At our next meeting on 21^st April we will hear Judith Ellis, in her talk entitled Campden House – the howse that was so fayre, describing the results of the research by the Chipping Campden History Society into the history of Campden House.  Few tantalising fragments remain of the “howse that was so fayre”, built in 1612 by Sir Baptist Hicks and destroyed in 1645 by Royalists during the Civil War.  Many travellers on the B4035 will have seen the East Banqueting House stranded in the fields east of the town, fields which once were elaborate gardens. 

Other original buildings include the West Banqueting House and the Gatehouse, but all that remains of the mansion itself above ground is one wall.   During the Campden House Project, which began in 2016 and was completed in 2018, the Society undertook extensive geophysical surveys, trial trenching and documentary research to discover what can be retrieved of the original house and its grounds.  These investigations have now been published as a book, and we look forward to hearing the results. Visitors welcome (Visitors’ Entrance fee £3.00)

Report on the 35^th AGM held on 17^th March.  Our President Robert Bearman presided over the business proceedings, and we are pleased that he agreed to continue as our President.  Reports from the Chairman and the Treasurer had been circulated in advance. 

The Chairman outlined the previous year’s events, and thanked Claire Roberts for arranging a splendid programme.  Our summer outings were eventful, with a village guide who omitted to acknowledge the existing village (but who enthusiastically demonstrated its prehistoric and Roman antecedents); a local trip from which our guide had to withdraw part way round, but not before providing a remarkable insight into an overlooked part of our neighbourhood; and a town tour on the hottest day of the year, but which was enjoyed nonetheless by a hardy band.  The Chairman thanked Rosemary, Isobel and Brian Lewis for organising these events.  Attention was directed to the ongoing efforts to establish a Community Archive Room in the village hall.  The Chairman concluded by thanking our President, the committee and other members who supported the group and contributed to a successful 2022. 

Our Treasurer presented our accounts, reviewed by former committee member Peter Waters, pointing out that the drop in our bank balance was mainly due to the cost of installing the fire-door, an essential element of the archive room project, but that other costs (hall hire, speakers fees, bank charges) had also increased.  Membership in 2022 was down from 76 to 65 compared with 2021.  Peter Waters was thanked and agreed to review the 2023 accounts

The elections to the committee:  George Lokuciejewski retired from the committee and we are grateful for his input during his time helping to run the group.  Ilona Sekacz stood down as Secretary, but remained on the committee, and the other 9 members of the 2022 committee, including the chairman, were re-elected.

2023-24 KDLHG Committee

President:                               Dr Robert Bearman MBE                  

Chairman                                David Freke                           

Vice-Chairman                        Roger Gaunt                           

Secretary                                Vacant                          

Treasurer                                Alec Hitchman                       

Outings Secretary                   Rosemary Collier                                    

Programme Secretary             Claire Roberts                            

Other committee members:

Isobel Gill

Ilona Sekacz 

Catherine Petrie (PR)

Pamela Redgrave (Membership)

 We have a full programme of talks and outings scheduled for 2023-4, thanks to Claire’s efforts, and the summer outings have been finalised (see below).

The business part of the evening was followed by David Moylan with a presentation/performance entitled

Funny Turns – a celebration of the entertainers and entertainment of days gone by.  David performs comedy magic, with an historical edge.  He also plays a variety of instruments, and he entertained us with a non-stop stream of self-deprecating jokes, stories, and songs.  True to his title he paid homage to entertainers familiar to many of our older members.  I started taking notes, but laughter obliged me to abandon the attempt and just enjoy the flow. 

Ilona gave the vote of thanks, referring to her own childhood in Blackpool where she experienced the best (and not so best) of the old-time comedians.    

