."
No. 6 Bell.—"Praise Him, according to His Excellent
Greatness."
No. 5 Bell.—"Praise Him in His Mighty Acts."
No. 4 Bell.—" Praise Him in the Firmament of His Power."
No. 3 Bell.—" Praise God in His Sanctuary."
No. 2 Bell and the Treble Bell have no inscriptions on
them. The Bell founders are John Warner & Sons.
The Bells were originally rung from the ground floor until
1904, when the ringing floor and iron screen thereto were
added by J. Charles Randell.
The height of the Spire is 120 feet.
At the same time as the Tower and Spire were built the
ornamentation was introduced on the walls of the North Aisle
and the spandrils of the Northern Arches of the Nave. Until
then, this part of the Church was plain plaster and the arches
are rather poor, from an architectural point of view, having a
very feeble appearance compared with those on the south side
which were erected later and designed by a better architect.
The stencil designs were considered to vastly improve the
appearance of these arches and brought the Church into
harmony, of colouring
- 24-
A photograph taken during the building of the Tower
and Spire in 1882. Reproduced from an old photograph
kindly lent by Miss Moon.
- 25-
The Organ and Choir.
When the original Church was built in 1837, the Rev. J.
Randell presented an organ. It was in the first place a
mechanical organ, but was subsequently provided with keys
and did good service until 1864. In that year it was replaced by
a new organ by Messrs. Bevington at a cost of £120. This must
have been quite a small instrument and was installed in the
gallery until 1868, when it was moved to the Chancel built in
that year. It would appear that the choir was first formed at
this time and first took part in the services on Christmas Day,
1864.
The present organ was installed in 1873. It was opened on
September 29th, being the Festival of St. Michael and All
Angels, and also the Harvest Festival. The builders of the organ
are Messrs. Nicholson of Worcester. Four new stops were
added in 1876, and in 1889, the instrument was repaired and
improved. In 1931, it was overhauled and extensively repaired,
having got into a very bad state.
The instrument is, of course, old-fashioned now, being of
the old tracker action type, whereas modern machines are
mostly pneumatic or electrically controlled. It is a fair-sized
instrument for a country Church, and the tonal qualities of the
pipes are quite good. The specification is as follows:—
Great Organ.—1, Cremona; 2, Fifteenth, 2-ft.;
3, Wald Flute, 4-ft.; 4, Principal;
5, Clarabella; 6, Salicional; 7, Stopped.
Diapason Bass, 8-ft.; Open Diapason, 8-ft.
Swell Organ.—1, Cornopean; 2, Mixture (Four
Ranks); 3, Oboe; 4, Principe; 5, Lieblick
Gedact; Open Diapason, 8-ft.; 7, Double Dulciana, 16-ft.
Pedal Organ.—1, Bourdon, 16-ft.; 2, Open
Diapason, 16-ft.; 3, Octave to Pedals.
- 26-
It will be seen from the above that there are eighteen stops in
addition to couplers. The manuals are the usual four and a half
octaves, and the pedal keyboard has two and a half octaves.
There are several references made to the Choir in the
Vestry Book, for in 1866 the Choir was admitted to the North
Hants Choral Association. In that year the festival of the
Association was held in the Cathedral at Winchester on June
6th and thirty-six members of Hawley Choir attended.
"1869, Wednesday, June 3rd.
Festival of the United
Hampshire Choral Association held at Winchester Cathedral,
Service 11.30, when Dean of Chichester preached; Service also
at 3.30. There were about 1,000 singers. Twenty-seven members
of Hawley Choir attended."
Until 1873, the Choir was unsurpliced. Then we have the
following interesting entry:
"April 2nd, 1873. Addresses signed by 287 members of the
congregation, presented to the Lord Bishop of the Diocese,
requesting his sanction to Choir wearing surplices during
Divine Service. His Lordship having given his sanction the
Surplices were used for the first time on Easter Sunday."
In 1876, the Festival of the .North Hants Choral
Association was held in Hawley Church. "The Choirs that took
part in the service were Basingstoke, Elvetham and Hawley,
which were surpliced and Hartley Wintney, Winchfield and
Tateley unsurpliced. There were 136 singers, viz.: Bass 21,
Tenors 15, Alto 15, Treble 85. The Service was at 11.30."
The Vestry.
The Vestry was enlarged to its present size in 1889, when
about twelve square feet were added. An attempt was made to
- 27-
carry out the work in Jubilee year, 1887, but the plan fell
through for want of sufficient means.
The Chapel of the Resurrection.
In the spring of 1908, Mrs. Peel of Hawley Hill House, built
out an apse at the east end of the North Aisle in memory of her
husband, William Felton Peel. The east end of the aisle was refloored with oak and walnut and separated from the rest of the
Church by the erection of two oak screens. The chapel was
consecrated by the Bishop of Dorking on Wednesday, May
20th, 1908. In order to build the apse it, was necessary to
remove a three-light stained glass window, which is
commemorated by a brass plate. The window depicted the
following subjects :—In the centre the Ascension of our Lord,
and beneath it the Assumption of Elijah. On the North side the
Good Shepherd and the Lord receiving Infants. On the
South side the Lord's charge to S. Peter and the release of S.
Peter from prison.
Dormer Windows.
The four Dormer Windows were built into the roof of the
nave in 1901, in order to obtain more light and better
ventilation.
Lighting.
Until the year 1896, the Church was lit by candles, but in
that year gas was laid on and the church was first illuminated
by this means on Sunday, December 13th. Electric light was
installed in 1930 by Mrs. Kelsey, as a memorial of her husband,
Louis D. Kelsey, who was for many years a Churchwarden.
Litany Desk.
Among the many beautiful pieces of furniture in the
Church, mention must be made of the Litany Desk or Fald
Stool. It was presented in 1902 by Mr. Moss, of Fernhill, and
- 28-
the design is exceeding handsome and the carving perfectly
executed.
The wood which Mr. Moss was anxious to have used was
several hundred years of age, having been obtained from one of
the oldest houses in the ancient city of Winchester. It was so
hard that a London firm which at first undertook the work
threw it up in despair and it was carried out by Mr. H. Avery, 3,
S. James' Street, Winchester, who stated that it was so hard that
a very large number of gouges and tools were broken in the
work. It is undoubtedly a splendid specimen of modern work.
The Lych Gate.
The Lych Gate was erected in 1889 by the inhabitants of
Hawley as a memorial to Miss Tipping, who was a great
benefactor of the Church and parish. Among her many gifts to
the Church the Tenor Bell and the Mosaic Work in the apse are
prominent.
The Vicarage.
Where the Vicarage now stands there once stood a small
cottage which was used for the purpose of holding the Sunday
School, and so became known as the Sunday School House. The
first Vicarage was built by the Rev. J. Randell in 1847, and
probably incorporated part of this cottage. The house was
subsequently much enlarged by the Rev. J. T. P. Wyatt. It has
now been condemned owing to dry rot.
The Sunday School was held at the Vicarage until the
school was built in 1854. Children in those days coming from a
distance were regaled with rice pudding in order that they
might remain for the afternoon service without going home.
They also received other seasonable dainties in the shape of
mince pies at Christmas and buns at Easter from the Misses
Randell, sisters of the founder of the Church.
