The History Group has an extensive set of paper documents going back over a century. These are available to members on request and are organised by category.
B2 Bowman
B2-1 Bowman family notes etc
B3 BENYON FAMILY
B3-1 Guidebook (brochure) to Englefield House
B3-2 Newspaper cuttings about the Englefield Estate
B3-2.1 “Inside the East End estate that defined a gentrification crisis”. Publication: The Times (times2) dated Wednesday July 9 2014. Article describing the development of land which was part of the Benyon Estate in the East End of London. Journalist Helen Rumbelow interviews Edward Benyon.
B3-2.2 “The jewel in the crown of a hidden world”. Publication: Marked POST 1985. Description of running an established estate and bringing it into the 20th century. Simon Mares interviews William Benyon.
B3-2.3 “Mansion historic landmark”. Publication: unknown and undated. Family histories relating to the Englefield Estate. Keith Poole visits Englefield in his ‘Round the Berkshire Villages’ series.
B3.3 Illustration on card of the entrance to the grounds of Englefield House. Dated 1995. Description: The home of Sir William Benyon, Lord of the Manor of Mortimer.
B4 Berkshire Yeomanry and Militia
B4-1 Article on ”What to read on military history” by Ian Beckett, copied from the Local Historian August 1985, . 17 no 7, (c 1st July 1986), pgs 405-411
B4-2 Note on “The National Roll of the Great War” 1914-18, mentions the name Robert Bristow, son of Robert Bristow of Micheldever in 1775, and from then onward.
B4-3 Correspondence between C Sanham and B Bristow, spring 1984, regarding Aldermaston Yeomanry cavalry. The letter mentions the names and addresses of the descendants of William Congreve of Aldermaston House, William Thoyts of Sulhampstead Hs, William Stone of Englefield, Charles Blagrave Tilehurst, Benjamin Keen location unknown. Details of the standard in Aldermaston church. Hand drawn map of the civil parish boundaries in 1962 of Mortimer and surrounding parishes in Berks and Hants.
B4-4 Reading Mercury 9.9.1933 regarding association with the Thoyts family. Photocopied extract from Emma Thoyts’ History of Royal Berkshire Militia. She makes reference to her great-grandfather,William Thoyts of Sulhampstead,who was in the Aldermaston Fencibles regiment..
B4-5 Obituary of Edward Desmond Russell Eager (1977).
B4-6 Letter (1988) from Andrew French of the Berkshire Yeomanry museum, Windsor, to Mrs Froom, requesting to borrow photographs of her grandfather to display in the museum, which had been published in Mortimer at War
B4-7 Return letter from C Sanham to B Bristow, 13.3.1984 regarding Aldermaston colours of the troop parades and Aldermaston church.
B5 MORTIMER WEST END SURVEY
B5-1 Survey forms filled in
· Note about Mrs Black, Mrs Seward and Mr and Mrs Knight
· Note ref Islip John Close of Brocas Lands Farm
· Survey for Brocas Lands Farm
· Survey for Tanhouse cottages, no 1 Mr G Parr, no 2 student
· Survey for Laneswood, Mr and Mrs A Jonas
· Map of MWE
o Guidance sheets for surveyors, quite personal in content, but purpose not to pry! Also typed sheet stating requirements for survey
· Sample completed form about Knoll Cottage in the Street, Mortimer
B5-2 Draft copies of forms, blanks
B5-3 Notes and letter from police
· Brief letters from Hants constabulary ref June and Colin Woodward, and Pam Froom, car reg police informed
B6 Perambulation of the bounds
B6-1 Copy of original and Bristow transcription 1797
B6-2 Bounds of the manor of Wokefield 1793, copy of original
B6-3 Note of references and notes
B6-4 Guide to Hants/Berks boundary changes 1991
B6-5 Boundary commission report 558
B6-6 MWE proposed boundary changes
B7 Brocas
B7-1 Book marker of John Brocas 1492
B7-2 Notes from 19th century Mortimer on Brocas family
B8 British Legion
B8-1 Programmes of Festival of Remembrance from1939-1947
B8-2 Christmas parcel fund 1939 for men and women of Mortimer and MWE serving with HM forces
B9 Bolton
B9-1 Letter from Debrett’s peerage to Miss P Froom and her reply to them
B9-2 2 copies of entry in GEC’s complete peerage about Duke of Bolton
B11 Beech Hill
B11-1 Beaumys castle
B11-2 Maps of Beaumys castle x 3
B11-3 Beech Hill Priory photos exterior and interior
C2 William Clift of Bramley
C2-1 Photocopy of the Reminiscences of William Clift of Bramley
C2-2 A sort of index of C2-1
C4 Churches
C4-1
C4-2
C4-3 Joseph Heycock’s biography by G Bristow (with bits of churchwardens’ accounts as published in Mortimer Magazine 1904…2 copies)…The Years of Joseph Heycock, vicar, 1671-1735…memorandum unsigned and undated, based on churchwardens’ accounts 1681 onwards, Turner’s history of Mortimer and Canon Lovett-Cameron’s articles. Many fascinating pieces of information about St Mary’s and the parish, including the destruction of the parish records (from medieval times to 16th century) in a fire in 1681, a new clapper for the great bellin 1694, recasting of bells in 1708, new sundial in 1709, new gallery and new pews in 1728 etc.
