Latest news with #localhistory
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'We thought they were rethatching the cottage - then the digger arrived': Mystery over who employed 'rough' gang of workers to demolish 300-year-old cherished landmark
Villagers have been left baffled by the identity of a local homeowner who employed a 'rough' gang of workers to demolish a beloved 300-year-old cottage. Neighbours said the first believed workers were coming in to rethatch the roof of the historic property and were shocked when a JCB digger arrived. Test Valley Borough Council said they had not been made aware of plans to tear down the two-bedroom home and have now launched an investigation in to the demolition. Locals in Nursling, near Southampton in Hampshire, said the 17th century property was regarded as the 'hallmark' of their parish and was even featured on the front cover of a book about local history. Residents have said they were shocked by the destruction with some even calling for those responsible to be 'locked up' after a feeling robbed of a piece of their local history. Alex Huckle, 39, who lives opposite where the cottage said she saw a gang of 'rough' men come over to start work but hadn't expected anything as drastic as a demolition and added there were no signs to warn residents. She said: 'They looked quite rough, there were no signs or anything. 'They had a tipper truck. We thought they were rethatching it, they put plastic sheets up, but obviously they were taking the thatch down.' Residents have said they were shocked by the destruction with some even calling for those responsible to be 'locked up' after a feeling robbed of a piece of their local history The local added the village had previously tried to get the cottage listed but were unsuccessful. Ms Huckle told MailOnline: 'I know we did try to get it listed back in February. We were told it had been altered a few years ago. I don't know who owns it.' Older Nursling residents were particularly angered by the decision to knock down a cottage they have lots of fond memories of. James Rooney, 90, thinks those responsible should be 'locked up' for their 'disgusting' actions. The retired builder said: 'It is disgusting, whoever did it needs to be locked up. 'We heard them doing work but did not know they were going to take it down. 'One of the last things I heard was the old lady that was living there wrote to the council because it was falling apart. 'All I know is it was a lovely old cottage.' Jess Craig, 39, echoed Ms Huckle's comments about the demolition crew and said that they were definitely not a 'corporate company'. The full-time mother said the destruction of the beautiful property 'happened pretty quick' and she noticed workmen who looked like tree surgeons and took just two days to tear the cottage down. She said: 'It was a lovely cottage, one minute it was there and the next it was gone. 'I saw what looked like tree surgeons at one point and the scaffolding with sheeting around it and then it was gone. 'It was about two days, it definitely didn't look like a corporate company.' Lawrence Harfield, 71, has lived in the Hampshire village for two decades and said he couldn't believe his eyes when a JCB digger moved in and began smashing down the property. Registered nurse Karen Williams, 42, said everyone in the area is 'really upset' at the demolition which came completely out of the blue. 'I am really saddened and shocked that it has been demolished,' she said. 'I looked at the planning portal and from what I can see the only one is for the land adjacent, they did a heritage thing so the building was protected. 'Everyone round here is really upset. I just knew it was up for sale last year, it came with the planning permission for the adjacent land. 'I heard them demolishing it, I didn't realise what was going on until I saw it on the Facebook page. 'Everyone is saddened, it is a piece of our history that has been taken away, there isn't much of the old village left. The cottage was previously owned by an estates company linked to a philanthropic organisation, the Barker-Mill Foundation, but they confirmed that it was sold earlier this year. MailOnline has contacted the foundation for comment. The last planning application in relation to the cottage was submitted to the council in 2022, seeking to build a new home on the land next to the cottage. This application was approved by Test Valley, but no work has yet started on the separate dwelling. Planning portfolio holder, Councillor Phil Bundy, said: 'I was made aware on Sunday evening that Wychwood Cottage had been demolished at the weekend. 'Test Valley Borough Council was not notified of this work in advance. 'Whilst the cottage was not a listed building, TVBC is currently investigating the matter. 'This includes establishing whether the owners followed the correct planning procedures, and the council is in contact with them to understand why it was demolished.'
