North Hayling poorhouse

Local history 1, Local history 2, Local history 3, Local history 4

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

It is interesting that Hayling once had a “Poorhouse” and that this was situated in North Hayling rather than in the south of the Island. It was built on a piece of land in what is St. Peter’s Road today. An Article in the Portsmouth Evening News dated 22nd October 1932 states that it was then a picturesque row of cottages known as North Terrace. In the 18th century the Parish of North Hayling had considerably more inhabitants than South Hayling. (A census taken in 1788 gave the population as being considerably the larger of the two parishes) so it is not surprising that the Poorhouse was built here.

The Poorhouse was a place where those who were unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment by their local parish. Life “in the workhouse” was intended to be harsh to ensure that only the truly destitute would apply. The Parish Council, who administered the Poorhouse, would use the free labour of inmates on tasks such as breaking stones, road mending, picking oakum and crushing bones to produce fertilizer. Inmates were required to surrender their clothes when they entered and wear standard workhouse uniforms.

The parish records for North Hayling exist from 1783, previous records having been lost. The Poorhouse was administered by the North Hayling Parish Council with a monthly meeting of ratepayers being held, its accounts and minutes kept by the churchwarden and two overseers, verified twice a year by two Justices of the Peace. Levying a Poor Rate on all local inhabitants raised income.

The minutes tell us that in 1787 the old almshouse was falling down and John Rogers (then the Church Warden) raised loans and was granted land to build a new Poor house. The house was thatched and had attached to it a hog pen and a furze-house, both also thatched. In his book “The King holds Hayling”, F.G.S. Thomas tells us that “Wm. Palmer was master at 6 shillings a week, then came Mrs. Warren at about 4 shillings a week and Mr. Parr taught the children at two shillings and sixpence a week.” He also tells us that “in 1801, when all the poorhouses in the country were full and overflowing Hayling North spent £60 a month on its poor.” This was the year of the first official National Census and the parish of North Hayling was reckoned to have 254 residents. Of these only 25 were ratepayers and, as Thomas states, “it almost passes belief that they should have had to find £740 for their poor”. 1801 was a disastrous year throughout the South of England because of a series of crop failures.

In the year 1834, when parish workhouses were superseded by Union Workhouses, the Havant Board of Guardians took over the duties formerly carried out by the parish of North Hayling. The Poor of Hayling then became the responsibility of Havant Borough Council and were then all accommodated in the Havant Workhouse.

This is a very short introduction to our former Poorhouse. Those interested in finding out more are directed towards an article published in the Portsmouth Evening News – 22 October 1932 and reproduced in “A Collection of Articles on Hayling Island Volume 2. (Havant History Booklet No.47) produced by The Spring. Also “The King holds Hayling” by F.G.S. Thomas, chapters 13 and 14 “The Poor we had with us” and “Save the Parish Harmless”. Both these sources provide fascinating glimpses into the life of the poor and the ways in which they were “cared for” in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This article relies heavily on both these sources for information

Sue Humphrey

Group report

Visits

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

We arrange four visits a year to places on behalf of all Hayling Island U3A members. You do not have to join the Visits 'group' to go on one of our trips. A small committee meets to consider places to visit that should have general appeal.

The visits usually take place in April, June/July, August/September and December. Once dates have been finalised and costs calculated the visits are published on the web site and displayed at the U3A monthly meetings. Bookings for visits are limited. We take bookings on a first-come first-served basis, but (because of issues we've had in the past) we do not recognise a booking until we've received your payment. That means we cannot start taking bookings until we have calculated the cost to members. Cheques are not cashed until nearer the date of the visit when various payments have to be made.

Visits are available for 50 members although if we have sufficient notice and the visits are over-subscribed we can book a 59 seater coach. If visits are under subscribed we reserve the right to offer places to members of other local U3A Groups in order to avoid making a loss. Naturally Hayling U3A members have priority.