C4-4
C4-5 Note about peal rung at St Mary’s 1939
C4-6 Monumental inscription St Mary’s churchyard with sketch
C4-7 Sketch plan of ‘Northan’ St Mary’s according to Miss Gosling’s model
C4-8 Copy of document dealing with consecration of ‘new’ St Mary’s by bishop of Oxford…built at sole cost of Richard Benyon, and the additional piece of land adjoining the churchyard (known as ‘Dungeon Piddle’), given by Richard Benyon, dated July 25th 1869.
C4-9 Details for services at St Mary’s and St John’s 1901
C4-10 Accounts for rebuilding of St Mary’s 1869…cost of pulling down old church, building temporary church, cost of materials for new church, gifts made, wages paid etc. Total cost 14,421 pounds, 13 shillings and 11½ pence.
C4-11 A terrier, register of landed property of the parsonage and vicarage of Stratfield Mortimer in the county of Berks and Southampton, exhibited in the registry of Sarum 1705 2 copies and transcript…list of houses, gardens, orchards, fields, tithes, church fees etc….signed by Joseph Heycock (see C4-3), vicar, and Will Goddard and Bern Prior, churchwardens
C4-12 Project on history of St Mary’s by Alison Lock 1979…earlier churches, building of present church, organ, screen, plate, bells, ancient tombstones, churchyard
C4-13
C4-14
C4-15
C4-16 Copy of extract from church building account July 1866-April 1869
C4-17 Mortimer Monthly Magazine 1915 (copy)
C4-18 Bishop Chitty Harper
C4-19 Letter re Mortimer vicarial tithes
C4-20 Description Of St Mary the Virgin 2011 4 leaflets a-d
C4-21 The Rev. John Gould
C4-22 Dr Ord, vicar
C4-23 Charles Lovett Cameron
C4-24 Medieval window
C4-25 Marriage Rev. Skipwith 1897
C4-26 Pamphlet celebrating 100 years of St Mary’s 1869-1969, by Rev P T Rumsey
C4-27 Letter and book appendix ref. anglo-saxon tomb cover at St Mary’s
C4-28 Christingle service sheet St John’s 1988
C4-29 History of St John’s Mortimer
C4-30 St John’s service of thanksgiving 1995
C4-31 St Mary’s churchyard faculty reports x 3
C4-32 1999 extra mural studies Uni of Reading history of St Mary’s, notes by June Woodward ‘Looking at buildings’ 1999, detailed description of architecture
C4-33 Oct 1990 Assessment for restoration of Joseph Paycock’s portrait
C4-34 a-c carol services 1990-1992
C4-35 Mortimer monthly magazine (undated) description/history of St Mary’s including pictures…by CLC (Lovett Cameron), according to Gloria Bristow dated 1903, describes in grest detail the fragments of medieval glass which were placed in the window behind the organ chamber.
C4-36 Letter to Barbara Dunkley 1992 ref survey of St Mary’s churchyard
C4-37 Flower festival 1989
C4-38 Church accounts July and October 1504
C4-39 Year 1430 Inquisitium…a description of the ruined manor house, great grange and devastated watermill
C4-40 Plan of St Mary’s 1866-1869
C4-41 Guided tour of St Mary’s undated June Woodward
C4-42 Gwen Martin St Mary’s brief history 1969 x 2, for centenary of church, short but comprehensive account
C4-43 1997 Gloria Bristow guide, compiled for Friends of St M’s, description mainly of interior and monuments, memorials, and screen in memory of Richard Benyon
C4-44 Article in Mortimer magazine by Miss I Mabbitt in 1978, history of St Mary’s
C4-45 Service of dedication St Mary’s 1896…service sheet for dedication of vestry, organ and bells by the Bishop of Reading June 14th 1896.
C4-46 3 post cards, St Mary’s plus photo
C4-47 St Mary’s festival late 1990s?
C4-48 Short history of Mortimer ref. AD 871 church destroyed
C5 Chapels and churches adjacent to Mortimer
C5-1 Pamphlet History of Sulhampstead and Ufton Nervet
C5-2 Pamphlet All Saints church Alderworth
C5-3 Pamphlet All Saints church Swallowfield
C5-4 Pamphlet St John the Baptist Padworth
C5-4a Sermon on reopening of Padworth church after restoration
C5-5 Pamphlet St James Bramley
C5-6 Padworth 200 yr old clock article
C5-7 MWE congregational chapel
C5-7a MWE chapel churchyard plan
C5-8 Pamber Priory
C5-9 Booklet St Mary the Virgin Silchester
C5-9a ditto
C5-10 Inscription at Beech Hill Baptist chapel
C5-11 Building of St Saviour’s MWE
C6 Crime and Law
C6-1 Extracts from quarter sessions order books 1723-1795 ?
