Kineton & District Local History Group

The subject of the February meeting of the Kineton and District Local History Group, was Tysoe and the history of its red horses.  It must have intrigued many people as Mr Kevin Wyles' talk attracted the largest audience in recent memory. 

Why the plural 'horses'? Did anyone know where were they had been sited? The answers to these and many other questions were answered in Mr Wyles' lively and spontaneous talk.  He told of the ancient red horse, carved into the hill above Tysoe in a time beyond our records and concealed by a plantation of trees, maybe in the 18th century.  Then there were at least three others, carved to the west of the original about 300 years ago.  All had now vanished but are recalled in folk memory and in the name by which the area is still known as 'The vale of the red horse'.

Mr Wyles passed around the audience many artefacts, largely pottery, which he himself had excavated in the area,many dating from Roman times.  It was a real treat to handle these; to hold in one's hand a fragment of a Roman pot shaped by a hand that had died nearly 2,000 years ago.  A fascinating and rewarding evening giving the audience a fresh insight into their local history.

It is unusual to hear members of a group say that they are really looking forward to the AGM, but it often happens among members of Kineton and District Local History Group, not only because the meeting itself is often dispatched with speed and humour by theChairman, David Freke, but also because it is followed by a delicious supper prepared by caterer Isobel Gill.

This year, theChairman reported a most successful and active year for the group; there had been a very good attendance of the monthly meetings and at the three summeroutings, which included a most interesting visit to Shugborough Hall, with its varied rural museums as well as the Hall itself.  The year had concludedwith a very satisfactory balance in the bank.

Mr Freke wasre-elected as Chairman and the other members of the committee were re-elected en-bloc.  Next year's programme of lectures, prepared by the ProgrammeSecretary, Claire Roberts was greeted enthusiastically and it was understood that the Outing Secretary Margaret Moore, would present details of these at ameeting in the near future.

It was noted that theambitious scheme to list all the legible graves in the parish churchyard had attracted much interest and co-operation, under the capable hands of GillAshley-Smith and that work could continue as soon as weather permitted.

After the aforementioned supper, there was a most interesting talk by Linda Synge, the Director of the Warwickshire documentary play recently seen in the VillageHall, about how the play was devised and put on.  Richard Acton then entertained with three monologues, which were once again vastly enjoyed by members.

All gave thanks thatthe snow had dispersed in time to allow this evening, to which members had all looked forward so much.

At our March meeting Mr Alan Godfrey from Alcester gave an informative illustrated description of the development of the postal service in Warwickshire, from the time of Henry VIII to the present.  In the course of the fascinating talk we learnt that Hobson's Choice (no choice!) derives its name from a post master who insisted that post boys take the horse nearest the door, that Kineton's postal number was 41, and that the TV programme Lark Rise to Candleford is using parcel stickers a decade too early for the period of the show! 

Mr Godfrey showed many examples of local popstal relics, exhibiting a variety of spellings for Kineton (Kington, Kyneton, Keinton), and described some of the local characters, one of whom was recognised by a member of the audience as her grandfather.  We heard that over the years the office of Postmaster General has been occupied by a number of characters too.  Rowland Hill, for instance who introduced the Penny Black stamp and established the principle that senders paid for letters, not the receivers.   Initially he wasn't appointed as Postmaster general because he upset too many influential people. 

There is a local aspect to the office of Postmaster General, The joint incumbent between 1715 and 1720 was James Craggs, who was disgraced for his part in the corruption surrounding the South Sea Bubble scandal, the 18th century equivalent of the present stock market turmoil.  He died in 1721, possibly committing suicide rather than face a parliamentary inquiry.  His daughter, Anne, before her father's fall, married John Newsham, the Lord of the Manor of Chadshunt.  The extensive 18th century alterations to All Saints Church, Chadshunt , were probably financed from her fortune .  With her sisters she inherited her father's  estate, only moderately diminished by a punitive fine for his Bubble activities.  Her son James seems to have inherited a problem with money (as an adult he took his mother's maiden name of Craggs), as he squandered his considerable inheritance.  He mortgaged the Chadshunt estate  to Charlotte Digby before dying in Flanders, ending 200 years of Newsham lordship at Chadshunt.