- 29-
The Church plate.—The Church Plate is described as
follows :—
Chalice, 18-ct. gold.—The bowl is plain, conical. The stem
is hexagonal and its panels are fluted; it has ogee mouldings
under the bowl and above the foot. The knop, which divides
the stem as usual, is of somewhat flattened form and moulded,
having its facets engraved. The spreading foot has six
compartments, and finishes with an incurved beaded edge.
Height, 7 1/8-ins. Weight, 17-ozs. 8-dwts.
Marks: London Assay for 1897, and W.G./G.L.
for the makers.
Paten, 18-ct.gold.—Plain, circular depression, with a wide
rim. The sacred monogram on a hatched ground is
engraved at the back.
Diameter, 6-ins. Weight, 9-ozs. 4-dwts.
Marks: as Chalice.
This chalice and Paten were presented by the Rev. J. 1. P.
Wyatt and Mrs. Wyatt, in 1897, as a thank offering.
Chalice, silver.—The bowl is plain, bell shaped, with
the sacred monogram engraved within a rayed ornament;
the stem is round and has a square edged foot.
Height, 8 1/8-ins. Weight, 7-ozs. 12 dwts.
Marks: London Assay for 1837, and J.S./A.S. for the
makers.
Inscription under foot: " Presented by J. Randell, Esq. to
Hawley Church."
Paten, silver.—Plain, engraved as Chalice, with a moulded
wire edge and a foot.
Diameter, 5-ins. Weight, 5-ozs. 12-dwts.
Credence Plate, silver.—Plain, engraved as Chalice, with a
moulded wire edge.
Diameter, 9-ins. Weight, ll-ozs. 15-dwts.
These bear the same marks of assay, etc., as the Chalice,
and also the same inscription.
- 30-
Flagon, silver.—The body is jug shaped with spout, and
has encircling bands engraved with various designs. The
six lobed foot has a deep upright edge.
Height, 10 1/4-ins. Weight, 19-ozs. 13-dwts.
Marks: London Assay for 1872, and A.S. for the maker.
Inscription under foot: " Holy Trinity Church, Hawley."
Pair of Cruets.—Glass mounted in silver gilt. The mounts
are rather elaborate, having shaped edges and moulded
leaves, round handles with leaf terminals, and corks with
crosses.
Marks: London Assay for 1896, and G.L. in a monogram
for the maker.
Ciborium, silver gilt.—Plain, bowl-shaped; the stem is
banded, and the foot has a leafage moulding at its edge.
The cover is domed with a Latin cross as finial.
Height, 7 3/8-ins. Weight, 10-ozs. 15-dwts.
Marks: London Assay for 1891, and G.L. in a monogram.
The Organ Chamber.
- 31-
Blackwater and the Old Coach Road.
Blackwater grew up as the end of a stage on the coach
route from London to Winchester and Exeter. There has been a
road through Blackwater from the very earliest of times, but the
exact date at, which the Stage Coach commenced to run is
rather doubtful. The first regular stage coach in England ran
from Coventry to London in 1659, and if, as is popularly
supposed, Dick Turpin was in the habit of holding up our stage
coaches they mast have been running through Blackwater
early in the eighteenth century, since Turpin was executed at
York in 1739.
There were no houses at all between "The Three
Postboys1," Blackwater, and, "The Golden (now Jolly) Farmer2,"
at Bagshot, in the early days of the nineteenth century. The
stage was from "The Golden Farmer" to "The Three Postboys."
The next stage being from Blackwater to “The White Lion," at
Hartley Row.
Blackwater must have seemed like an oasis amid the lonely
stretches of gorse and heather haunted by highwaymen. It
provided two smithies and some five or six inns and stables to
cater for the needs of man and beast. One forge3 remains today, Mr. Davis', the other stood where Mr. Lowe's garage4 now
is on the main road, the last smith being Mr. Brant. In addition
to the present inns there was "The Barley Mow", now a cottage,
1
Now a Petrol Station
[2009 “The Jolly Farmer” is now an American Golf shop]
3
Now a cycle shop [2009: this is now a tropical fish centre]
4
Now DKD Plant Hire
2
- 32-
"The Three Postboys" which is now actually outside Blackwater,
and it is thought that Primrose Cottage, on the main road, was
also an inn at one time. "The White Hart" and "The Red Lion"
were very picturesque with their old low windows and
creepers, before they were rebuilt, being typical of the inns
described by Dickens and the like.
It is said that 30 coaches ran through daily. The horses
were changed with wonderful rapidity and did at the gallop the
five miles to Hartford Bridge in 20 minutes, it is said, "over the
best five miles on the best road in England." One can imagine
how many a traveller left Blackwater with his heart in his
mouth for fear that Dick Turpin should appear to hold up the
coach with his well-known "Your money or your life" threat.
The name "Dick Turpin's Pines," by which the avenue of pine
trees just before one reaches "The Ely" inn is known, recalls the
coaching days.
The reason why the trees should have been planted there
may have puzzled many. The most reasonable suggestion I
have heard is that they are to help hold the soil together. You
will notice that there is a deep gully in the common at that point
and the road is carried on embankment; the object of the trees
being that their roots will hold the soil of the embankment
together better.
There is said to be a secret room in one of the chimneys of
"The Jolly Farmer" which was used for storing the treasures
looted from the coaches. There is also a story that Dick Turpin's
treasure is actually buried in Hawley, in a bank in the woods. I
will not vouch for the authenticity of this statement.
- 33-
Dick Turpin’s Pines.
[ 2009: These trees on the A30 have since been removed]
[ 2009: The is a view that Dick Turpin did not operate in
these parts, but there is a local myth that the highwayman
in the area was in fact the Rev. Darby, who was hanged at
Gibbet Lane near the Jolly Farmer roundabout at Bagshot.
The Yateley Society History Group’s website has more
detailed information.]
- 34-
Hawley Village lies about a mile from the Church in a
South-East direction, and is probably the oldest part of the
parish. The village appears to have consisted originally f
several small farm houses and labourers' cottages, and perhaps
one or two small shops.
Starting from the Church, and taking the road to
Farnborough, after a matter of a quarter of a mile one arrives at
Hawley Green Farm, situated opposite the lodge gates leading
to Hawley House. This farm is said to have once formed part of
the Hawley House Estate and the farm-house dates back to
Tudor times, it is believed. There are large cellars under the
house and also a well indoors.
Continuing on along the road one arrives at ''Edenbrook
Hill," so named, locally, from the name of the house at its foot.
Half-way down the hill is a house which is known as “The Old
Farm House," but which is now two cottages. Where Edenbrook
house now stands was the site of a pond in the farm-yard.
As one mounts a slight rise and rounds the corner, a
matter of a quarter of a mile further on, one sees Manor Lodge,
lying back off the road in its own grounds. From the road this
house appears to be quite a modern building, but actually parts
of it are quite old. Originally it was a farm-house and was
known as Manor Farm. A clue to the age of the house is
furnished by a coin of George II's reign, which was picked up in
the grounds. The coin is a halfpenny and is made of copper
(bronze coins were not minted until 1860). Unfortunately it is
not possible to read the date on it, but George II reigned from
1727-1760, and by the appearance of the coin it is safe to assume
that it was probably dropped as much as 200 years ago.
