Alton Papers, no. 27

Publication Date: 2024

Cost: £3.00 (+p&p if ordering by post)
Where to buy: Curtis Museum or by post - see How to Order page.

Articles:

• The Former Kingdon’s site, 30 High Street, Alton
  Author: Georgia Smith
  This history starts in 1589 when the property came into the hands of shoemaker Robert Brockett and follows  various occupiers such as carpenter Christopher Dowden, booksellers William Roe and William Pinnock and ironmongers Alfred Hetherington and Kingdons.
• Richard de Westcote and West Court, Binsted
  Author: Jane Hurst
  The de Westcote family were in the area before 1200. By 1332, Richard de Westcote had built a large barn and replaced the house at West Court and had also erected a new chapel in Binsted Church. Richard’s striking effigy can still be seen here.
• Abraham Crowley of Alton (1796-1864)
  Author: Patrick Crowley
  Abraham Crowley, a Quaker, arrived in Alton in 1821 when he and others acquired one of the town breweries. Having married Charlotte Curtis, Abraham bought a property in Normandy Street and had it rebuilt (now nos 7 and 7a). Here they brought up a large family and it became a base for Abraham’s many ventures which included helping local people emigrate to New Zealand and supporting the Anti-Slavery Campaign.
• Chawton Forge Pottery and Tony Latimer
  Author: Jackie Breakspear
  Chawton Pottery was opened in May 1978 in the old Clinker Forge. Due to a lack of space, Tony Latimer made his pottery elsewhere but the shop in the Forge sold ‘quality domestic ware and individual pieces’ as well as soaps, pot pourri, and textile items. Tony later moved to Cornwall where he concentrates on much larger ceramic pieces.
• The ‘Donkey Ladies’ and Celia’s
  Author: Frances Heath
  The piece on the ‘Donkey Ladies’ in ‘Alton Papers’ no.26 brought back memories for Frances which she shares here. The shop at 22a Normandy Street which was run by the ‘Ladies’ and their mother, Mrs Walder, later became ‘Celia’s’ – a ladies ware shop. This was managed by June Pretious and served the area until it closed in 1995.
• Alton in 1944
  1944 is remembered as the year of the D-Day Landings but this article gives an idea of what happened locally. There was a ‘crazy night’ at the Alton House Hotel, the Salvation Army celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, new ration books were issued and there was a military exhibition in the Public Gardens. Private Ronald Earl was awarded the Military Medal and Father Christmas gave out presents at the Canadian Military Hospital in Anstey Road.
• Bag Seals
  Author: Karen Parkin
  Local metal detectorists have found lead bag and sack seals in the Alton area. Following research, it has been found that many of these came from Russia with bags of fur which would have been used in the clothing trade. There was also an example of a seal that came from Peru or Chile with guano – a fertilizer which was used on the fields.