C6-2 Exhibition material on Abraham Tull
C6-3 Charlotte Billimore 1830
C6-4 Theft from Headlands farm 1908
C6-5 Parish constables
C6-6 Evening Post Jan 7th 1993 gang robbery of OP
C7 CUSTOMS OF THE MANOR
C7-1 Customs of the Manor Mapping Project
C7-1.1 Introduction to research
C7-1.2 Typical sources of information
C7-1.2.1 Typical sources of information
C7-1.2.2 Typical sources of information – copy
C7-1.3 Glossary of terminology
C7-1.3.1 Glossary of terminology – copy 1
C7-1.3.2 Glossary of terminology – copy 2
C7-1.4 Ordinance Survey map of the parish of Stratfield Mortimer – undated
C7-1.5 Photocopy of a document entitled “A Summary, or Brief Customary, Duties, Rights, and Customs, Settled, Concluded and agreed Upon Between the Lord of the Manor of Stratfield Mortimer, in the Counties of Berks and Southampton, and the Customary Tenants Thereof.”
C7.1.6 Typed transcriptions of the document entitled “A Summary, or Brief Customary, Duties, Rights, and Customs, Settled, Concluded and agreed Upon Between the Lord of the Manor of Stratfield Mortimer, in the counties of Berks and Southampton, and the Customary Tenants Thereof.”
C7-1.6.1 Copy 1 of above document
C7-1.6.2 Copy 2 of above document
C7-1.6.3 Copy 3 of above document
C8 Charities
C8-1 Clarkes charity: Extract from Mortimer in Olden Times
C9 Censuses
C9-1 Survey of households form 1978
C9-2 Population Aldermaston 1841
C9-3 Census return form (not Mortimer)
C9-4 List of voters (not Mortimer)
C10 Clubs
C10-1 Poem by bertha Capron 1952 (Garth Club to YMCA)
C10-2 Title page of catalogue of Industrial exhibition 1889 (photocopy) Mortimer school room
C10-3 Note establishment of working men’s club
C10-4 1901 from Kelly’s directory, working men’s club
D1 Doctors
D1-1 Nursing various
D1-2 Photo and brass plate
D1-3 Doctors directories…census, record office, Speculum gregis, St Mary’s church
D1-4 Doctors medical law
D1-5 Doctors Interviews and Recollections poem
D1-6 Doctors Briarlea
D1-7 Doctors, Izod family
D1-8 Hospitals
D1-9 Dentists
E1 ENCLOSURES
E1-1 An Act for Dividing, Allotting, and Inclosing Mortimer Common 1802
E1-1.1 Original
E1-1.2 1 loan copy
E1-2 Map of Commonable Lands in the Parish of Stratfield Mortimer 1802
(4 sheets)
E1-3 Copy of correspondence with solicitors regarding the enclosure 1801
E1-3.1 1 stamped copy from County Archivist, Berkshire Record Office
E1-3.2 1 loan copy
E1-4 Enclosure Award, 1802. Allocation of plots
E1-4.1 Original
E1-4.2 1 loan copy
E1-5 The Development of Mortimer Common - Typed text of the accompanying notes
Displayed with map at the MLHG Exhibition on Enclosure 1966
E1-5.1 Original
E1-5.2 1 loan copy
E1-6 Enclosure and the Family Historian - undated
Notes on Family History Society talk by Joan Dils
(9 pages)
F2 Mary Fewtrell
F2-1 Copy of wedding service sheet, St Mary’s church, Jan. 14th 1897 at 2.15 pm.
F2-2 Francis Rook, curate of Mortimer m. Gertrude Fellows, daughter of T J Herbert Fellows, who later became Lord Benyon…Reading Mercury, 16th Jan. 1897, wedding report
F2-3 Letter from Mary Fewtrell to Gloria Bristow, 22.11.84, re her aunt, now 91, who lived in Mortimer aged 6 months to 8 years. Her parents ran the Temperance Hotel from 1893 to 1901.
F2-4 Reply from Derek to Mary (draft) re scarcity of 19th Century Mortimer book (ironic…in 2025 we are practically giving them away!).
F2-5 Letter from Mary Fewtrell to Derek and Jenny Woodruff, 5.12.84, about her aunt and several chatty goings-on.
F2-6 Sarah Fewtrell’s reminiscences (aunt of Mary)…lived in Mortimer from 1893 (6 months old) to 1901 then moved to Maidenhead. Lots of detail about village life in the late 19th century, typed copy and handwritten copy by Mary Fewtrell
F2-7 Notes made at MLHG meeting on 9.4.1986, recording the memories of Mrs Freda McCullough, and of Miss Sarah Fewtrell, as related by her niece, Mary Fewtrell.