- 35-
Continuing our journey round the bend we come to what
is now known as Fernhill Farm, it is now included in the
Fernhill Estate. This house is a very old one and by some is
thought to have been at one time an inn, for it contains some
very large cellars. You will observe that there is a window
bricked up in the wall facing the road, which fact gives us a clue
to the age of the house. This is a very common feature in old
houses and dates back to the time when there was a tax levied
on windows in houses containing more than six. It was first
imposed in 1695 and was in repealed in 1851. In order to avoid
paying the tax many householders had one or more of their
windows bricked up. At this rate it would appear that the
house is probably at least 250 years old and possibly much
more. At one time it was three separate houses and although it
has been one house for some time it was only until
comparatively recently that it has been possible to reach all the
upstairs rooms without descending and mounting another
staircase. This was achieved by knocking a doorway through
one of the walls.
Almost opposite, on the other side of the road, is another
house of about the same age, for it too has a bricked up
window. This is Briar Cottage and at one time is said to have
been the home of the village undertaker. Alongside the stairs is
a space which is believed to have been used for storing the
coffins. There is a, cellar and an old open fireplace with a bread
oven at the back.
Next to Briar Cottage, on the other side of the cart track,
stood the village school. It was known as a Dame School and
the Rev, J. Randell was largely responsible for starting it in
1834, three years before he built the Church. The school was
carried on here until 1867 after which date the building was put
to a variety of uses.
- 36-
For a time it was the Church Room and was used for Bible
Classes and other meetings connected with the Church. Later it
was converted into a dwelling house. For a while Miss Barron,
who resided at Manor Lodge, used it as an artist's studio. Later
it served as a reading and recreation room and as a young
men’s club. Finally it was used as a store room by the late Mr.
H. Hudson, who at one time kept the village shop. It was
pulled down in 1910.
The New Inn has stood for a good many years, but the
front part of it is new, having been rebuilt as it was damaged by
fire when the shop was burnt down in 1910. The fire
commenced by an incubator catching fire and all that was left of
the shop is still to be seen and is used as a poster hoarding. The
premises belong to Simmonds', the millers, of Aldershot, who
rebuilt the shop and house as it stands to-day.
Just past the shop is a road leading to Cove and Fleet,
which is known as Chapel Lane and takes its name from what
was originally a Methodist Chapel. This building is easily
recognised by its style of architecture and was, at one time the
Methodist Chapel serving a very large area extending to Cove
on the one hand and Yateley on the other. After it was given up
by the Methodists, it was acquired by Mrs. Wyatt in 1901, who
let it to the Rev. F. E. Godden at a nominal rent. For a time
services were held there. It remained disused for some years
and was eventually bought by Mr. Ratcliffe, who converted it
into a dwelling house—the proceeds from its sale being given
to the fund for the erection of the War Memorial Hall.
As you enter Chapel Lane, on your left stands a very old
cottage known to this day as "The Old Malt House," which
name tells us the purpose for which it was originally built. It is
possible that hops were grown in Hawley as they were until
comparatively recently in Cove.
- 37-
A small cottage on the South side of the Chapel is where
the local harness maker lived and kept his shop. Many of the
other cottages in the village have, by their appearance,
obviously stood for many years, and could they but speak
would probably tell us many an interesting tale of life in
bygone days in this quiet little Hampshire Village.
Hawley Village.
- 38-
Blackwater Fair.
In early times certain localities came to be used for the
periodical exchange of commodities either by reason of their
situation or because they were resorted to at certain times for
religious or other purposes.
It is not surprising, therefore
considering the position of Blackwater on the coach road, to
find that it had a Fair. Blackwater Cattle Fair was, until quite
recently, one of the few remaining fairs in England, although
retaining little of its former magnificence. At one time it was a
great annual event, and no doubt all other happenings were
dated by it in the village mind. The common provided a
convenient open space on which to collect the really vast herds
of cattle which were brought, from as far away as Scotland,
Wales and Devon. The batches of cattle from the different
localities occupied the same piece of ground year after year, it is
said. In the last few years before it was finally abolished the
dealings were chiefly in horses.
The Pleasure Fair which accompanied the Cattle Fair, and
which is still held annually at the beginning of November, was
held, until 1880, all down the street itself.
The railway.
The Railway was laid through Blackwater in 1849, much to
the horror of the ostlers at "The White Hart," it is said, for they
feared it would be the ruin of their profession. It is interesting
to note that the original site decided on for the station was
Laundry Lane, but the War Office intervened on the grounds
that the noise of the trains would interfere with the cadets'
studies, and the station was built in its present position. The
present station buildings were erected in 1910.
The following paragraph from the proceedings of the
Hawley Parish Council in 1898 is interesting:
- 39-
Blackwater Railway Station.
"The S.E.R. Co. propose to erect a foot-bridge over the
level-crossing at Blackwater Station, and submitted their plans
to the Parish Council.
The plans were approved but the
Council strongly urged the Company to provide a bridge for
vehicular traffic at that point at the earliest possible moment."
In 1930, thirty-two years later, the crossing was bridged.
The Poor’s Allotments.
The Poor's Allotments consist of some forty acres of land
opposite the lake in Minley Manor grounds. This land was
allotted to the Parish at the time of the Commons Enclosure,
1814-1815. Before the war the land was rented by Mr. L. Currie,
at £6per annum, and this money was distributed in coal to the
poor of North and South Hawley.
- 40-
The Alms Houses.
The Alms Houses were built and endowed by Mr. Henry
Randell, J.P., brother of the Rev. John Randell, in 1857. The
object of them is to provide a. home and a weekly allowance of
7/- for six old people, of good character, dwelling in the
Ecclesiastical Parish of Hawley.
Hawley Green.
The Green was purchased by the Rev. John Randell and
presented to the Parish in 1851. "1st December, 1851. The
Minister and Churchwardens met and agreed and directed that
the following rules and regulations shall be observed by those
of the inhabitants residing within the ecclesiastical district of
Hawley Church who may use the Recreation Ground near the
Church purchased by the Rev. J. Randell of the Executors of the
- 41-
late John Norris, -Esq., now trusted in and belonging to him, the
Minister, Patron, and Incumbent of the said Church:
1.—" That the said ground shall be kept for the use and
benefit of the parishioners of Hawley District Church and may
be used by them at all suitable and proper times.
2.—" That the said ground shall in no way and for no
purpose be used at any time when Divine Service is being
celebrated in the Church.
3.—" That no building or other erection will be suffered to
be put upon it and no encroachment be allowed to be made
on it.
4.—" That no cattle will be permitted to be turned out
upon it, nor any turf or earth or any other thing growing upon
it be removed without leave in writing being obtained from the
Minister and churchwardens.
5.—"That no Fair or any unlawful game will be suffered to
be held upon it nor upon any part of it, but that it be kept up for
the innocent amusement and enjoyment of the aforesaid
inhabitants at all seasonable times in the day.
" The trust deed to be kept by the Rev. J. Randell and any
additions to the above rules may be made by the Minister and
Churchwardens for the time being."
1861.
" On September the 7th the Incumbent and
Churchwardens of the District of Hawley in accordance with
the power invested in them as Trustees of the Hawley
Recreation Ground by the Trust Deed bearing the date October
24th, 1851, drew up and promulgated the following rule:—
" That no person, or persons, be allowed to play at Cricket
or any other game on the Hawley Recreation Ground at any
time on any Sunday throughout the year."
(Signed) J. I. P. WYATT,
Perpetual Curate of Hawley.
- 42-
The book is also signed by the Churchwarden at that time,
John Roles. Mr. Roles was apparently unable to write, for his
assent is indicated by a cross.
Hawley Green.