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Library images reveal Birkenhead's history
Historical images of Birkenhead have been published as part of an extensive collection at the town's reference show Hamilton Square, which has the most Grade I listed buildings outside of London, and the Argyle Theatre that was lost in the Blitz of World War familiar venues include the George and Dragon pub and ABC collection includes more than 25,000 digitised photographs, historical maps, and about 16,000 local history items. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lt Fred Barton: WWII pilot remembered at Tyrone field crash site
At the entrance of a quiet field in County Tyrone, a newly erected memorial stone pays tribute to the life of an American World War Two pilot who lost his life on a nearby 80 years ago this week, Lieutenant Fred A Barton's plane crashed into the farmland close to was the 21-year-old's final flight before he was due to return home the next day to his wife and newborn son – a child he would never 1 July 1945 the US Air Force pilot's plane crashed into a field close to the townland of Eskragh. The Georgia-born pilot had completed 35 missions during World War II and following the end of the war had been working as a test pilot based out of a US army encampment in County cause of the crash was deemed unknown but local reports at the time said parts of the exploded plane covered a distance of half a square mile across the Tyrone Barton was initially buried in Belfast before his remains were exhumed and transferred to a cemetery in his home of Atlanta, week, to mark the 80th anniversary of his death, a group of local history enthusiasts from County Tyrone organised a memorial at the entrance of the field near the crash man Trevor Lockhart worked closely with Lt Barton's family members. Mr Lockhart said: "This young pilot lost his life in a field just over that hill, it was a story that was known locally, but we wanted to put in a permanent memorial."The idea really started last year when some members of Lt Barton's family came to visit this site, so with their permission, and with the help of the local historical society, we took the idea of a memorial forward."Earlier this week a short act of remembrance was accompanied by music provided by a local of Lt Barton's family were unable to attend the event in person , but some were able to video call and watch it remotely. This included Lt Barton's great-niece, Neely Stansell-Simpson, who lives in the American state of to BBC News NI, she said: "The service was lovely and our family was so moved by it."There is also something so profound to me about connecting with a community so far from the place I live, who has so lovingly and tenderly kept the memory of my great-uncle alive." Last October Lt Barton's nephew, Greg Norton, travelled to visit the crash site with his has sadly since passed away, but his wife Elaine was able to watch the memorial service through a video said: "It was very emotional for lots of reasons, and I know Greg would have been astounded when it was clear how many local people had turned out for the dedication, it means a lot to the family." Son, brother, husband, father Speaking at the memorial event, County Tyrone historian Jonathan Gray reflected on the said: "A local man who witnessed the crash that Sunday morning, told me that the aircraft did not sound right, perhaps he had heard the results of engine failure."Either way it's right we're honouring his life, his service and the ripple effects his loss had on his family and friends."A few lines of a letter from Fred's boyhood friend, H R Hawkins, were also read out. The letter said: "Mother has just notified me about the Lord taking my best pal. He must have had a reason but it is hard to believe that Fred won't be there when I get back. Fred has always been the best buddy I ever had."The only satisfaction I get is knowing that Fred was a wonderful person and I know that where he has gone there will be no dark days just as we have had since entering the war. "We will never forget him and it is a wonderful thing that there is a Little Fred to take his place. I will certainly love that baby."Fred Barton is one of a number of WWII pilots who died as a result of aircraft crashes in Northern Ireland. This was largely due to the fact that there was a high concentration of airfields and training of the most well known cases was that of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed on Cave Hill in Belfast, resulting in the deaths of 10 crew Lockhart says it is fitting the crash site of Lt Barton's plane has now been formally marked and said: "It's important to remember this young man, for his important service and he paid the ultimate sacrifice for that service."So now we have a spot for Lt Barton's family and future generations to come and visit, to pay their respects to this young war hero."
