Hungerford Arcade 1930’s Caitlin

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Hungerford Arcade Caitlin Carr BlogHungerford Arcade have a great many visitors from all over the world, but this star, Caitlin Carr is home grown.  Caitlin, who is from Edinburgh and on holiday with her mum and dad said they just had to call into the Arcade as they were driving through Hungerford and were very glad they did.

 

What drew my attention to Caitlin as she walked through the door was her beautiful 1930’s dress and accessories.  She looked stunning as you will see from the photograph.  Caitlin attends college studying Art History.

 

Enjoy your holiday Caitlin and thank you for letting me photograph and Blog you. Rita 

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Richard Spender – A Forgotten Poet

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Richard Spender Parachute BattalionAs a rule of thumb poets from World War One tend to spring to mind more than poets from the Second World War.

This year we are remembering the First World War as it is exactly one hundred years since the Battle of the Somme and it is important that we remember the great sacrifices made during those terrible years.

 

But as I walked along the High Street on a fine August day this was the last thing that I was thinking about.

Hungerford was vibrant and bathed in the bright August light and as I had a little time to kill I decided to pop into the arcade and look at the books.  It is a pleasant pastime and you are always likely to find something interesting.

 

On this occasion I found a first edition of The Collected Poems of Richard Spender which immediately stimulated my interest; I had come across Richard many years ago when studying the poets of World War Two.  But for everybody who remembers Wilfred Owen or Rupert Brooke who really remembers Richard Spender?

And because of this I thought I would write this very short article about the poet on the day that I purchased his collected poems.

Richard was born in Hereford on the 27th of June 1921 Richard Spenderthe youngest of four children.  After a period spent in London he moved to Stratford-on-Avon where he was educated.

Initially he was a delicate child but he soon grew stronger and spent his early days roaming the countryside and exploring the river.  He grew into a fine athlete and was a keen rower and a boxer and also enjoyed rugby a great deal.

 

In 1940 at the age of nineteen he found himself planning to go Oxford to study Modern History but this never took place because he, like a great number of young men of his generation decided to enlist.

He was at first in the young soldier’s battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and then progressed into the Royal Ulster Rifles.  At first he was an instructor, but in October 1942 he volunteered to join the Parachute Regiment and soon was on his way to Africa with the 2nd Battalion.

Just over six months later on the night of the 28th – 29th of March 1943 he was killed leading his men in attack against German machine-gun positions in Sedjenane in Northern Tunisia.

He was later buried in the Military Cemetery in Tabarka.

 

Sadly, like many other young men in the various theatres of war, Richard died at a very young age.  But in his short life he left us with some fine poetry which I have always been fond of.  However, I am not going to quote any of his poetry in this article as I do not think that I should do so; instead I urge you to either find a book of his poetry or failing that read some of his poems on the internet.  His work may not be to all tastes but I am sure that you will admire it.

I did not venture out on that warm afternoon thinking that I would find a book of Richard’s poetry.  As normal I walked blindly into the arcade just to see what was there.  It is more fun that way.

 

Richard Spender Poem

Indeed I had not read any of Richard’s poetry for many years.  I thought of him occasionally if I was reading Second World War poetry but that was all.  If I had planned to locate a book of his work in Hungerford on that day then it is likely I would have drawn a blank, but there it was on the top of a pile of books facing the stairs which led to the Rafters Cafe.

I will leave you with the dedication that is to be found in his collected poems.

To my Mother and Father
and to King Edward VI School, Stratford-on-Avon,
because their joint conspiracy gave me
the happiest first twenty-one years of life
that anyone could dream of having.

 

Happy hunting.

This article was written by Stuart Miller-Osbourne

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Hungerford Arcade British Army Cavalry

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Antiques

Hungerford Arcade Stallholder Pete Marsh (Unit 11) with Catherine Southon on Antiques Road Trip

Hungerford Arcade stallholder, Pete Marsh (Unit 11) specialises in antique militaria and very old coins. Many ex-servicemen come into see Pete for a preview of the latest additions to his great collection and of course, to buy.

 

 

 

 

Recently, we had two such gentlemen, both from the Cavalry but different Regiments.  Peter now retired, was handling antique military rifles whilst Ian who is still a serving cavalry officer, was interested in old cavalry swords. Quite by chance, they met up at the desk and had a jolly good chat over a couple of very interesting swords!

 

Officers

Hungerford Arcade: L-R: Retired Cavalry Officer Peter with Rita and Serving Cavalry Officer Ian

 

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Hungerford Arcade 1940 Topical Times

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Hungerford Arcade stallholder, Jonathan Edwards stocks an amazing selection of very old postcards, stamps, magazines etc.  To our surprise a gentleman, Jeremy Colman found on Jonathan’s shelves a magazine entitled Topical Times dated May 1940.  On the front cover was a very funny cartoon, signed Phil Colman.  

