Daimler “Dingo” Scout Car 1942

The Daimler “Dingo”, introduced in 1939, was used by both 10th and 11th Hussars. It was one of the best reconnaissance vehicles and remained in service long after the war.

The Dingo had 5 forward gears and 5 reverse gears for a fast withdrawal. It was armed with a .303 Bren light machine gun and had a crew of two. The driver’s seat was turned sideways so he could see over his shoulder when driving backwards.

In the Dessert War the Dingo was the Crew’s home. They kept ammunition inside the vehicle and their kit was carried outside.

The 11th Hussars wore an un-badged brown beret with a crimson band, unique in the British Army. They adopted steel helmets only after D-Day.*

*From an information board next to the Daimler “Dingo”

Man at Work

Rather him than me…

Victorian Post Box

Hidden away near to the medieval Kingsgate in Winchester a Victorian post box is mounted in a window. The post box complete with its original enameled sign is still used for regular collections of mail today.

NOTICE. LETTERS WHICH CONTAIN COIN IF POSTED AS ORDINARY LETTERS WILL BE CHARGED ON DELIVERY WITH A SPECIAL REGISTRATION FEE OF 8D

WWI Uniforms by Gieves & Hawkes

‘A man from Gieves, the naval outfitters, came to measure me for my uniform, the trying on of which my father personally supervised. I was proud of the blue, round jacket with its brass buttons and cadet’s white collar tab and of my naval cap, and paraded in them before my sister and brothers.’

A Promise Honoured

To mark the start of the annual Armed Forces Week there was a flag raising ceremony outside the Great Hall in Winchester and the unveiling of a memorial to those that passed through Morn Hill camps during the First World War.

On Monday, June 23, proceedings began with a selection of military music at the Buttercross, High Street, by The Band & Bugles of the Rifles.

They then marched to St Maurice’s Covert where they were met by a contingent of service personnel drawn from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force.

Together they proceeded up the High Street to the Great Hall for the ceremony and unveiling of the ‘To Honour a Promise’ memorial, which marks the centenary since the outbreak of WWI in 1914.

It sits at the base of the steps in the courtyard by the Great Hall, and throughout the ceremony was covered in a cloth made by textiles students from Peter Symonds College.

Simon Smith’s brief was not to create a standard memorial, but something to represent those who had passed through the camp. The memorial sensitively shows the kit as if it has been left on the seat- but where is the soldier now?

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The Tenderness of Patient Minds

One of the things that caught my eye when I visited Winchester Cathedral was an art and poetry exhibition (The Tenderness of Patient Minds) commemorating the First World War.

The glass poppies in the first photograph were made by Year 7 pupils at Lakeside BESD school in Chandlers Ford.

Memorial to Bishop Samuel Wilberforce

The tomb of Bishop Wilberforce is situated in the South Transept of Winchester Cathedral and dates to 1878. It is the work of H.H. Armstead (sculptor, 1828-1905) and Sir George Scott (architect 1811-1878).

From The Victorian Web:

The third son of the famous abolitionist, Bishop Wilberforce had served as Archdeacon of Surrey and Dean of Westminster before becoming Lord Bishop of Oxford (1845-1869), and after that, from late 1869, Bishop of Winchester. He had also been Chaplain to Prince Albert, Lord High Almoner of the Royal Household (Wilberforce 320), and an important promoter of Anglican sisterhoods. Renowned as a speaker and for his anti-Darwinism, he was very much a national figure. His tendency to be unctuous earned him the nickname “Soapy Sam,” but he has been more respectfully designated “Remodeller of the Episcopate” (Mee 12).

Guardian Angels Chapel

The chapel takes its name from the beautiful heads of angels which decorate the vault. They were painted in around 1240 by Master William, the King’s Painter, and restored 1959-60.

Winchester City Mill

The Winchester City Mill is a restored water mill situated on the River Itchen in the centre of the ancient English city of Winchester. The mill is owned by the National Trust.

The mill was first recorded, milling corn, in the Domesday Book of 1086. The mill was last rebuilt in 1744 and remained in use until the early 1900s. The mill was then used as a laundry until 1928 when it was offered for sale. In order to prevent its demolition, a group of benefactors bought the mill and presented it to the National Trust. In 1932 the mill was leased to the Youth Hostels Association for use as a hostel, a usage that continued until recently.

In 2004, a 12 year restoration program came to a successful conclusion, and after a hiatus of at least 90 years the mill again milled flour by water power. The water wheel can be seen working daily throughout the year and flour milling is demonstrated every weekend of the year, and most Wednesdays during the Summer.

The Chesil Rectory

The work ‘chesil’ is in fact a derivation of ‘Cheeshill’ which in turn heralds back from the Anglo-Saxon word ceosel, meaning ‘gravel’. Chesil Street’s origins go back to the time King Arthur. Once know as ‘Cheese House’ the timber framed building is situated in a very prominent position, directly at the foot of what was then the only road to London. The Chesil Rectory, built between 1425-1450, is the oldest commercial property in Winchester & is one of the city’s best preserved medieval buildings. Built by a wealthy merchant, the right hand side of the building was used for commerce, the left hand side a private dwelling.

The front of the building is almost all original apart from the windows which would have been simple wooden bars & shutters. The famous oak doorway is the original entrance & is also where the livestock would have been led through on a stone pathway, from the front to the back of the house. The 2 fireplaces were a later extension in the C16th . Originally, simple vents in the roof would have let out the smoke & the walls & roof space would be blackened & the air quality very poor.

The building was taken by Henry VIII during 1500’s when he disbanded many religious building in England & Wales, know as “the dissolution of the monasteries. He subsequently gave the Chesil Rectory to his daughter, Queen Mary, known as Mary Tudor. Queen Mary’s lavish wedding to King Philip of Spain in 1554 at Winchester Cathedral almost bankrupted the city & as part payment for her expensive wedding celebrations & feast, Mary Tudor bequeathed the Chesil Rectory in 1555 to the City of Winchester. The building continued to be used as a private dwelling & in the late 1700s the house was divided into two tenements, with families living in each side. One family was a shoemaker who, in the large upstairs room, started Winchester’s first Sunday School

During the 1800s the house gradually deteriorated until it was deemed unfit for human habitation & was very nearly demolished by the Council. Fortunately it was bought &  saved by Thomas & Co general stores in 1892 & it was thoroughly restored.

A one-time merchants house, antique shop, tannery, Rectors home, general store & tea rooms, the building housed a number of eateries for the past 50 years.*

The building is now a modern restaurant serving meals using local Hampshire produce.

*From a leaflet provided by Chesil Rectory