The easiest way to book a place on a visit is to go to our U3A web site. Look under the heading ‘Events’ then select ‘Visits” and follow the instructions shown under 'Your bookings' at the end of the description. If 'Your bookings' doesn't appear it means we are still calculating the cost of the trip so can't yet take bookings. Members can also book visits at the monthly meetings. We'll have a table set up to take bookings for visits. Dates for the visits have been provided for all 2018 visits to enable members to plan ahead and avoid conflicting dates with other activities they may be planning. With this in mind members are asked to restrict their bookings to the next visit only rather than booking for several bookings in advance.

You can now make payment by bank transfer using the internet. You need to login to the members' area to see the bank account details. Click here to do that now.

Cheques can also be taken or sent to Debbie Wilsher. To see her address, click here to log in to the members' area.

Visits start times are usually 8:30am from HIADS returning between 5:30pm to 6:30pm depending on Traffic. Other pick-up points are: United Reform Church, Hollow Lane; Opposite Co-op / Tournerbury Lane; Bus Stop opposite New Cut, North of the Esso Garage.

We welcome suggestions for visits which should have wide appeal for members.

Visits arranged for 2018 ...

... are to The Globe Theatre, Borough Market, the Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern in April and Longleat Safari Park and House in June.

A special visit is planned for August. Our destination is Swanage where in addition to sightseeing it will be possible to go sailing on “Moonfleet” a 70 foot Gaff rigged cutter for two hours with the opportunity of some ‘hands on’ experience if desired. There will be two sessions available each taking 12 members. Alternatively you can take a trip to Corfe Castle via the Swanage Railway. The cost of these two activities is not included in the visit basic cost but what is included is dinner in Bournemouth at the Laguna Hotel. As you can see this will be a full day’s outing.

December will carry on what has become a tradition with a visit to a Christmas Market - in Bristol. This will be combined with a visit to Brunel’s “SS Great Britain”.

Group report

Reading 1

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

The last three books we have read are as follows :

“Unless” by Carol Shields. Narrated by a 44 year old writer and translator whose college-aged daughter has dropped out of university and lives on the street with a cardboard sign round her neck saying “Goodness”. An intriguing novel, part mystery, provoked a great deal of discussion, but not enjoyed by all !

“Under a mackerel sky” an autobiography by Rick Stein the restauranteur. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, I found him complacent and conceited. Rather a tedious book, being a list of all his achievements.

And this month’s book, “For one more day” by an American writer, Mitch Alborn. It’s about a son who lead a rather disappointing life (alcoholism, drugs, attempted suicide) who is able to spend a day with his mother who died 8 years earlier. The author writes well and it is a believable story.

Thelma Cook

PS We also read poetry each month with various themes – Christmas, spring, mothers etc

 

Group report

The Bookies

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

Our reading group started at the end of 2014 and we have been going strong ever since. We started with seven then a further member joined us and so we became eight.

We have become firm friends with each of us bringing a different perspective on life from varying backgrounds to the discussions. An additional benefit is that we have been able to support each other when life has become a bit tough.

We have found that 8 is the right number for us. We meet in each other’s homes to review the current book so seating for 8 is enough and always served with homemade cake or other tasty treats. The books are chosen from the Library group reading lists by us, each member providing me with a list which I then order when they become available from the Library. It is possible to order up to one year in advance but even then we sometimes have to wait months to obtain a particular book (adds to the anticipation).

The discussions can become a little warm (won’t say heated) but nobody has walked out in a huff – yet! For myself I have found belonging to the group has made me read books that I would not have normally chosen and interestingly on occasion have come to a review saying that I have not enjoyed a book only to think again when I hear the other points of view.

What is lovely is when a book inspires further investigation and this is then revealed at our meeting. A recent read ‘Every Man for Himself’ by B Bainbridge, a fictional account of one person’s Titanic experience led to Pam telling about her husband’s interest in the Titanic and she brought along some of his research stuff to share with us. Likewise Jane had visited the Titanic museum in Belfast.

We score our reads from 1 to 10 and at the end of the year we look back at our reads and see if we want to change our score (I keep a spreadsheet that works out the stats for me in case of variables).

Twice a year we treat ourselves to lunch out - once in the summer and then at Christmas.