Our Forthcoming Talks

Date	Speaker	Title
21 April	Judith Ellis	Campden House – the howse which was so fayre
19 May	Frances Kermer	Common Land – Its Origin Loss and Survival
15 June (eve)	Diana Hughes	Sibford Gower and Burdrop village walk
21 July (eve)	John Dunkerton	Hampton Lucy village walk
17 Aug. (afternoon)	Sean Callery	Broadway town tour
15 September	Martin Sinot-Smith	Sulgrave Manor & the Washington Family.
20 October	John Miles	Charlecote & the Lucy Family
17 November	Paul Grigsby	Roman Warwickshire
8 December	Various	Members’ Christmas Treats
19 January 2024	Peter Walters	A Little History of Coventry
16 February	Stephen Barker	The Battle of Edgehill 1642
15 March AGM	Vanessa Morgan	Local Rogues & Villains of the 19th century

2023 Summer Outings

Full details of venues, costs and times at the April 21^st meeting.  Put these dates in your diaries!

Capturing Kineton’s Past by Peter Ashley-Smith, edited by our President Robert Bearman  

Members are encouraged tobecome evangelical about this publication, in order to promote the group, and foster an interest in the history of our village and its surroundings.  This book would make an ideal birthday present?   Peter’s encyclopaedic knowledge and years of research are here distilled into little nuggets – anecdotes, characters, and vignettes of past village life here presented to give a comprehensive picture of all aspects of Kineton’s colourful past.

Price £9.99 contact kinetonhistory@yahoo.co.uk

or purchase at meetings or via PayPal from our website:

Kineton and District Local History Group (kinetonhistory.co.uk)

Peter Johnson has updated and substantially revised and enlarged his biography of Joe Gerring, who worked around the area in Lighthorne, Compton Verney, Chesterton and Kineton.  The book is a model of local history research and presentation, and is accompanied by a CD of Joe talking about his experiences.  There has been a limited print run of only 100 copies of the book and CD and Peter Johnson has kindly donated a copy of both to the archive of the Kineton & District Local History Group.

Peter Johnson has a limited number of both the book and CD for sale. The book is £14 and the CD is £6. Postage rates on application. Home delivery available in Lighthorne and Kineton. Please email:  colinjamessuch@gmail.com.

Other Societies’ Events

Thursday 20^th April.  Warmington Heritage Group.  Recent works at Baddesley Clinton by Stephen Wass.  7.30 Village Hall, Warmington. Non members £2.00

Monday 24 April.  Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society.  What are they Worth: Anglo- Saxon and Mercian settlements incorporating the term “-worth” by Graham Aldred.  7.30 Senior Citizens Club, Kenilworth, non members £2.00

Monday 24^th April.  Leamington Spa History Group.  The History of Allotments in Leamington by Nigel Briggs.  7.30, Oddfellows Hall New Street, Leamington

Tuesday 25^th April.  Stoneleigh History Society The Blind Postmaster General and the Suffragist by Alan Godfrey, 7.30 Village Hall Stoneleigh, non-members £3.00

Southam Heritage Collection: Accessing the Collection:

The current exhibition showcases the work by volunteers on the local Civil War loss accounts

Opening times are – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings 10 am – 12 noon.

Other times by appointment.

Our High Street and Atrium window displays are updated regularly so please keep a lookout for the latest displays as you pass by.

In addition to the Exhibition Room there is plenty to see online, so do take time to explore this website and sample some of its many interesting articles.

British Association for Local History.  The Kineton Group is a Member of BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members.  www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available virtually.

Don’t forget to check our own website at:  Kineton and District Local History Group

Membership.   If you are, or would like to become, a Member of the group, your 2023 subscription (still £10pa!) is due NOW.  Our Treasurer Alec Hitchman awaits!  You can pay by cheque made payable to Kineton and District Local History Group, sent or delivered to:

 Alec Hitchman,

The Hills Farm,

Pillerton Hersey,

WARKS, CV35 0QQ,  

With our bank now charging for payments by cheque or cash, we would urge those who can to please pay by BACS to our bank business account:

name: Kineton and District Local History Group,

sort code: 40-43-19;

acc. no. 71281992. Please include your full name so we can correctly attribute your payment.

For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com You can also join at any talk.

Contact David Freke tel. 01295 670516    mob. 07876 290044   email:  djfreke@gmail.com

DF 17.04.23