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southsea Model Village seeks new owners as family plan step down
A miniature seafront village attraction is looking for a new Model Village, which boasts 40 miniature buildings, houses, forts and castles including Portsmouth's Guildhall and Spinnaker Tower, opened at Lumps Fort, Eastney Esplanade, in a post on its Facebook page, it said the decision came with "a heavy heart".The family, who have owned and run the 1:12 scale village for 10 years, said it hoped the "truly special piece of local history" would be taken on by another family. The statement added: "As a family, we have cherished owning and operating this special place for the past 10 years, but since the passing of our dear dad Ian, things just haven't felt the same."It was always our dream for the village to remain a family affair, and now we feel it is time to pass this incredible opportunity on to someone new."The attraction, which has a price tag of £82,000, is being offered with a 19-year lease and comes with a cafe and its current team of village was subject to vandalism in 2021 and 2023 when rail tracks were ripped up, trees torn out of the ground and windows fundraising efforts, repairs were made and further CCTV put in. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
ABC News
30-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Libraries are becoming 'community living rooms' keeping regional Australians connected
From tiny sheds in outback towns to state-of-the-art facilities on the urban fringe, libraries are evolving to become the ultimate third space, offering a "community living room" to people who need it most. Across the country, there are more than 1,400 public library branches, on top of those run by schools, universities, and private community groups, mobile book vans and a burgeoning network of street libraries. Offering up all manner of literature, internet access and everything from craft clubs and citizen science corners to "seed libraries" and storytelling dogs — for free — they're an essential public space, perhaps especially in regional and remote Australia. In the rural locality of Julatten in Far North Queensland, it's the community that owns and runs the library, a single room stacked full of books, board games and local history. It's been operating this way since around 1952, when its eponymous founder, Edna Head, rustled up enough support to build a dedicated space for readers. "Julatten is quite an unusual place," explains Lindsay Fisher, the library's vice-president and local historian. "From one end to the other is over 20km … and basically all of [the properties] are on five-acre blocks, so it's very spread out. "Back in those days, it was very isolated. And in the early 50s, people didn't go travelling much … so having these books made a big difference, especially for the women." More than 70 years later, Julatten remains somewhat remote — about half an hour's drive from the nearest supermarket — and the library is at the heart of the community. "We have a keypad on the door so once you join, you get a number and you can go whenever you want — it's not a matter of when it's open or anything," Ms Fisher says. The library charges $7 for an annual membership, and receives about $1,500 a year from the Mareeba Shire Council, which they use to update their collection. But for many members, it's about more than just books. Committee president Bianca Velder, who moved to the area in 2024, sees the library as "a bit of a glue — or glitter, depending on the craft activity of the day". "Books really do bind, in more ways than one. They open doors, start conversations, and make us feel part of something bigger," she says. "There's definitely a safe-haven component … if I remember back to my childhood, books were my solace — you know, you travel through books and it's a really safe place to be." This idea of the library as a place of safety and community is a common thread in research around the value of public libraries across rural Australia. In towns with little more than a pub and a post office on the main street, libraries are often "the mainstay", according to Griffith University researcher Amber Marshall. Dr Marshall, whose work focuses on digital inclusion and rural development, recently co-authored a report on a survey of more than 100 Australian librarians in outer regional and remote communities. It found rural libraries are "especially valued by their communities", and seen as "a key facilitator of social inclusion and interaction". "The role of the library can be quite dramatically different depending on where you go and what the characteristics of the community are," Dr Marshall says. "I guess the smaller the community, the fewer places there are for people to meet. In the more extreme cases, it really is only the pub … there are sporting facilities as well, but that's not for everyone either. At the Shellharbour City Libraries on the NSW south coast, engaging the young and old is a key focus for children's and youth librarian Kellie John. She says with the cost of child care and daily living expenses rising, parents are increasingly looking to free services in the library — bookings for toddler story time are through the roof. "We're booking study rooms out for prams to have space in the library to fit everyone in," Ms John says. It's not just Shellharbour — the most recent statistical report from the Australian Library and Information Association shows that borrowing and visitor figures have risen across the board since the lifting of COVID restrictions. One of the regular sessions Ms John helps run is called Be Connected, an intergenerational program that pairs up older people with young readers, loosely based around the TV show Old People's Home For 4 Year Olds. The idea is to ease loneliness among older folks and develop social skills in toddlers and younger children. Ms John, who has a background in social work, was drawn