In connection with the Green it is interesting to note that a
Cricket Club was formed in 1865, and many improvements
were made to the Green in succeeding years by Mr. Meynell
and Mr. Bridge.
The Cricket Pavilion was erected, as a memorial of Queen
Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and was opened on Tuesday, the
28th December, 1897, by "Laurence Currie, Esq., of Minley
Manor. The inscription on the building is as follows:—
" This Building was erected in October, 1897, by a
- 43-
voluntary subscription from the Parishioners, on ground,
presented to the Parish of Hawley by Laurence Currie, Esq., in
commemoration of the 60th year of the Reign of Her Most
Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria."
Death of Queen Victoria
The passing away of Queen Victoria was marked in
Hawley by the solemn tolling of the bell early next morning,
and on the following Sunday by the muffled peals, a memorial
character, being given to the services. The altar was vested in
violet and the nave pillars and pulpit were draped in black.
Coronation of Edward VII
Coronation festivities were held on August 5th, 1902. The
first item on the programme was the planting of an English Oak
in the corner of the Village Green facing the Church by FieldMarshal Sir Lintorn Simmonds. This oak tree did not grow, and
in January, 1904, a really good specimen of a scarlet oak was
planted in its place. This tree also did not grow and was
replaced by the present tree, which belongs to the maple
species.
The School.
When the Rev. J. Randell first became acquainted with the
Parish of Yateley he found it in a very neglected state,
particularly the Hawley end of the parish. One of the first
things he did was to start a school. This was the Dame School
which was held in a large single roomed building next to Briar
Cottage and which has now been pulled down. The school
was started in 1834 and carried on until 1867.
There was also another School, serving Blackwater, where
is now Mr. Oxley's Garage in Yorktown, which at that time was
in Hawley Ecclesiastical District.
- 44-
The present school has been gradually built as the
population of the parish increased. The first part was erected in
1854 and additions and alterations were made in 1864, 1870,
1875, 1888 and 1890. The most extensive enlargement took
place in 1888 when the accommodation was increased from 130
to 270. In 1890 the Infants School was enlarged. In 1870 Joshua
Lockwood conveyed certain Land and Buildings to Trustees to
be held for the purpose of a school being carried on for the
benefit of the Inhabitants of the Ecclesiastical District of Hawley
according to the principles of the Church of England.
All Saints’ Home
All Saints' Home was built by a cousin of the founder of
the Church, Mr. Charles Randell. He also endowed the Home
but the money was lost through the dishonesty of his lawyer.
Mr. Randell first intended it to be used for convalescents from
Father Lowder's parish, St. Peter's, London Docks, but on his
death, before the building was finished, he changed his plan
and gave the Home to the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, Clewer.
Addition to Churchyard
The addition to the Churchyard was made by Mr. Wyatt to
commemorate the fiftieth year of his ministry in Hawley. It was
consecrated by the Bishop of Southampton on Tuesday,
December 4th, 1900.
Football Club.
A Football Club was first formed in Hawley at a General
Meeting held on September 16th, 1897. The first match took
place on October 6th at Yorktown and resulted in a draw. Since
this date the Club has often been revived with varying success.
The season 1905-1906 was very successful for the records
read—played 19, won 19.
- 45-
To commemorate the visit of the Bishop of Winchester (Rt.
Rev. Edward Stuat Talbot, D.D.) to Hawley Church on Sunday,
March 4th, 1923, Sir William Porter presented the Church with
two handsome Churchwardens' Staves which were used on
that occasion.
The Parish Room
The Parish Boom was built in 1890 by the Rev. J. I. P.
Wyatt. "It was designed chiefly to be used for the transaction of
various Parish business, but also to be employed for the
convenience of the Inhabitants of Hawley Parish. It is entirely
under the control of the Incumbent for the time being."
The Growth of Population.
In 1800, it was stated, the three villages of Crowthorne,
Sandhurst and Blackwater, totalled thirty-six houses.
The Census figures showing the growth of the population
are very interesting. The first official census taken in this
country was in 1801, but at that time Hawley was part of the
Parish of Yateley. It was some thirty years later when the
building of the Church was under consideration, that the
question of population became important.
1831. The Deed of Endowment of Hawley Church states
that the population of the Parish of Yateley was 1874.
1841. In the Hawley Church Book, the figures are stated
thus :—
Blackwater End ...
483
Lower Hawley ...
357
840
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(By Lower Hawley it is presumed South Hawley is meant
which is now in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Cove). Lewis'
Topographical Dictionary gives for the whole Parish of Yateley
1997 with 717 in the Tithing of Yateley. This leaves 440 for the
Tithing of Cove.
1851. Census figures were :—
North Hawley ...
423
Blackwater ... ...
92
515
Owing to the fact that to-day when we speak of the Parish
of Hawley, we may mean either the Ecclesiastical Parish or the
Civil Parish, the boundaries of which are widely different,
census figures can be somewhat misleading.
Speaking
generally the Ecclesiastical Parish includes the greater part of
North Hawley, Blackwater, Frogmore and Starveacre. The Civil
Parish boundaries are roughly those of the original tithing,
although there has been recently some slight alterations.
The following table has been compiled from the Census
Figures for the last seventy years :—
Year.
1861
1871
1881
1891
1901
1911
1921
1931
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Civil Parish
of Hawley.
1119
1060
1125
1317
—
1637
1725
1696
Ecclesiastical
District.
... 804
... 873
... 842
... 998
... 1137
... 1600
... —
... —
The Yateley Charities.
The Parish of Hawley receives a small yearly income from
the Yateley Charities which were left by various persons to the
Parish of Yateley before the districts of Cove and Hawley were
- 47-
Hawley Village.
separated from it by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners
dated February 5th, 1886, all the then existing Charities were
transferred into the name of '' the Official Trustee of
Charitable Funds, and eleven trustees were appointed to
administer the income of the said Charities. Of these eleven
trustees four are representative and seven elective. The
representative trustees are elected—one by the Vestry of
Yateley, one by the Vestry of Cove, one by the Vestry of Hawley
and one by the three incumbents of the several ecclesiastical
Parishes of Yateley, Cove and Hawley. The elective trustees
were in the first place nominated by the Charity
Commissioners and afterwards on a vacancy occurring they
have been nominated by the existing trustees for approval
by the Commissioners.
The money received from this source is applied in several
ways including the provision of School Prizes, Bonus on the
Clothing and Coal Clubs and coal and other commodities for
cases of distress in the Parish.
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Prominent Residents of the Past.
The Randell Family.
In considering the various prominent personages who
have resided in the parish in the past it is fitting to commence
with the Randell family, to which, to a large extent, the parish
of Hawley is a memorial.
Before coming to Hawley the Rev. J. Randell was a curate
at Baughurst, Hampshire. Occasionally he would stay with his
sisters, at Yateley, and in this way became acquainted with Mr.
Glover, then Curate at Yateley and formerly a Captain in the
Army. The outlying districts of the great parish of Yateley
were, at that time, in a very neglected state and together they
set to work to improve matters. One of their first acts was the
starting of the Dame School in Hawley.
In 1837 John Randell built, at his own expense, the first
Church in this parish and partly endowed it. This same John
Randell became its first Vicar.
In 1847 Mr. Randell built the first Vicarage, since much
enlarged by the Rev. J. S. P. Wyatt.
In 1851 Mr. Randell purchased the Green and presented it
to the parish.
