Balcombe History Society

September 2009 Newsletter

 

 

Dear Members,

Interesting events lie ahead and we hope you enjoy them – please read on:-

 

 

1          Autumn Talks Programme

            Please make a note of these dates.  All Talks will be held at the Victory Hall at 8.0pm. Tickets at the             door are £1 for members, £3 for visitors.  Everyone is welcome.

 

            Tuesday 22nd September 2009

            ROGER BIRCH (Author and Teacher) – “The Geology and Archaeology of Horsham Stone and             Sussex Marble – Dinosaurs, Local History and Churches”.

            This illustrated Talk will show how a study of churches and ancient buildings will reveal the         fascinating story of the rich cultural and architectural heritage of this region.

            140 million years ago Sussex was a land of tropical swamps, rivers and lakes in which dinosaurs   roamed.  The Balcombe area has been famous for its hard sandstone quarries.

 

            EDDIE HAMMOND (BHS member) 

            He will present new evidence about two local topics - “Guarding the Viaduct” and “The Sussex   Secret Army”.

 

­            Tuesday 20th October 2009

            GEOFFREY MEAD (Convenor for Local History, Centre for Community Engagement (CCE),             Sussex Institute, University of Sussex.  Geographer and professional speaker on Sussex.) -            “Sussex Industrial History; a different approach”.

            This illustrated Talk will show the variety of Sussex Industries and how they link one to another;             how does Balcombe and its trades fit into the local and national picture?

 

            Friday 13 November 2009

            BOB DRAPER – “A History of Navigation on the Ouse”.

            Bob Draper, Chairman of the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust will give an illustrated talk on the     history of navigation on the Sussex River Ouse, with special mention of its route and impact within Cuckfield and Balcombe parishes, the mills it supported along its length and its role in the building   of Balcombe Viaduct.

 

            Spring 2010 Programme

 

            Wednesday 27 January

            DR. ANNABEL HUGHES  (Research Consultant on Historic Architecture) –

            “Introduction to Historic, Framed Buildings – looking at some in Balcombe.”

 

            Note – Members’ subscriptions will be due for payment.

 

            Tuesday 9th March

            LYN PALMER – “The Weald Revealed; exploring the wooded landscapes of the Weald

            Forest Ridge”.

            Lyn Palmer is the Historic Environment Awareness Project Officer for the Weald Forest Ridge.  The project is led by the archaeology section of East Sussex County Council.  40% of the Forest         Ridge is woodland – a landscape whose archaeology is often hidden.  The Historic Environment   Awareness project will help people identify and record these hidden features.

 

            Note  - The Talk will be preceded by the AGM

         

 

          Thursday 8 April

            HEATHER WARNE – “Farming in Balcombe and the Ouse Valley in the mediaeval period” –

            covering the manorial system in Balcombe which will give an understanding of the settlements on             which Balcombe grew.

            Heather Warne is a local landscape historian who has searched records of Keymer Manor from

            Mediaeval times to the present day, covering Hassocks, Burgess Hill and Balcombe.  She is also

            Archivist to Arundel Castle.

 

2          Local History Research

 

            Three Study Groups have been set up to cover the following topics:-

            (a)  Tracks, Roads, Transport and Railways;  Team Leader, Alan Dearden (811 989).

            This group has started.

            (b)  Industry and Farming through the ages;  Team Leader, Brian Wells (459 912).

            This group is being established.  More volunteer researchers will be welcome.

            (c)  Law and Order and the Military; Team Leader, Roy Bliss (811 571)

            This group also needs some more active participants.

            Please let us know if you could help (or wish to learn more about) any of these study groups.

            Contact a team leader or member of the Committee.  Any help you can give will be very welcome.

            Copies of the Prospectus for each team (circulated with April Newsletter) are available from         Julie Budgen (811 641).

 

 

3          West Sussex Tithe Map Project

            The Records Office is starting a new Project to enhance some of the tithe maps which have          already been digitalised, by embedding additional information.  This will employ unique new        software.  Balcombe is one of the few villages invited to participate.  More news will follow.

 

 

4          Archives

            The Archive Group is preparing good practice and procedures for identifying, recording and

            storing archive material.  West Sussex Records Office has provided much useful information,       allowing us to refine our proposed procedures.

            A source of reasonably priced storage containers has been identified.  A number of these containers        will be with us very shortly which will facilitate the next stage of the indexing process.

            A 4 drawer card filing cabinet has been acquired to hold the records of our archive material.  An

            Archive Group will be recruited to help identify, record and replicate the information accumulated

            to date.

 

 

5          Donations to our Archives

            We are very grateful to these four people for their donations to our Archive this year.

            Fred Avery         Plate photographs of the Royal Wedding in Balcombe.  Mr Avery received                                                these from G.Todd, grandson of Mr Udall (headmaster of Balcombe School).

            Doug Budden                 Photographs of Balcombe School Pupils (c1933), School Cricket Tam, 2nd 11                                             (Approx 1937) and Balcombe Bowls team.

            G.Drayton           1950-60 Minute Book and Cash Book of the Parents’ Association.

            Gordon Malins   A book – “History of Balcombe Social Club”.

 

 

 

We look forward to a busy year ahead!

Graham Gosney

Chairman