F4 FARMS & FARMING
F4-1 Newspaper Cuttings, Newbury Agricultural Show Supplement, Newbury Weekly News, 1985
F4-1.1 “Cup win reward for difficult time”, article about Mortimer’s L J Strang and Partners winning of the Sieff cup for the best dairy herd.
F4-1.2 “Craft tent preview starts here: organiser sets high standard by example,” article and photo of Mr Aubrey Stafford with his scale model of a 1926 threshing machine.
F4-2 Notes on Simms Farm by Bob Black with dates
F4-3 Little Park Farm & Farming Practices
F4-3.1Tenancy Agreement between James Herbert Benyon of Englefield House and Mr Wllm Froom of Little Park Farm, Mortimer dated 12th September 1908
F4-3.2 Inventory and Valuation of Hay, Straw, Tillages, Tenants Fixtures, etc, on Little Park Farm, Mortimer from J.H.Benyon Esqre to Mr William J Froom taken 5th October 1898.
F4-3.3 Inventory and Tenant Right Valuation of the Live and Dead Farming Stock, Hay, Straw, Corn, Implements, Harness, Dairy Utensils and Tillages on Little Park Farm, Mortimer from Mr W T Froom Senr. To Mr W Froom Junr. Taken 21st October 1912
F4-3.4 Valuation of Live and Dead Farming Stock, Hay, Straw and Tillages, etc at Little Park Farm, Mortimer, Berks from Mr W Froom to Mr W E Froom as at September 29th 1942.
F4-3.5 Correspondence from The Englefield Estate Office to Mr W Froom, Little Park Farm, Mortimer
F4-3.5.1 Copy of letter sent to Gascoignes Ltd regarding purchase of Auto Releaser, 13th December 1938
F4-3.5.2 Letter regarding water supply to troughs, 16th February 1940
F4-3.5.3 Letter regarding mole draining of fields, 12th November 1940
F4-3.5.4 Letter regarding pair cottages, The Forehead improvements, 1st March 1944
F4-3.5.5 Letter regarding ditching at Little Park Farm, Mortimer, 30th December 1944
F4-3.5.6 Letter regarding rent and camp site leased to the Ministry of Works, 18th January 1949
F4-3.5.7 Letter regarding surrender of land for Camp Hostel site, 20th January 1949
F4-3.5.8 Letter regarding specification and estimated cost of work to be carried out to house and buildings at Little Park Farm, Mortimer, together with four cottages on the Beech Hill-Mortimer Road, 13th July 1949
F4-3.6 Invoices, Payments and Receipts
F4-3.6.1 Thimbleby & Shorland , 17th May 1913
F4-3.6.2 Mid-Wessex Water Company, 24th September 1940
F4-3.6.3 Mr L Pike, 29th October 1953
F4-3.6.4 Midland Marts Ltd, 4th April 1974
F4-3.7 Licences and Permits
F4-3.7.1 Beef Bull Licence for Peregrine of Ewhurst, 4th January 1954
F4-3.7.2 Beef Bull Licence for Downgate 2 Fido, 28th July 1965
F4-3.7.3 Boar Licence for large white, 20th June 1971
F4-3.7.4 Brucellosis Schemes Permit authorising movement of Accredited Cattle
F4-4 Advertisement of South Berks Hunt Point-Point Races at Little Park Farm on Wednesday April 11th, 1934 (photocopy given by Mr Bennett, Railway Terraces, Mortimer
E1-5.1 One photocopy with handwritten note “Given by Mr C Bennett, Railway Terraces, Mortimer
E1-5.2 One photocopy
F4-5 Register to be Kept by Castrator of Swine
Issued under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1984 and Swine Fever Order of 1911 by the County of Southampton. Name of castrator: Samuel Baker, Mortimer West End Farm
E4-5.1 Photocopy 1
E4-5.2 Photocopy 2
F4-6 Bloomfield Hatch Chicken Farm, Sunday Telegraph 15th October 1988
Article refers to Steve Davies, Bloomfield Hatch Farm, Mortimer, inventor chalet-style hen houses.
F4-7 Steam Ploughing in Mortimer
Hand-written article by Gregory Webb, 12th December 1991 for MLHG
F4-8 Dispersal Sale of Cows by Auction for Graham & Juliet Bryce, Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, Wednesday 12th February 1992
F4-8.1 Sale of “Bryces Ayrshires” Catalogue
F4-8.2 Thimbleby and Shorland leaflet summarising results of sale
F6 FESTIVALS AND CARNIVALS
F6-1 Mortimer Coronation Festivities, June 22nd 1911 - Tea Ticket
Name in pencil on back “Mrs L….”. Number 204.
F6-2 Programme of Sports in connection with Mortimer West End Horticultural Society, Mortimer West End, Wednesday July 19th 1911
Photocopy of original.