 

Phil Colman (1911-1995)


Phil was Jeremy’s father.  He was born in Bradford in 1911 and married a young lady from Market Lavington in Wiltshire in 1941.  When he was 16, Phil won the coveted
Carnegie Trust County Library Torch competition for a new sign for the County libraries.

Cartoons

When Phil left Art College, he went to work for the famous Punch Magazine drawing cartoons.  In 1940, he joined the Army and did his training at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire after which he was sent to North Africa and became a dispatch rider.  From there he worked on a newspaper for the Army and served in Italy until the end of the war.

war

 

 

After the war, Phil went back to drawing cartoons for magazines.war

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Hungerford Arcade Hungerford And Her Neighbours

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Hungerford Arcade’s great friend and author Stuart Miller-Osborne has written yet another fascinating article.  This one he focuses on Hungerford and its neighbours.  It gives a good insight into some of the oldest and most beautiful towns and villages in the Berkshire countryside.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did….with a cup of tea, of course.

 

Hungerford Arcade Hungerford and neighbours blog (5)A few days ago I popped into a bookshop in Henley on Thames during my lunch hour just really to shelter from the showers of the day.  As I was about to leave, I noticed an antiquarian book which looked interesting.  Its title in short was The Beauties of England and the book dated from 1791.

 

What initially took my interest was that there was a bookplate inside the front cover which noted that the book had once belonged to Bernard Edward, The Duke of Norfolk.

 

Above the bookmark the name Charles Howard had been added in black ink.  I purchased the book for two reasons.  One was that it appeared to have been part of the library of The Duke of Norfolk and also I was fascinated to find out who Charles Howard was.  The other reason was that Beauties of England was full of short portraits of the villages, towns and cities of Great Britain including Hungerford.

 


Hungerford 64 miles from London stands on the River Kennet, famous for the best trout and cray-fish; but neither its buildings or market are considerable.

The constable who is chosen yearly is lord of the manor, and holds it immediately under the King.

They have a horn here, holding about a quart, which the inscription says, was given by John of Gaunt.

 

Hungerford Arcade Neighbours 2This is a short description of Hungerford in 1791 and whilst the town has changed a little, one can still see our eighteenth century town. Our neighbours in Newbury also have an entry on the opposite page.

 

Newbury or Newborough 56 miles from London, remarkable for being the birthplace of that great clothier, Jack of Newbury.

Large qualities of shalloons and druggets are still made here; which with its other trades render it a flourishing town.

It stands very peacefully on the River Kennet. The streets are spacious, particularly the market place, in which stands the guildhall.

History reports, that at the sand-pits near the town, several were burnt for their religion, in the bloody reign of Queen Mary.

 

NewburyThe streets in Newbury have a sense of space but the town has obviously been built up since 1791.  The Kennet and Avon Canal was still a few years away and it would be nearly seventy years before the railways reached both Newbury and Hungerford.

 

 

Lambourn also gets a short mention.

 

Lambourn or Langhorn, 10 miles from Newbury takes its name from the little river that runs by it, and falls into the River Kennet at Thackham.

It stands on the S side of White-horse-hill in a pleasant sporting country.

 

NeighboursAlthough I do not know Lambourn well, I am fully aware of its sporting connections which probably have not changed that much since 1791.

 

One of the great things about living in the countryside is that things do not change that much.  If the developers had their way then as with Thatcham and Newbury, new estates would spring up spoiling the landscape.  But we are safe in Hungerford and beyond.

 

The true Berkshire countryside I believe starts as you leave Newbury.  If you are travelling by train it is noticeable how unspoiled the countryside becomes as you travel towards Hungerford.  In the distance one catches glimpses of the far off Downs in all their moods.  The canal follows the railway loyally and various creatures such as deer, rabbits and foxes are easily spotted.  Kintbury comes and goes as does Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey.  The traveller is in some of the most beautiful countryside in Southern Britain.  And it is here for each of us to enjoy.

 

A man such as myself in 1791 although with a lot less time on his hands, would have appreciated the landscape and maybe would have written about it. He might have been as privileged as to own a copy of the Beauties of England who knows?  But what I do know is that Bernard Edward the Duke of Norfolk had previously owned the book that I purchased in Henley.  As had the mysterious Charles Howard.  It was time to research these men a task which I found surprisingly easy.