In 1854 Mr. Randell built the first part of the present
School.
In 1856, just before his death, the Rev. J. Randell had plans
prepared for the enlargement of the Church by the addition of a
North Aisle. These designs were afterwards carried out by his
family with some assistance from other persons.
In 1856 Mr. Henry Randall, J.P., of Hawley Hill [House],
brother of the Rev. J. Randell, erected and endowed the Alms
Houses.
In 1867 many further additions and improvements were
made to the Church. The Misses Randell, sisters of the founder,
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undertook the whole cost of the fabric of the present Chancel,
including the Stained Glass Windows.
In 1872 the Misses Randell made over to the Church a piece of
land between seven and eight acres. In consequence of this
augmentation of endowment the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
have made an annual grant of £32 towards the stipend of the
incumbent.
In 1882 the Church was completed by the erection of a
tower and spire, the cost of which was defrayed by Miss E.
Randell, Mrs. Randell and other members of the family.
In 1887 Miss E. Randell left by will the sum of £8,754 for
the endowment of the living. It was her intention to give the
sum of £14,000 and three acres of land, but in consequence of
certain legal forms not having been complied with the
benefaction was reduced to the former sum.
All Saints' Home was built and endowed by Mr. Charles
Randell, of Fernhill, as a convalescent home and afterwards
made over by him to the Community of St. John, Clewer.
Mr. John Charles Randell, nephew of the above Charles
Randell, presented the Church in 1901 with a silver gilt
Ciborium and a pair of cut glass Cruets. In 1904 he paid for the
Ringers' Floor and Screen in the Tower in order that the main
door of the Church might always be used.
The patronage of the living was originally in the Randell
family. Miss Elizabeth Randell, of The Oaks, at her death left
the patronage of the living to her nephew Mr. John Charles
Randell. Further she appointed that after his death the
patronage of the living should pass into the hands of the
Warden of Keble College, Oxford, for the time being.
The foregoing summary enumerates some of the many
gifts which the Randell family have made for the benefit of the
parishioners of Hawley.
Moreover they were never found
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wanting in the support of any deserving charitable or social
organisation both in this parish and elsewhere.
In the early 19th century the squire of Hawley was Mr.
Norris. He lived at Hawley House and, before Hawley Church
was built, drove over to Yateley Church every Sunday morning
in his coach and four. He it was who built the Obelisk on
Portesbery Hill, Camberley, in 1760. It was built as a signalling
tower, in order to effect a means of communication between
Hawley
and
his
other
property
at
Hughenden,
Buckinghamshire; Hughenden Church Tower being also used
for this purpose. In those days the hill was barren of trees, and
the tower was a landmark for miles around. Sometime before
1875 the inside was mysteriously burnt out, and in 1884 it was
dismantled and the top half taken down, as it was considered
unsafe. The cadets were in the habit of resorting to it in order to
smoke (at that time strictly forbidden) and the walls are covered
with their names. The remains are still to be seen in the
grounds of the Knoll School. Its former presence is
commemorated by Obelisk Street, Camberley.
Mr. A. W. Bridge, of Hawley House, and Mr. Meynell, of
Fir Bank, were largely responsible for turning The Green into a
very fine cricket ground. A great deal of work was done from
time to time as regards levelling and re-turfing.
It was Mr. Bridge who bought the present Working Men's
Club House, and left it to the Club at his death.
Another occupant of Hawley House was Mr. John Scovell,
who, on leaving it, built Fernhill, making it as nearly like
Hawley House as he could in admiration of its style.
An interesting person who occupied Fernhill about 1870
was Sir Charles Pressley, who was at the Treasury when Mr. W.
E. Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and helped to
- 51-
prepare the figures for his budgets. It is said he took great
pride in the fact that he could eat green peas from his garden as
early as April. Surely a record, even for sheltered Fernhill!
All that remains of the Obelisk at Camberley. An Ivy
covered ruin among the trees.
Mr. Melville Neale was a member of the Scovell family and
lived at Fir Bank (now Hawley Place) about the middle of the
last century. He is said to have been the original inventor of the
reaping and binding machine, but he obtained little or no profit
from his patent, as it was vastly improved upon by someone
else shortly after.
Philip Henry Wodehouse Currie was the fourth and
youngest son of Raikes Currie, of Minley Manor, by Laura
- 52-
Sophia, daughter of the second Lord Wodehouse. Educated at
Eton, he commenced his career in the Foreign Office in 1854 as
private secretary to Lord Salisbury. He became Permanent
Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs during Lord Salisbury's
second Administration in 1889.
He was made Knight
Commander of the Bath in 1885, and Knight Grand Cross of the
Bath in 1892. Appointed British Ambassador at Constantinople
in January 1894, he was transferred to Rome in 1898. He was
created Baron Currie of Hawley in 1899, and resided chiefly at
Fir Bank, Hawley, after his retirement.
Hawley House saw the closing years of the life of FieldMarshal Sir John Lintorn Arabin Simmonds, who has been
described as "a brilliant soldier," " a real Christian gentleman,"
"warm hearted," "looked up to by all." Prior to entering the
British Army he was in the Turkish Army having the rank of
Pacha, or Pasha, which is the equivalent of a Viceroy. He served
in the Crimean War and was Honorary Colonel of several
volunteer corps. His later appointments were Consul-General
at Warsaw, Lieut.-General of Woolwich R.M.A., Inspector
General of Fortifications, Governor General of Malta, 1884-1888,
Minister Plenipotentiary to the Pope, 1889-1901. He was a Great
friend of the ex-Empress Eugenie and helped to arrange for her
to come and live at Farnborough Hill. It is suggested that
probably one of his reasons for coming to live in Hawley was
that it was not far from Farnborough.
At Firbank (now Hawley Place) lived John Baring, second
Baron Revelstoke, P.C. and Diplomatist, a partner in Baring
Bros., Merchant Bankers, Bishopsgate Street, E. C. He was a
Lieutenant of the City of London and a Director of the Bank of
England. He was a great friend of King George V. whom he
often entertained at Hawley. He died in Paris in May, 1929.
- 53-
The Rev. J. I.P. Wyatt’s name has often cropped up in these
notes, for he served as a priest in Hawley for half a century. He
first came to Hawley as Curate in 1850, intending to stay only
six months. He succeeded Mr. Randell as incumbent in 1856
until his death in 1901. In his early days he was a pioneer in the
neighbourhood in the work of a parish priest. He laboured
towards a high ideal of beauty and reverence in the Church and
its services, in spite of opposition and misunderstanding, and
he strove for the moral and spiritual good of his people. He
married, in 1856, Harriet, daughter of John Whitacre Tipping
(who had served in the Peninsular War and at the R.M.C.1 ).
Gifted with exceptional artistic gifts, she added to the beauty of
the Church by her carving in stone and her embroidery. She
designed the Lych Gate, and also excelled in music, composing
it herself and playing the organ as well as training the choir in
her younger days. The masterpieces of her embroidery, each of
which took from four to seven years to complete, are used as
Altar Frontals at the Cathedrals of Winchester, Chichester,
Christ Church, Oxford, and Westminster Abbey.
By the side of the lake at Minley
1
Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- 54-
The Rev. F. E. Godden succeeded Mr.Wyatt as Vicar in
1901 and was in charge of the parish till 1922, when be left for
the parish of St. Paul's, Southampton. During his twenty-one
years ministry in Hawley both he and Mrs. Godden and their
family endeared themselves to the parish and were much
respected. They have never lost touch with the parish and
have been in the habit of spending a few days here every year
in order to meet old friends. Mr. Godden died in 1933. He was
then Rector of East Woodhay, near Newbury.