F6-3 Midsummer Revels, Wednesday June 26th and Saturday June 29th 1912, Abbeycroft, Mortimer
F6-3.1 Midsummer Revels Flyer
F6-3.2 Midsummer Revels Programme
F6-3.3 Midsummer Revels Programme with “J.H. Thorp” written in pencil at top right of front cover.
F6-3.4 Midsummer Revels Programme – photocopy
F6-3.5 Midsummer Revels Article. Publication and date unknown – photocopy
F6-3.6 Midsummer Revels Article, including photographs, “In the Days of Queen Elizabeth. Midsummer Revels at Mortimer.” The Reading Standard, Saturday July 6th, 1912.
F6-4 Mortimer Carnival & Fete Programme, Whit-Monday, June 1st, 1936, Mortimer Hill
Including dance in St John’s Hall.
F6-5 Mortimer Carnival, Whit-Monday, June 6th, 1938, Mortimer Hill
F6-5.1 Mortimer Carnival Flyer
F6-5.2 Mortimer Carnival Programme
F6-5.3 Mortimer Carnival Programme with “C Sirman” written in pencil on first page.
F6-5.4 Mortimer Carnival Accounts reported by J.E. Woodward, Treasurer and audited by P.W. Farrow, 17th August 1938.
F6-5.5 Newspaper article “Distribution of Carnival Profit”. Publication and specific date unknown, 1938.
F6-6 Mortimer Branch of the British Legion Fete, Saturday, 23rd June, 1956, Mortimer Hill
F6.6.1 Flyer
F6-6.2 Flyer
F6-7 Mortimer Village Festival, Saturday June 10th 1978, Fairground, Mortimer Flyer
F6-8 Mortimer Village Festival, Saturday June 23rd 1979, Fairground, Mortimer
F6-8.1 Mortimer Village Festival Flyer
F6-8.2 Mortimer Village Festival Programme
F6-9 Mortimer Village Festival, Saturday June 21st 1980, Fairground, Mortimer
F6-9.1 Mortimer Village Festival Flyer
F6-9.1 Mortimer Village Festival Programme
F6-10 Mortimer West End Village Day, Saturday, 9th July 1988 Programme
F6-11 Mortimer Fun Run, Sunday 2nd October 1988, The Fairground, Mortimer
F6-11.1 Poster
F6-11.2 Entry/Donation Form
F6-12 Mortimer West End and District Annual Produce Show, Saturday 26th August 1989, Mortimer West End Village Hall
F6-12.1 Flyer
F6-12.2 Poster
F6-12.3 Programme
F6-13 Mortimer Fun Run, Sunday 2nd October 1988, The Fairground, Mortimer Poster
F6-14 Mortimer’s Millennium, 2000
F6-14.1 Mortimer’s Millenium, The Countdown leaflet
F6-14.2 Torchlight Parades, 31 December 1999 Poster
F6-14.3 Memories of Mortimer Exhibition, 3-7 January 2000 Poster
F6-15 Entertainment by Mortimer Girls’ Gymnasium Club, Wednesday January 28th Flyer
No year given. The contact on the flyer is Miss Baynes, Briar Lea, Mortimer Common. A
Baynes family were living at Briar Lea, Victoria Road, at the time of the 1911 and 1921 Censuses and Electoral Registers up to 1929. The head of the family, Mr Helton Arnold Baynes, a timber merchant, died in 1929. By 1930 his unmarried daughter Miss Muriel Margaret Baynes had moved to Wisley, Victoria Road.
G2 Grantham
G2-1 Letter from June Woodward to Clare Collins about the Granthams
G2-2 Working notes
Note:- Main data with James McInnes who is working on Grantham wills
G3 Gravel extraction
G3-1 Letter from ARC 1988
H1 Hutchins
H1-1 Photocopy of article in 5 parts “A country childhood” by Monty Hutchins (Tadley/Midgham area)
H2 Ham
H2-1 2 receipts for coal from A Cotterell 1.4.57/58
H2-2 Invoice F Ham general smith
H2-3 Exhibition headings Fred Ham Blacksmith, exhibition write up of Fred Ham Blacksmith
H2-4 Delivery note on headed notepaper from G Ford and Sons 1952, for sawing yew to blocks 11”x11”x4” 5/- (5 shillings)
H2-5 D Love and Son plumbers etc to F Ham for oak posts
H2-6 Heritage studio photographic work advert for restoration and copying
H4 History of Mortimer-: Lovett Cameron
H4-1 Rev.Lovett Cameron on MS and notes for a Hiostory of Mortimer (40 pages)
H4-1 Copy
H9 History societies
H9-1 Tadley and District Society LHG June 1990
H10 History of Mortimer : Newspaper cuttings
H10-1 Study of news items relating to Mortimer 1901, Berkshire Chronicle & Reading Mercury
H10-2 Description of Mortimer, Mercury 1979
H10-3 Mortimer refugee relief, Farmers’ Weekly 1960
H10-4 Series on Mortimer 1983, 3 copies
H10-5 Structure plan
H10-6 Archives office 1991
H10-7 MERL article 1990
H10-8 Heritage 1984
H10-9 Down your way 1995