 

Duke

Bernard Edward Howard 12th Duke of Norfolk 1765-1842

Bernard Edward Howard (1765-1842) was the 12th Duke of Norfolk who inherited the title being the third cousin of a certain Charles Howard (1746-1815).  This was the mysterious signature above Bernard’s bookplate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Howard had been the 11th Duke of Norfolk and to think that this 1791 book had

200px-Charles_Howard,_11th_Duke_of_Norfolk_by_Thomas_Gainsborough

Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk 1746-1815

belonged to both men was quite moving.  It had most probably been part of the library handed down and is likely to have spent many years at Arundel Castle in Sussex.  Quite how it ended up in Henley on Thames is anybody’s guess.  Perhaps it was stolen by a member of the staff and sold on or more likely it became redundant and was sold by the house.  It is not likely that I will ever find out but to imagine that this modest little book had been handled by both Dukes (Who were both direct descendants of Edward the First) is rather interesting to say the least.

 

ChurchHere in Hungerford in the early spring of 2016, I have this book in front of me.  I am referring to it as I write this short article very much as the Dukes might have referred to it all those years ago.  Charles Howard may have had occasion to go to Great Bedwyn and would have found the following rather strange description.

 

Great Bedwyn, formerly a city and the metropolis of Cissa a Viceroy of Wiltshire and Berkshire in the time of the Saxons is 70 miles from London.

The church which is a spacious fabric is built in the form of a cross, has a lofty tower in the center and several ancient
monuments.

 

NeighboursYou can see the history of the now sleepy Bedwyn in this short and slightly mysterious account.

 

 

 

 

Nearby Marlborough is described beautifully.

 

Hungerford Arcade Hungerford and neighbours blog (4)Marlborough 76 miles from London, so called from the chalky soil in which it is situated is prettily built, but consists chiefly of one large straight street, with piazza’s along one side of it.

It has a parish church and several commodious inns being the grand thoroughfare from London to Bath and Bristol.


But my favourite is little Froxfield which is surprisingly included.

 

At Froxfield, 7 miles distant, the late Duchess of Marlborough endowed an alms-house for 30 poor widows, with an ample annual stipend for apprenticing 10 or 12 children.

 

Hungerford Arcade Hungerford and neighbours blog (6)The alms-houses are still there and have not changed that much in the last two hundred and twenty-five years.  As far I as I am aware, the buildings still cater for widows although I think that the apprenticeships may have become a trust or the like since then.

 

 

I have only covered Hungerford and her neighbours in this article but the book itself covers the whole of Great Britain.  It was a chance find during a damp lunch-hour in Henley on Thames.  But then again many of the most interesting finds occur when you are not actively seeking them.  To stumble upon a book owned by the two Dukes of Norfolk is interesting enough in itself, But to see some of the towns and villages of this area over two hundred years ago is quite memorable.

 

I have lived in Hungerford for nearly ten years but feel that I have known the town and its neighbours for a much longer period. 

Stuart Miller-Osborne

 

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Hungerford Arcade Mermaids in Glass Cases

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Hungerford Arcade’s wonderful friend, Stuart Miller-Osborne has come up trumps again with this fascinating article he has written which I hope will fascinate you as much as it did me.

 

GlassWhen one enters an antique shop or an Arcade there are three things that will always happen. Firstly, within minutes you will find a copy of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (usually the Fitzgerald translation). Secondly you will find for sale the Tri-ang lorry you had when you were a child which you managed to batter to destruction before you were twelve.  Sadly you note that if you had not been such a horror then you might have been some fifty pounds richer now. Thirdly, you will see an animal or a fish looking startled (or not) in a glass case.  

 

GlassOne of the many pleasures of walking down Hungerford High Street (there are many if you look) is that you cannot miss these creatures in their glass cases looking out onto the West Berkshire day. A lot of these are Victorian and I always consider that they are like the H George Wells character in the 1960 movie, The Time Machine. There is a scene in the movie where Wells uses his machine to travel to the future from 1899. Although the machine stays in roughly the same place the world around him changes as the future develops. A Victorian fox looking out onto our High Street will have seen a lot of changes and will do as we progress. Obviously the fox would have been in situ for the last hundred or so years looking at our main street but he is encased in a time capsule which has not changed since he was positioned by our forefathers

 

Tax 1 (1)Hungerford Arcade Mermaids in Glass Cases Article July 2016

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Funkynusayri

This is why taxidermy fascinates me although by no means do I collect. The only time I ever purchased anything in a glass case was when I was eight and at an auction (no less) I spent my pocket money on three butterflies in a small wooden box to the horror of my parents. A year or so later I gave these beautiful creatures a Christian burial at the insistence of my sister who would not look at them when she came into my room. My mother shared the sentiment and I consider that this display would have accidentally been given away if I had not buried them. They still lie at peace in the Wiltshire soil display case and all. 