Our best read for 2017 was ‘The Help’ by K Stockett (83.75/100) and the least liked was ‘Mourning Ruby’ by H Dunmore (22.5/100).

Sylvia Clamp

Group report

Painting & drawing 2

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

artWe meet every fourth Friday of the month 10.00 to 12.00am, at The Radford Hall.

There are 18 people who belong and we usually have between 10 and 12 attendees. There is always room for more.

It is always a very relaxed morning, we meet to have fun and experiment with different techniques, and approaches. Since Christmas we have done portraits of someone you know, printing with potatoes and other things, and wild animals in any medium.

Lesley Vincent

Group report

Philosophy 1

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

The philosophy group this year has grown bigger (not that the individuals in the group have grown bigger, but the number of individuals in the group has grown bigger). This gives some indication of what discussing philosophical issues does to the brain!!

Our main problem now is how to develop with increased numbers. We have a waiting list (a short one) but it is simply impossible to cram anyone else into our sitting room. We already operate on the basis that not everyone attends every meeting. Ideally the group should now split in two, but that requires another group leader and another venue. The task of group leader is not onerous. The group membership is self-motivated and the sessions more or less run themselves, and all the leader has to do is oversee an orderly discussion and make the coffee! Oh, and also try to remember what topics have been discussed and what are to be discussed.

This year we have been somewhat influenced by the President Trump phenomenon. Consequently we have considered topics such as ‘What is Truth?’ and Fake News (which has a very long historical pedigree). Some of our newer members have suggested we consider really fundamental questions such as ‘Why is there anything at all rather than nothing?’ but so far we haven’t tackled this subject. Perhaps, with the death of Professor Hawking, we might venture into these questions next year.

The group has been going now for about ten years, so we have covered over 100 topics. Given the average group member’s memory ability, we could probably revisit some of these topics in the future. Our newer members could bring fresh perspectives to discussions.

The group is clearly a friendship group as well as a study group, but the only way we can accommodate those members on the waiting list, and open up the group to new members is if we can start a second group. I do hope someone will come forward with an offer to start a new group.

Mike Silvester

Group report

History 2

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

We struggled on with only four members for a while, but in the last couple of months we have recruited some new members and now we are back to strength.
Our way of operating is that we each take it in turn to research an historical subject and then give a talk on it to the others. There is nothing like having to give a talk to your peers to make you learn your subject. As usual we have had a wide variety of subjects delivered. They have included:

  • The Career of Christopher Columbus.
  • The Drovers of Wales and their link to the formation of Lloyds Bank.
  • The WW2 Battle of the Atlantic.
  • The Heroines of the SOE.
  • The 'Hungry Empire' on the supply of food to the armed forces over the years.
  • The 2nd Battle of Lincoln.

A particularly impressive display was a long talk by Alan Price on the origins of the cosmos and the solar system, entirely without referring to his notes!

As a direct result of talks to the History Group, I have produced a book on the History of British Sea Power; the wars, the battles and the admirals; from Alfred the Great to the Korean War. It is available on Amazon, price £9.

As I said earlier we are now full and not looking for new members at present.

William (Ben) Lyon, March 2018

Group report

Science and technology

This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....

Since the last Newsletter, we have been treated to three fascinating but very different talks. The first was on the subject of encryption where the history of the technology was covered from elementary codes used by our ancestors leading up to the sophistication of the Enigma machine and the brilliant analyses that were applied to break the code, a state secret that remained secret for many years after the conclusion of the war. We are eagerly awaiting Encryption part two that will deal with the modern techniques of private and public keys. The talk is still to be scheduled so watch this space.

The second talk was on the science of business analysis that is now being applied in companies to resolve complex situations and to identify the best policies for future growth and survival in a very competitive world.

Our third talk was about Gunpowder Engines and covered the history of man’s attempts to create mechanical movement from gunpowder since the 16th century. Virtually all were failures but an amazing revelation was that many aircraft engines and even modern torpedoes have been started with a controlled gunpowder explosion! One remarkable coincidence was that one of the pioneers in the early 19th century was an ancestor of one of our members!