H10-10 MLHG new book
H10-11 Tea ticket Mortimer coronation festivities
H11 History of Mortimer, Labourers’ revolt
H11-1 Labourers’ revolt by Tim Packwood, draft for 19th century Mortimer
H12 History of Mortimer radio tape
H12-1 Tape of radio 210 interview with Colin Woodward
H14 Horticulture
H14-1 MWE horticulture 1st Annual show programme
H15 History of Mortimer miscellaneous
H15-1 List of name of those having made protestations
H15-2 A Stratfield Mortimer Miscellany
H15-3 CPRE Branch newsletter 1992
H15-4 Community service in Hants IoW booklet
H16 Hampshire Treasures & Structure Plan Mortimer West End
H16-1 Maps of locations
H16-2 Notes on completion of survey sheets
H16-3 Classification of Hampshire Treasures
H16-4 8 sheets of classifications to pair up = 4 full sheets
H16-5 Structure plan leaflet
H 17 Portrait of a Victorian village
H17-1 Prize-winning essay by Barbara Webb, based largely on the Speculum Gregis 1859, by the vicar Robert John Gould (essay won first prize for the BLHA AGM March 1996)
P3 PROPERTY: HEATHFIELD MIDDLETON
P3-1 Missing (Auction notice Mortimer Lodge, 1977)
P3-2 Missing (Registration certificate for old and disabled persons at Middleton Home for the Blind, 1953)
P3-3 Copy of opening of Heathfield, 21.11.1960, and list of tenants at the time of opening.
P11 PROPERTY: MISCELLANEOUS
P11-1 Copy of Plan of St John’s/St Mary’s Road Building Plots, December 1895
P11-2 Odd Items from Reading Mercury, 1750s
P11-3 Sketch of Granary at Hammonds Heath
Built 1832 by Joseph Hanson (?).
P11-4 Odd Notes on Mortimer House
P11-5 Mortimer House Write Up from Mortimer Life, Gloria Bristow, October 1987
P11-6 Visit to Mortimer House, Mortimer Lane, September 1986
P11-6.1 Original typed report with rubbing of plaque on a machine, possibly for manufacturing gas.
P11-6.2 Copy of typed report (no rubbing).
P11-7 Advertisements for Catering at The Wilderness and St John’s Cottage, Mortimer Common, pre 1929
Photocopy of advertisements with photographs taken from a book.
P11-8 The Seats and Mansions of Berkshire by B Bristow, 16 June 1975
Typed notes on book of photographs published in three volumes by Beard & Company, Twyford, c1865.
P11-9 Brochure with Price List for Retirement Homes at Badgers Croft, McInerney, 1987
P11-10 Interview with Mrs Ann Brooke, The Lindens, The Street, Mortimer, Berkshire, Pam Froom, MLHG, 11 February 1992
P11-11 “100 Years of University Education in Reading”, an Evening Post Special Publication, 1992
P11-12 Catalogue of English XVIIIth Century Furniture, Padworth House, Aldermaston, nr Reading, Winkworth & Co, Auctioneers, 26 September 1933
P11-12.1 Copy & note on purchaser: Capt. Paul, The Estate Office, Englefield, Theale.
P11-12.2 Second copy.
P11-13 Agreement for Letting the House Premises and Garden Adjoining Oakfield Cottage, Mortimer on the East Side between Mr James Ford and Mr Richard Long, 29 September 1883.
Photocopy of document.
P11-14 Receipt dated 1 May 1929 issued by J H Gould, Auction and Estate Agency Office, 164a Friar Street, Reading to Miss Jessie Harriet Thorp of Dixon Cottage, Mortimer, Berks as a deposit for the purchase of “Heatherbrae”, Ravensworth Road, Mortimer West End from Miss F K Firth.
P11-15 Letter with Invoice and Associated Documents from Blandy & Blandy Solicitors, 1 Friar Street, Reading to CW Thorp Esq, Wheats Farm, Mortimer relating to the Sale of Dixon Cottage, Mortimer by Mrs Harriet Thorp to Mrs A E Phillips dated 4 October 1929
P15 PROPERTY: ALDERMASTON ESTATE
P15-1 The National Garden Scheme Aldermaston Park Estate
Illustrated leaflet describing the history, layout and significant features of the Estate.
P15-2 Newspaper Article “Whole Village Is For Sale”, Daily News (London),17 August 1939
P15-2.1 Original article.
P15-2.2 Photocopy of article.
P14 PROPERTY: LISTED BUILDINGS
P14-1 Review List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest, 17 October 1984
P14-2 Guide to Englefield House
Black and white card bound guide compiled by Louis Jebb, based on articles for Country Life by Gervase Jackson-Stops. Photographs by Alex Starkey. Undated.