 

Apart from maybe butterflies I would not collect any other creature. My wife like my sister and mother shudders even at the thought of dead creatures in cases. Any chance that I may have had with my future wife accepting my interest in butterflies and moths was sunk once and for all when as a teenager she was sent a not very well preserved stuffed lizard from her pen friend in the Maghreb. After a week or so in transit the obvious has began to occur and its funeral pyre was quickly arranged.

 

I was well into my twenties until I began to understand how a taxidermist worked. Previously like a lot of people, I thought that the creature had its internal organs removed and was preserved then later stuffed and glass eyes added. Although I knew this did not apply to insects I could not have been more wrong.

 

I will not go deeply into the process as you like I have probably recently eaten. But it appears that the creature (which must be a vertebrate) is just skinned and after that is persevered in chemicals (which is a much safer process these days than it used to be) and then mounted on a mannequin which can be made from a variety of materials as is the internal stuffing of the creature. 

 

GlassAlthough I find looking at creatures in glass cases a little haunting, I feel a little uncomfortable when looking at them elsewhere. On a recent visit to the Natural History Museum in Oxford there were quite a large number a birds displayed without cases in the various rooms. For an unknown reason I found this a little sad as the theatre of these creatures seemed to indicate that they wanted to fly and escape into the skies of Oxford. Quite what Inspector Morse would have made of a Golden Eagle perched on the Bodleian is open to question.

 

Although existing prior to the Victorian era, taxidermy really took off during those years.. As my researches indicate it helped to confirm the Western held belief of human superiority over animals. As the Empire grew men left these shores to all parts of the globe, some were hunters who returned with many trophies ready to be mounted. Others were naturalists such as Charles Darwin who travelled the world to study and report on other creatures. Whichever way the tannery business’s were very busy in the nineteenth century. Hungerford is likely to have had one or two at the time.

 

GlassAs the taxidermy techniques became more sophisticated, museum collections grew and now nearly two hundred years later we have collections in the United Kingdom and Europe to be proud of. I remember as a child being dragged around various dusty museums and seeing wild animals although long dead as real as you could see them. This made a lasting impression on me although I always looked forward to the collections of butterflies and moths.

 

A big name in the early days of taxidermy was a certain Louis Dufresne (1752-1832) who as a naturalist on board the Astrolabe went on a voyage around the world between 1785 and 1787, during which time he classified an enormous number of creatures. He became the curator and taxidermist at the Museum d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris in 1793 and in 1802 perfected a technique (especially for preserving birds) which advanced the method a great deal. His extensive private collection is now conserved at the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh.

 

GlassApart from butterflies and moths one of my favourites are the various fish that you see mounted in cases (often in pubs) where a lucky fisherman, proud of his catch has had his catch stuffed and placed in glass case for posterity. It is the detail that fascinates me .

 

Pike caught in Broughton Water 15th of September 1899 by G R Robinson E
sq. or Perch  landed by M R Trowbridge at Lacock on the 6th May 1871     

 

GlassThe list is endless but if you are in a pub or elsewhere then they are fun to look at. Whilst on the subject of pubs, there is an interesting one in Beesands in South Devon (near the ruined village of Hallsands). On the wall to the left as you enter is the biggest lobster that you are ever likely to see caught, I believe off of Cape Cod in 1956. The size is awesome especially for a lobster layman such as myself. What further amused me was that in a recent advertisement for the pub that this huge lobster was released from its case and placed on the sea wall with various other items. So near the sea but so far.

 

For a while whilst visiting this establishment, I thought this lobster to be a rouge. This is to say creatures that are not real and are in the realms of imagination. Creatures such as Unicorns and Dragons or long extinct species, but it was real. My researches note that when the Platypus was first discovered in 1798 that it was treated the same way and was thought to be a playful hoax. The people of the time thought a ducks beak had been attached onto an animal resembling a beaver. They were all proved wrong as the Duck Billed Platypus although odd was real enough.

 

 

GlassHowever, if I ever walk down Hungerford High Street or elsewhere and see a mermaid in a glass case then I will most definitely change my choice of ale. For the time being though I will continue to admire the work of these Victorian taxidermists as I peer curiously into these glass cases.  

 

Stuart Miller-Osborne

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Hungerford Arcade St. Lawrence’s Church Flower Festival 2016

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Flower-festival-di-loft2-576x1024As part of Hungerford and District Community Arts Festival (HADCAF) and to coincide with the 200 year anniversary of St. Lawrences Church in Hungerford, a flower festival was held at the church featuring themed displays.