Mr. Godden was succeeded by Canon Glennie, whose stay
was regarded as all too short. Owing to ill health he was forced
to resign the living and he passed away on St. Luke's Day, 1926.
Daring his four years' ministry here he and Mrs. Glennie were
much respected, particularly by the younger people of the
parish whose interest and welfare they studied above all things.
In the woods at Minley
- 55-
Hawley lies in a district where the soil is mainly of a sandy
nature; and consequently there are many stretches of heathland
in the neighbourhood. This fact has had great influence in the
development of the district. The land being of poor quality,
and consequently cheap, has been the reason of its purchase for
the many public institutions which now abound and upon
which many of the inhabitants of Hawley depend for their
livelihood.
First came the Royal Military College, consequent on
which Yorktown, and later Camberley, were born. Before the
R.M.C. was built there was no Camberley and no Yorktown.
Yorktown was conceived during the conduction of
military manoeuvres, held on a grand scale on Bagshot Heath,
in 1792. A certain Colonel J. G. Le Marchant, who took part in
the operations, saw the possibilities of the Heath as a training
college for Army Officers, and, after many rebuffs, enlisted the
interest of the Duke of York—then Commander-in-Chief of the
British Army.
A Royal Warrant inaugurating the Royal Military College
was issued on June 24th, 1801. The site, consisting of 600 acres,
was purchased the same year for £15,000—an appalling price,
only explained by the fact that the land belonged to Mr. Pitt,
then Prime Minister.
A fashionable architect, Wyatt by name, was employed.
The builder was a man named Copland, who spent seven years
making bricks which were afterwards condemned. The
building was eventually finished in 1812, and cost £392,000. For
the building of the College numerous skilled workmen were
brought to the district, including all kinds of craftsmen, for in
those days most things were made by hand. When work at the
College was finished many of the craftsmen employed thereon
had become attached to the place and set up businesses on the
- 56-
old coach road. Yorktown, so named after the Duke of York,
was the result.
At the time the College was built the row of quarters for
the Professors, now known as The Terrace, was erected. In
those days it rejoiced in the name of "Tea Caddy Row," a
sobriquet given it by members of the coaching fraternity by
reason of its resemblance, fancied or otherwise to those homely
articles. Then, of course, there were no trees to screen, the
Terrace or the College from the coach road and in 1820 there
were 48 coaches a day going past.
The opening of the Staff College in 1862 was the reason for
the origin and early growth of "Cambridge Town," as it was
first called—so named after the Duke of Cambridge, the
Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. In later years, as
letters intended for "Cambridge Town" were continually being
sent to the university town of Cambridge, a panel of local
residents met and decided to alter the name. It was readily
agreed to take for the new name the first four letters of the
old—" C-a-m-b," and as all the surrounding villages ended with
"ley" (Hawley, Yateley, Frimley, Eversley) to end it with "ley."
But no one seems to have liked the word "Cambley" thus
formed. It was then suggested that a small stream, running
across Park Street from High Street, should be called the
"Camber", and the town called Camberley. This met with
general approval.
A notable day in Yorktown's history occurred in about the
year 1860, when the old toll gate by Laundry Lane was
removed. This was made the occasion for great local jubilation
and was celebrated by the roasting of an ox and sports on the
adjacent heath.
- 57-
Wellington College was founded, as its name implies, in
memory of the Great Duke, and opened in 1853.
Its
endowment comes largely from the voluntary surrender of a
day's pay by every soldier shortly after the Crimean War, 18541856, to provide a suitable monument.
Broadmoor Asylum for criminal lunatics was opened in
1863.
Aldershot Military Camp was first built in wood in 1855,
as an experiment and has since been made permanent. In
addition to barrack buildings, there are engineering workshops,
quarters for general and staff officers, besides churches,
hospitals and other institutions and recreation grounds. There
are also schools of instruction in medical and veterinary duties,
ballooning, signalling, cooking and general supply work.
Looking South from Hawley the skyline is broken by two
imposing buildings each standing on an eminence and visible
for miles around. The one is Farnborough Hill, the former
residence of the late Empress Eugenie, and the other is the
Abbey Church beneath which is the Imperial Mausoleum.
You will remember that Napoleon III, Emperor of the
French, abdicated after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. The
Royal Family then came to England and resided at Camden
Place, Chislehurst, Kent. Napoleon III died in 1873. The Prince
Imperial entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in
1871, and followed the regular course of military studies until
1875. In 1879 he entered the British Army and went out to
Africa to take part in the Zulu War where he was killed on June
1st, 1879. His body was brought to England and temporarily
buried at Chislehurst with that of his father.
The Empress Eugenie purchased the estate and came to
live at Farnborough Hill in 1881. The bodies of the Emperor and
his son were exhumed and moved to Farnborough in 1888 to
- 58-
the Imperial Mausoleum which the Empress had built. In 1895
the Empress gave the Priory and the Church to Benedictine
Monks of the French Congregation of Solesmes, who are the
present guardians of the Imperial Tombs.
A visit to the Abbey Church and the crypt, which is open
in the daytime to the public on payment of a small fee, will be
found well worth while.
The importance of Farnborough to-day lies in the Royal
Aircraft Establishment which was built in 1906 as a balloon
factory. It was considerably extended during the Great War
when several thousands of people were employed on the
design and construction of aeroplanes. To-day it employs some
1,200 people engaged on experimental and research work in
connection with aeroplanes and is the chief testing department
of the Air Ministry.
The Church of St. Andrew's, Minley, was built and
endowed by Raikes Currie in memory of his wife.
There is a tradition that Minley Warren was the home of
Colonel Blood, who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in the
reign of Charles II.
Tradition has it that Montegle Farm, Yateley, was the
residence of Lord Montegle. This nobleman in a subordinate
way was instrumental in the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot,
through a letter written to him by his kinsman, Francis
Tresham, one of the traitors, warning him to be absent from
Parliament on the 5th November, 1605.
- 59-
Many people will be surprised to learn that a "Blackwater
halfpenny" was in circulation, in the 17th century.
In Kent's Valuation of British Coins and Tokens, published
in 1913, on page 286 the following entry was discovered in the
Hampshire section:—
"Blackwater, John Wright, 1667, 1/2d., value fine, 4/6."
Acting on this information, a letter was sent to the British
Museum to find out if they knew anything about the coin. Their
reply confirmed its existence and they have since supplied me
with plaster casts of the coin.
The coin bears on the obverse, round the edge, the
inscription, "IOHN WRIGHT, 1667," and in the centre
" His Half Peny." On the reverse, round the edge is the
- 60-
inscription " In Blackwatar " and in the centre the initials "I.W."
A Token is the term used for any redeemable coin
circulated at a higher value than that of the metal it contains.
All silver and bronze coins now minted in Great Britain are
tokens protected from depreciation. Lack of legal small change
in England caused the use of illegal leaden tokens early in the
15th century. Queen Elizabeth licensed the City of Bristol to
issue copper tokens and leaden tokens were again in use during
the reign of James I.