P14-3 Bramshill House
P14-3.1 Bramshill House Police Staff College – Official Guide. Undated.
P14-3.2 The Police Staff College Bramshill Tapestries Information Card.
P14-4 Illustration and Plan of Shaw Manor
Copy of four pages of Joseph Andrews’ notebook dated 1750 when he was considering purchasing the Manor of Shaw and other land in the area. Reproduced from the collections of Newbury District Museum. Copyright 1981Shaw House Comprehensive School.
P14-5 Ockwells Manor House: Background to the 1892 attempt to sell it, Maidenhead Advertiser, 21 August 1992
Article with sketch of Ockwells Manor House by Ann Darracott (Projects, Maidenhead Civic Society).
P14-6 Sulhamstead House
P14-6.1 Typed history of Sulhamstead House, August 1985 – Copy 1.
P14-6.2 Typed history of Sulhamstead House, August 1985 – Copy 2.
P14-6.3 Original printed page taken from a book/guide on the history of Sulhamstead House. Undated.
P17 PROPERTY: MORTIMER WEST END VILLAGE HALL
P17-1 The story of MWE village hall
P18 POLITICAL LITERATURE AND NEWSLETTERS
P18-1 Conservative manifesto 1987
P18-2 Andrew Hunter election
P18-3 Andrew Hunter poster, A4
P18-4 Andrew Hunter flyer for election meetings
P18-5 Crichton/Holland 1987 election
P18-6 Liberals and SDP Alliance Focus election special
P18-7 Democrats newsletter 1988
P18-8 Focus SDP Liberal Alliance newsletter
P18-9 Window poster David Bennett SDP Lib alliance
P18-10 Mortimer Parish Council election candidates
P18-11 Newbury District elections
P18-12 Labour poster 1987
P18-13 MAUD poster
R1 Roads
R1-1 Letters and draft of “Is it a Roman road?” by Colin Woodward
R1-2 Map showing possible course of Roman roads locally
R1-3 Roads that were built to last by the Romans…newspaper cuttings, Silchester etc
R1-4 Catherine’s Hill road name correspondence
R1-5 The history of King Street, Barbara Webb
R1-6 Street names and their origins
S1 SCHOOLS
S1-1 Schools in Mortimer, P. Froom, 1984
S1-1.1 Hand-written notes recording information about known schools established in Mortimer and its environs in the 19th and 20th Century.
S1-1.2 Carbon copy of above notes bound with card and treasury tags.
S1-2 Advertisements for Education in Mortimer
Photocopy of advertisements for services in Mortimer, including a section on “Education” referring to Hillcroft, Chichester House, St Mary’s and St John’s School. Publication and date unknown.
S1-3 Letters to Mrs Pamela Dibden
S1-3.1 Copy of letter dated 19th September 1994 from Croft Corner, West End Road, Mortimer, Berkshire, RG7 3TE replying to Mrs Pamela Dibden, 5 Allcroft Road, Reading, RG1 5HJ. Mrs Dibden had provided information about schools in Mortimer.
S1-3.2 Copy of letter dated 30th September 1994 from Croft Corner, West End Road, Mortimer, Berkshire, RG7 3TE replying to a second letter from Mrs Pamela Dibden, 5 Allcroft Road, Reading, RG1 5HJ.
S1-4 Exercise Book Belonging to Master Henry May, Mortimer School, November 4th 1833/34
Illustrated children’s hymn or prayer, “Jesus, that condescending King” glued to the front of the exercise book as a cover. Every page contains a different hand-written moral phrase repeated on each line. The text size varies from page to page to ensure each phrase fills the entire line.
S1-5 Exercise Book Belonging to John May, Mortimer School, 1856
Hand-written notes on various subjects. Book cover marbled in shades of brown
S1-6 Exercise Book Belonging to Miss Jessie Thorp, Linden House, Mortimer, 1889
Hand-written notes on various topics in a question and answer form.
S1-7 Exercise Book Belonging to Miss Jessie Thorp, Linden House, Mortimer
Hand-written, undated exercise book entitled “Biography”. Contains notes on various topics including biographies. Pages loose.
S6 SHOPS
S6-1 The butcher’s shop, the Street
Handwritten memories of the butcher’s shop in the street, wife of John Riggs, proprietor.
S6-2 H C Brooke’s shop, tobacconist and newsagent, Victoria Road, Christmas club card for Mrs Bartlett, 1948
S6-3 Billhead for J Shaw, Family Retail Grocer and Tea Dealer, King Street, Mortimer
Mrs Lewendon’s grandfather.
S6-4 Jewells family newspaper article “Family newsagent faces final edition”, Evening Post, Friday January 6, 1989
S6-5 Jewells family newspaper article “Storekeepers retire”, Reading Chronicle, Friday January 6, 1989
S6-6 Jewells family letter to customers on retirement and sale of family business to Messrs Forbuoys plc, 3rd January, 1989
S6-6.1 Copy 1
S6-6.2 Copy 2
S6-7 Receipt from James White & Co, Grocers, Ironmongers and General Merchants
For purchase of loaf sugar, tea and butter costing 7s 1d in total.