The S & T Group meets on the 4th Weds of each month at St Patricks Church Hall at 2.30 pm. Any member of the U3A is welcome to attend for a contribution of £2 or alternatively, one can join the group for a fee of £5 which lasts for around 8 months. Until now, we have relied upon our own members to give talks as many have great expertise having spent a lifetime in various fields of Science and Technology. But we have now reached the stage where most members have already presented and so we are liaising with all the other S & T groups within the Southern Central Network of the U3A to explore the possibility of exchanging speakers.

Paul Chapman

Group report

Science and technology

This is an article published in the Winter 2017 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter...

Whenever you see a container on the back of a lorry, have you ever wondered whether it has come from some exotic place around the world, what is inside it and what is its destination? Probably not, but the answers can all be found in a master programme that controls every aspect of a containers journey from its origin through to the final delivery point. The detail is astounding from the allocation of a specific container, to which lorry is to bring it to a dock, the position on the dock, its location on a ship, possibly the transfer to another ship, the order of unloading to a specific location and finally the lorry to take it to the end customer. When one considers the millions of containers on the move, the thousands of container ships sailing the seas and the multitude of ports around the world the enormity of the software programme that controls the operation can only be imagined. But this was the experience of Dinos Theophanous who gave a fascinating talk on the subject in September.

In November Maurice Winn gave us a detailed account of how the new container terminal on the Thames was designed and constructed from a green field site to a complex operational system.

On a different scale, but no less challenging, Bryan Bowen in October talked about the complexities of the Microsoft Access programme and how it has been applied to the Hayling Island U3A membership. It is this programme that ensures that you receive your local and national newsletters/magazines and allows us to claim back income taxes through gift aid.

Every meeting of the Science and Technology group is advertised at the monthly meeting and is open to all for a small nominal fee towards the cost of hiring the hall.

Paul Chapman

Group report

Local history 1

This is an article published in the Winter 2017 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter...

This year we have said goodbye to two members, Jean & Sheila and welcomed Jennifer & Rhoda. They organised a talk on Romsey followed by a visit there and a conducted tour of the Cathedral.

The past twelve months have produced talks by Bryan, on Local Airfields, by Maura on the litigious William Padwick - once Hayling's Lord of Manor.

Andrea organised a trip in July to the Bignor Roman Villa, set in a very attractive valley in the South Downs. Rediscovered in 1811, what started as a simple farmstead grew over the centuries to a villa of 65 rooms. Lunch was taken locally at the Squire and Horse at Bury.

LH1The year started with a conducted tour of the Cathedral in Chichester, organised by Jan, and in April Thelma & Judy led a walk around Old Bedhampton, including St Thomas Church, & the Grade II, crenelated Elms House where we took tea in the Waterloo Room, decorated for a visit by the Duke of Wellington.

Maura did us proud again by organising a trip & tour of the Hambledon Vineyard. Following a pleasant wine tasting, details are sketchy ...

In January we will plan activities for 2018 - this will include a talk about the history of the Hayling Golf Club by Viv Fitch, their archivist.

Andrea Burton

Group report

Computer

This is an article published in the Winter 2017 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter...

Owing to the upheavals of moving from a house into a flat, and the subsequent building works, several meetings were cancelled in recent months; this has not had the impact on members which might be expected. Our principal activity is addressing problems or topics brought up by the members. However problems are in decline, partly because software and hardware suppliers are improving the usability of their products and partly because people, especially those in the younger generation, are becoming more computer literate. So U3A members usually have assistance fairly close at hand or at least on the end of a telephone or email. If this trend continues I can see this group morphing into the "Computers and Current Affairs Group".

So although in the last year, members have had to convert (or been converted!) to Windows 10, the problems have not been so many as expected. Even emails, though still susceptible to annoying changes by suppliers, are getting more straightforward. We have room for new members and we don't have much discussion on very technical matters. We are even gaining experience on the use of tablets, though this is an area where suppliers should publicise the capabilities of their products.

Contact me if you are interested.

Peter Hill