Forms of token coin similar to that issued by John Wright
at Blackwater, were issued all over the country during the 17th,
18th and early 19th centuries. They were issued to supplement
the Regal coinage by Bankers and Tradesmen, although some
were issued by municipalities. In most cases the coins struck by
the merchants were issued to their workmen in payment of
wages, and then, the merchants' name being good, they
circulated freely from hand to hand in the same way as the coin
of the realm.
Amongst local tokens was the Basingstoke shilling issued
in 1779 by John Pinkerton, depicting on the obverse a
wheelbarrow, and on the reverse a sailing barge. This was
struck for the purpose of advancing money to workmen
engaged by the contractor when cutting the Basingstoke Canal.
John Wright must have been a man of some importance to
issue coins, but 80 far all efforts to trace him and his business,
whatever it may have been, have proved fruitless. The British
Museum are unable to throw any light on his identity, but have
assured me that the coin was issued in Blackwater in the
Parish of Yateley, as of course the village then was.
- 61-
Through the kindness of the Vicar of Yateley I was
permitted to examine the old Yateley registers, which date back
to 1636, but no entries of Baptisms, Marriages or Burials which
might have any connection with John Wright could be found.
I cordially invite all my readers to join me in an attempt to
trace John Wright. It is surprising how information comes to
light and perhaps someone can furnish a clue which will open
up a new avenue of research.
As a matter of interest the latest tokens issued were those
struck by Martin Coles Harman, in 1929, for use on Lundy
Island. The tokens were of value One Puffin and Half Puffin,
named after a bird much met with on Lundy Island. A
prosecution followed and Harman was severely fined for
infringing the Coinage Act. of 1870.
Picturesque old thatched cottages at Hawley.
- 62-
An Interesting Entertainment in
January, 1891.
In compiling these notes I have had recourse to many
sources of information, amongst which are the past editions of
the Hawley Parish Magazine, first published in 1888. Although
we may sometimes consider the current number of the
Magazine as being rather ‘dry,’ generations to come will
probably read our entries with interest and in reading the
successive volumes of the Magazine, from the year 1888 to the
present day, there is presented, a wonderful story of village life,
and how, as the years pass, it has gradually changed to adapt
itself to new conditions.
One reads of the many and various entertainments which
were organized in the village, and one begins to realize that
interest was primarily centred in the village life. Village people
had to provide their own entertainments, for there were no
cinemas and few theatres in the country towns.
Here are some extracts from the account of an
entertainment which took place in the school in 1891, and
which takes us back before the days of wireless, talking pictures
or silent pictures even. It tells of a demonstration of the
phonograph, the forerunner of the modern gramophone.
In the January Magazine for 1891, notice is given of an
impending Phonographic Exhibition at the School. The writer
goes on to describe the instrument. He says, "A phonograph is
an instrument by means of which sound can be preserved for
an indefinite time and given forth again at pleasure.
- 63-
It consists of a speaking trumpet and revolving cylinder or
drum covered with tinfoil, and is so contrived that when any
person speaks or sings in front of the trumpet, an impression is
made on the tinfoil by a steel point, and then, when the
instrument is readjusted and the cylinder made to revolve, the
trumpet gives forth exactly the same sound that has been
uttered in front of it. . . . ."
As doubtless my readers are aware the phonograph was
invented by Thomas Alva Edison, an American, who during the
course of his life, took out over one hundred patents, many of
which play an important part in modern life.
In the February Magazine we have the account of the
demonstration. The writer after deploring the fact that no
platform was erected so that all might have seen the machinery
and understood the description given by Mr. Steytler better,
goes on to say, "It seems curious that Mr. Edison has, as yet,
been unable to find a ' trumpet ' to convey the different sounds
in less metallic tones into a large room for to one listening
through the india-rubber tubes close to the instrument, the
sounds are reproduced in the exact tone in which they have
been given on to the surface of the cylinder.
"We thought that the record of the coach horn and the
bands were two of the most effective. The faithful reproduction
of the different sounds made the contrast between the Guards'
Band and the Reading Town Band very amusing. The clapping
and cheering were clearly heard in the latter, as were also the
voice of the Town Crier and his bell ringing in another record.
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"There was a large and appreciative audience and ' God
save the Queen ' as played by the Reading Band terminated the
proceedings."
How many of those present at that exhibition foresaw the
possibilities of this invention, or visualized the development of
the modern gramophone, which is to be found in almost every
home to-day ?
Post-War Events
War time and post-war events are too fresh in our mind to
call for much comment, but I am referring to them in order that
they may be set on record and our history may be complete to
date. Moreover, the younger folks, whose memories scarcely
go back so far, may find them interesting.
During the war the Durham Light Infantry were billeted in
the Parish. The Parish Room was used as the Major's office, the
Cricket Pavilion was used for Royal Medical Corps Purposes
and the Schools as Recreation Rooms for the soldiers.
The War Shrine was erected and dedicated on Sunday,
November 18th, 1917.
One of the first thoughts at the conclusion of the War was
for the erection of "A Memorial of those who had given their
lives for their Country and a Thankoffering to Almighty God
for Victory."
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The first meeting was held on January 23rd, 1919. It was
proposed to erect, a Village Hall and a large committee was
appointed to consider the question in detail.
Peace Celebrations took place on August 4th, 1919. The
first item on the programme was a procession in costume which
was entered into with great keenness. Many of the costumes
were very original and prizes were given for the best fancy
dresses and the best decorated vehicles. The procession over,
sports and sideshows took place in the Park of Hawley House.
Outstanding features were the tug-of-war and the tent pegging
display. The Band of the King’s Dragoon Guards was present
and the fete concluded with dancing and fireworks. It was
estimated that well over 3,000 people went to the fete and as a
result £100 was paid to the fund for the Memorial Hall.
The Memorial Tablet, on the North wall of the Church, to
those from this Parish who made the supreme sacrifice, was
unveiled by the Rev. Dr. G. Oakshott, on Sunday evening, May
9th, 1920.
The Foundation Stone of our Memorial Hall was well and
truly laid by Mrs. Laurence Currie, of Minley Manor, on
Saturday, July '23rd, 1921, at 3 p.m. The laying of the stone was
preceded by prayers which were read by the Vicar, Rev. F. E.
Godden. After the ceremony friends were invited to lay bricks,
for which they were asked to pay half-a-crown.
The Hall was opened by Major-Gen, Sir Reginald B.
Stephens, K.C.B., C.M.G., on Wednesday, December 7th, 1921.
In connection with the Hall it is interesting to note that the
tiles were removed from some old barn at Farnborough and
were almost certainly made locally at Cove. The pottery works
there were very old ones and were closed a few years ago.
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Hawley War Memorial Hall.
The tiles, so beautiful in colour, mellowed with age, enable
the Hall to match its surroundings and not appear as an eyesore
as new buildings so often are.
On February 13th, 1926, a terra-cotta tablet recording the
names of those to whose memory the Hall was erected was
unveiled by the Rev. F. E. Godden, Vicar of St. Paul's,
Southampton. A short Service of dedication was held,
conducted by the Vicar, Canon H. J. Glennie.
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Hawley War Memorial Hall. The Memorial Doorway.
Inscribed of each side are the names of those to whose
memory the hall was erected.
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Conclusion
In common with the world in general life in Hawley has
changed even within the last ten years. No longer is felt that
sense of unity which the parish tie once gave. Modern means of
communication have indeed made the world a small place, and
have altered the whole course of our lives. Hawley has now
become little more than a suburb of Farnborough and
Camberley, and a residential area for officers in the Forces, who
are stationed at Aldershot, or at one or other of the military
colleges.
