Hidden history of Gosport explored by members of the Stokes Bay WI
WOMEN’S Institute members explored secrets of Gosport’s hidden history.
An interest in buildings and their inhabitants was the subject of a presentation at themeetingofStokesBayWI.
Joyce Neville and Dorrie Crabbe, later joined by Penny Webb, explored the back streets of Gosport and led to them finding very different properties.
Their research led them to builders, occupiers, their occupationsandhouseholds.
Joyce said: ‘Our curiosity about the occupiers overtook the initial interest in the architecture.
‘Research included a trip to the Hampshire Records Office in Winchester to try to unravelsomeconfused“facts” contained in local publications.’
Members recognised picturesofbuildingsaroundGosport from 1800 onwards and compared the originals with the present-day properties.
Research uncovered a host of distinguished occupants – Joseph Gibson, a Gosport wine merchant, Amelia Snow who required her parlour maids to be tall and Church of England with no fringe, William McKinley Clay (retired from the Indian Civil Service), and Arthur Nicholson of Camper Nicholson who donated the ground for Foster Gardens where the Stokes Bay WI commemorative tree is planted.
During the presentation members heard that the centre of Alverstoke village boasted four public houses, The Lamb in Church Road, TheFiveBellsonthecornerof Church Road and Little Lane, The Sir Charles Napier (now demolished) on the corner of Village Road and The Avenue, andTheVillageHome,theonly one remaining.
A ‘sightseeing’ walk for members, to take in some of Gosport’s hidden treasures, is planned for the warmer weather.