to libraries for their unique position to engage with people who may not have their own support networks. "We might be the only person someone talks to all day," she says. "We're here to meet the community need … We provide that third space, that technology, the access to information, social connection. "Libraries, especially in the past few years, have moved into becoming [what we call] community living rooms. We want to especially target the demographics that need that assistance. "When someone comes in, on the off chance that we can't help them with whatever they need, we're connecting them with the people that can." The library also works with other community services to run Life Skills sessions, teaching foster kids and at-risk youth how to cook, how to access mental health support and other resources in the area. And of course, there's Ollie, the six-year-old therapy dog who dutifully reports for story time sessions and library events along with her handler, Judy Sandilands-Cincotta. As the community's needs have changed, so too has the role of a librarian. It's a trend that Dr Marshall says is demonstrated across the country. "There's this kind of real onus on libraries to, in a sense, be all things to all people. If you're in a very small town where there's been a withdrawal of services, there's really nowhere else to go," she says. In some cases, it's seen libraries employing dedicated specialists like social workers on a full-time basis. For the most part, it means librarians are constantly upskilling to meet those needs. Digital literacy is a prime example — the 2024 survey noted IT support was the most common service on offer at libraries across the board. In remote areas, where people often travel hundreds of kilometres to visit the library, outreach services are crucial. "Any time there's new technology that comes out, new phones or new software, whatever, we really are that first port of call for our communities," says Jacinta Ward, a library services coordinator in south-west Queensland. Ms Ward helps manage nine branches across the Western Downs Regional Council — an area almost the size of Switzerland. Digital inclusion is a big focus. "[In some communities], if people don't have access to internet at the library, then they don't get access to it at all. That's it, that's their only connection to the internet," Ms Ward says. The libraries also play a key role in preserving and celebrating local history through the Picture Western Downs collection. The growing archive is maintained by library staff, with help from community members who are encouraged to fill in the gaps about "mystery images". Engaging with the community is key, whether it's through the weekly crochet club or the annual Words Out West festival, Ms Ward's pride and joy. Each year, the festival invites authors and readers to come together for a week of writers' workshops and bookish events, hosted in the Western Downs. "We've got Schooners and Stories, which we call our Trojan Horse to get the big burly men that typically wouldn't go to a writers' festival," she says. But the highlight, Ms Ward says, are the school days in Dalby and Chinchilla, which this year brought more than 2,500 students together to learn about storytelling. "We have buses from these teeny tiny schools that just put their five students on the bus … those kids would never be able to access anything like that out here if it wasn't for Words Out West," she says. This kind of value is tricky to measure, according to Dr Marshall. "One of the challenges in collecting information about the role of libraries and their importance is that it's often measured in terms of bums on seats — a number of people interacted with," she says. "But that doesn't really capture the transformative impact that libraries can have for individuals. So even if a librarian has to travel a couple of hundred kilometres to an outreach area, and there are only five people there, that can be so important to the lives of those five people. "It really makes it difficult for decision making … around resourcing. Because if you're just looking at the numbers, you're not really seeing the impact, especially in relation to urban libraries." The ALIA statistical report shows that despite an increase in usage, per-capita funding for public library services has actually decreased when adjusted for inflation. "That public libraries have still managed to expand physical and digital collections, program offerings, wi-fi access, local history collections, bookable meeting rooms… despite [funding] decreases shows the innovation of public libraries," it states. "However with increasing usage and community reliance on public library services, further real decreases in funding may result in decreased services for the community." A 2024 paper commissioned by non-profit group Friends of Libraries Australia also found rural and remote communities were particularly disadvantaged by funding models based around spending per capita. Ms Ward says distance does present a challenge when planning workshops and events with authors and other keynote speakers or presenters. "There's definitely a cost. You're not only paying for travel time and fuel, you've [also] got accommodation costs on top because they're staying in the region for so long. It certainly adds up," she says. "[But] we've got a very talented pool of staff who always step up to the plate … And I think that's what I love about libraries. We just make it work." It's an attitude shared by the volunteers in Julatten, too. Ms Velder has big dreams to turn the library into an adaptive learning hub that provides internet connectivity, digital services and perhaps even co-working space — they just need a few more members. "A lot of people think that libraries are a thing of the past … I don't necessarily believe that that's true. There's nothing like holding a book in your hand and sitting down with a cup of tea and a biscuit," she says.