 

We know Di Loft from the work she does with the Royal British Legion, especially around November, in aid of the Poppy Appeal.  Di came into the shop with her friend, Brenda Scarlett and asked if we might be able to help her gather some items for the display. The theme was to be “The British Armed Forces” and I was more than happy to provide her with some items to bring her display to life.

 

She also met with one of our stallholders, Gary Crook, and was able to persuade him into lending her a few of his own personal items as well.  In fact, Gary didn’t take much persuading.  He is a military enthusiast, collector and re-enactor and was more than happy to help.

 

flower festival fionaAnother participant in the flower festival was a very good friend of the Arcade, Fiona Hobson from local cafe The Tutti Pole.

 

Fiona’s theme was Hungerford and she was stuck for a way to depict the Common as she had the grass, but no cows to graze on it! We gladly offered her six lead cow figures which really made the scene look lifelike.

 

The Corn Exchange model you can see in the picture was loaned by Stewart Hofgartner from Below Stairs of Hungerford Antiques.  It’s a really beautiful display and we are proud to have been able to help.

 

Di said “The event was well attended raising much needed money for Church repairs with helpers offering cream teas for visitors to the Church.

 

flower_festival_1_500The theme for the flower displays by local organisations was to depict a song or hymn and the numerous floral arrangements varied from children’s nursery rhymes through to well known songs to favourite hymns.

 

 

 

Flower festival di loft2The Royal British Legion Hungerford Branch chose ‘Eternal Father’ as their theme and produced a three tier display depicting the three armed forces with accompanying memorabilia kindly loaned by Hungerford Arcade.

 

Thank you to all contributors, helpers and visitors for making St. Lawrence’s 2016 Flower Festival a fabulous floral success”.

Di Loft

 

 

 

 

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Hungerford Arcade Seven Thousand Character Jugs

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Hungerford Arcade know that we all like to have our little pleasures in life and antiques and collectables are amongst the most popular these days.  People who started their collections many years ago come into the Arcade to find that elusive piece that they have spent many months or years looking for.  When they find it, the excitement and pleasure is there for all to see.

 

MugsWhen Kevin and Mary McLaren-Dunbar, along with their dog Kountess Kiki came into the Arcade looking for character jugs, they were not disappointed.  In fact, they were over-the-moon to find some that did did not have and had been searching for for quite a long time.  When they came to the desk to purchase the jugs, Kevin told us that he has a collection of at least 7,000 which will all be going to his Strathgart Hunting Lodge in Inverness.

 

Mug

Kevin and Mary live in London but they have been renovating the Strathgart Hunting Lodge for the past four years.  When it is finished all 7,000 character jugs will be moving in.    Hopefully, they will send us some photographs when they are settled.

 

Thank you Kevin and Mary for sharing a part of your life with us.  Rita

 

 

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Our Very Own Mad Hatter

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Meet Dennis Benneyworth – Former Mayor of Hungerford and stallholder here at the Arcade. Dennis specialises in top hats and horse racing memorabilia. Every year Dennis empties his cabinet here and sets up shop at Ascot Racecourse for one of the most famous race meetings in the world – Royal Ascot.

If you are lucky enough to attend Royal Ascot, a top hat is an absolute must.  Indeed, if you have seats in the Royal Enclosure, you won’t be allowed in unless you are wearing one.

Royal Ascot was established in 1711 after Queen Anne opened the racecourse and attracts over 300,000 attendees every year making it Europe’s best-attended race meeting.

 

Although most popular during racing season, Dennis’ top hats are available all year round in cabinet 116.  Many more hats and related items are also available on his website at www.sportingstudy.co.uk

 

 

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Hungerford Arcade Army Logistics

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Hungerford Arcade are very proud of the Army Logistics Corps who are parked outside of the Arcade with their two monster army vehicles, as you can see.  Lance Corporal McNamara, Private Harris and Corporal Burt are here today to give people the opportunity to come and talk to them and find out about Army logistics.  Also, if you want to, you can sign up to join our wonderful Army.  You will find them very friendly and seem to be enjoying themselves.  Our beautiful market town of Hungerford always makes our armed forces very welcome.  If you are out and about, come along and have a chat with them.

 

Hungerford Arcade Army Logistics Corps (4) June 2016

L-R L/Corporal McNamara, Corporal Burt and Private Harris

Hungerford Arcade with Army Hungerford Arcade Army Logistics Corps (3) June 2016 Hungerford Arcade Army Logistics Corps June 2016

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