But enough of this! It is not for me to moralize, or to sigh
for those mythical "good old days." ''Your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions." My business has,
been to set down the facts and happenings with an unbiased
mind and leave nay readers to judge for themselves.
And so I bring my tale to an end. To a point where some
one else, perhaps, will pick up the thread, and some years
hence, will carry on and record the events of to-day and
tomorrow. The little every day happenings, which we scarcely
notice, will be seen in their true perspective after some
years' time, and history's jig-saw puzzle will be fitted together
and the picture carried a stage nearer completion.
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to all those who
have assisted me in this work, either by supplying information,
or by kindly criticism and correction.
To the Vicar, for
permitting me to inspect the contents of the Church and other
documents in his possession. To the Rev. L. C. K. Greenway. To
Mrs. Godden who has supplied much useful information and
criticism. To Mr. L. E. Allen for his "Notes on Tokens" and to all
others who hare shown interest in my efforts.
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I little realised how far afield our Parish Magazine
travelled, until I received messages of appreciation from two of
the outposts of the Empire. One was from far off Australia, the
other from Gibraltar. One of these regarded the articles as a
letter from home, eagerly looked forward to every month. To
feel that, unwittingly, my poor efforts have been the means of
cheering and encouraging one of those who are developing our
great Empire beyond the seas, amply repays me for the light
trouble involved. May I take this opportunity of thanking
them and in returning greeting wish them every success.
The End.
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New Alter Panels
The present panels of the Altar were placed in position in
June 1932, replacing the older embroidered ones which had
become unserviceable. They are beautifully painted and tone
well with the decorative scheme of the Sanctuary.
Left Panel – Right Figure
St. Joan of Arc, Virgin and Martyr.
Died A.D. 1481.
The story of St. Joan is too well-known to quote in full
here. A simple country girl, born in the village of Domremy,
called by God to free her country, she will always stand as one
of those who having heard God call her to a seemingly
impossible task, always trusted in Him and never wavered
from her duty. Having saved France she was captured by the
Burgundians, sold to the English, who burnt her at Rome after a
protracted and hideously unfair trial. She was later canonized,
and many of you may have seen the lovely statue of her in
Winchester Cathedral. Her Day is May 30th.
Left Panel – Left Figure
St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr.
Died A.D. 307.
St. Catherine was a young beautiful princess, a native of
Alexandria. Her beauty and learning attracted the admiration
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of the—Emperor Maximian. She refused his advances and
when brought before an assembly of heathen philosophers, in
order to overcome her scruples, upheld the Christian faith,
defeating all their arguments. Maximian enraged, ordered her
to be broken on a wheel studded with spikes. She survived this
torture, so was scourged and then beheaded. Her name, like St.
George, was brought over to England by the Crusaders. Her
Day is November 25th.
Left Panel – Centre Figure
St. Francis of Assisi. Died A.D. 1226.
St. Francis was born of rich parents and after leading a gay
life fell ill with fever. During his illness he determined to give
up everything for God and to spend his life helping others. He
was later joined by many others and found the Order of
Franciscans, or Poor Brothers. He, if any, could be called patron
of animals. He loved all animals and on occasions preached to
the birds. He also introduced the Christmas Crib into the
Church. His Day is October 4th.
Right Panel – Centre Figure
St. Etheldreda, Virgin and Abbess. Died A.D. 679.
St. Etheldreda was an East Anglican princess, she was
twice married and it was from her first husband she received
the Isle of Ely as a dowry. When she was middle-aged she
became a nun and founded a Monastery at Ely, the forerunner
of the Cathedral, for men and women, of which she became the
first Abbess, being consecrated to that office by St. Wilfrid,
Bishop of York. She died after being abbess for seven years. She
was said to have been very beautiful and possessed great
powers of winning love and admiration. She numbered among
her friends St. Wilfrid and St. Cuthbert. Her Day is October
17th.
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The Altar Panels.
Right Panel – Right Figure
St. Alban, Martyr. Died A.D. 304.
St. Alban, the first English Martyr, was an Englishman
serving in the Roman Army in the time of the Emperor
Diocletian. A Christian Priest fleeing for his life came to
Alban's house and was given shelter, and converted his host to
Christianity by his life and teaching. The priest having been
traced to Alban's house, St. Alban gave himself up in the
priest's clothes, and having refused to sacrifice to the gods was
beheaded outside the town of Verulam, afterwards called St.
Albans. His Day is June 22nd.
Right Panel – Left Figure
St. Oswald, King. Died A.D. 642.
St. Oswald was the first of the English royal Saints. He
belonged to the royal family of Bernica. As a Christian soldier
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he defeated the heathen king Caldwalla in 635, before the battle
planting a Cross, the first symbol of the Christian Faith in the
kingdom of Bernicia, in the ground, then calling on the army to
kneel and pray God to defend them. After establishing the
kingdom of Northumbria he sent to Iona for a bishop, and St.
Aidan came at his request. He was a great believer in prayer
and often spent all night praying. He was killed at the battle of
Maser field, possibly the modern Oswestry, in 642. Even as he
fell his last thoughts were for his army—he died crying, "Lord,
have mercy on their souls." His Day is August 5th.
Centre Panel – Right Figure
St. Swithun, Bishop. Died A.D. 862.
Unfortunately little is known of the early life of St.
Swithun, whom we might call the Patron Saint of Hampshire;
he also reminds us of our past connection with Winchester.
We know he was ordained by Helmstan, Bishop of Winchester,
and that he was tutor to King Egbert's son, Ethelwulf.
Ethelwulf on becoming king made him Bishop of Winchester
and his chief adviser in ecclesiastical matters. He was a good
bishop and a holy man, and it is unfortunate that his feast is
only remembered mainly because of its connection with the
weather. His Day is July 15th.
Centre Panel – Left Figure
St. Aldhem, Bishop. Died A.D. 709.
St. Aldhem is one of the early Saxon Saints, and was first
famous for the school he founded at Malmesbury. He was later
elected head of the monastery at the same place and ruled over
them both for nearly thirty-four years. King Ine, whose tomb
you may see in Wells Cathedral, then made him Bishop of
Sherborne and his adviser in ecclesiastical matters.
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He built Malmesbury Abbey and we are used music, the
harp, during his sermons – "Standing on Malmesbury bridge
preaching to the people like an actor or strolling player." He
has been chosen for the Patron Saint of our Actors' Guild in this
Parish. His Day is May 25th.
Centre Panel – Centre Figure
St. George, Martyr. Died A.D. 303.
St. George, Patron Saint of England, was born at Lydda, in
Palestine. He became a soldier and was promoted to be a
tribune by the Emperor Diocletian. He became distinguished
for his courtesy and his personal courage. When Diocletian
issued his edict for the persecution against the Christians, St.
George retired from the army and went to the Imperial Court at
Nicomedia to plead for his fellow Christians. It was on his way
there he is said to have .encountered the famous dragon at
Beirut. His appeal was in vain, he himself arrested and ordered
to sacrifice to the gods. He refused and was beheaded. He was
buried at Lydda. During the Crusades, Richard I prayed for his
help in battle and saw a vision of him riding at the head of the
army. After this he was adopted as Patron Saint of England.
His Day is April 23rd.
Winter-Time.
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Melchisedeck. One of the Mosaic figures in the
Arcade around the Altar.
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