S6-8 Receipt for purchase of services from F J Hillary, Electrical and Radio Engineer, Mortimer, Berks, 1st March 1939
For wiring of a flat at a price of £6 2s 10d
S6-8.1 Copy 1
S6-8.2 Copy 2
S6-9 Style Hair Studio, Mortimer price list, c 1991
S6-10 Terry’s Takeaway price list
S6-11 LC Seward & Sons Ltd, A short history, 1936-1996
T1 TAYLOR
T1-1 Taylor Family Notes
Handwritten notes.
T2 TRADES: WOODLANDS
T2-1 Extracts for “The Crow on the Thorn” by Martin Prescott
T2-2 Hand-written notes
T2-2.1 Notes taken from the “Dictionary of Archive and Provincial Words” by J O Halliwell regarding a “Lug”
T2-2.2 Notes regarding 1581 and 1585 Acts of Parliament regarding timber and charcoal
T2-3 Exhibition captions on card
T2-3.1 The Woodlanders
T2-3.2 George Bowman delivering firewood – Mark on right
T2-4 Invoice Book 1894-1900, Arthur Taylor, mop and broom handles
T2-5 Arthur Taylor, Rake, Prong, Mop and Broom Handle Maker Invoice
T2-5.1 Original headed invoice
T2-5.2 Copy headed invoice
T2-6 Information on Arthur Taylor, Rake, Prong, Mop and Broom Handle Maker
T2-6.1 Typed information
T2-6.2 Copy 1
T2-6.3 Copy 2
T2-6.4 Copy 3
T2-6.5 Copy 4
T2-7 The Rakemaker - Extract from Traditional County Craftsmen by J Geraint Jenkins, 1965, Routledge and Kegan Paul
T2-8 Sketches – charcoal burning
T2-9 Letter of 24 February 1983 from Colin Woodward to Mr D McNamara, Editor of Mortimer Life with attached notes on Local Woodland Trades
T2-10 Article by June Woodward on Wood Traders
T2-10.1 Typed article.
T2-10.2 Typed article on the recollections of Mrs Jacobs about the Taylor family.
T2-10.3 Copy 1 of typed article.
T2-10.4 Copy 4 of typed article
T2-11 Article on Woodland Industries
T2-11.1 Typed article.
T2-11.2 Copy of typed article.
T2-12 Notes on Mortimer in Wartime, December 1984 and January 1985 by P Froom
T2-13 Paperwork relating to the Canadian Forestry Corps
T2-13.1 Copy of text with photos regarding the Canadian Forestry Corps from “Canadian Expeditionary Force. 1914-1919” by Col G W L Nicholson, The Queens Printer, Ottawa, Canada, 1962.
T2-13.2 Letter dated 8 August 1986 from John H Paveling, Director, Public Archives, Canada to Miss P Froom.
T2-14 Copy of part of a letter dated 2 October 1989 to Mrs Henderson, a Canadian war bride regarding the Auxiliary Territorial Service at Aldermaston Court
T2-15 Copy of excerpt from a book regarding the Canadian YMCA in Mortimer during the Great War
T2-16 Letter dated 11 January 1985 from Kathleen Henderson to Pamela regarding the Forestry Corps Camp, Mortimer
T2-17 Letter dated 13 February 1985 from Kathleen Henderson to Pamela regarding the Forestry Corps Camp, Mortimer
The letter mentions enclosed photos which are missing.
T9 TRANSPORT_ROADS
T9-1 Covering letter for petition objecting to proposed speed limit of 40mph and requesting a reduction to 30mph, 1964
T9-2 Article entitled “Forty-Two Years on the Same Route”, Reading Chronicle, September 16th, 1967
Walter Lamden, bus driver on the No.9 bus which ran between Reading and Mortimer reminisces about his career.
T9-2.1 Copy 1
T9-2.2 Copy 2
T9-3 Paperwork relating to Victory Coaches
T9-3.1 Letter dated Sept 7th 1985 from Margaret Tracey of Salem, Victoria Road, Mortimer relating to an invoice from Victory Coaches found by her husband.
T9-3.2 Invoice and receipt dated 11 Sept 1969 for £13 6s 6d from Victory Coaches to Mr Tracey of 1, Apple Tree Lane, Spencers Wood dated Aug 28th 1969 for the hire of a 41 seater coach to Chessington Zoo.
T9-4 Extract from Mortimer West End/Padworth magazine regarding street names, 1974
T9-4.1 Typed article by A J Grigg relating to the naming of Catherine’s Hill.
T9-4.2 Copy of typed article by A J Grigg relating to the naming of Catherine’s Hill.
T9-5 Timetable for Sunday Buses for Hampshire Bus Company, 27 October 1991
Timetable for 150 between Basingstoke and Newbury and 150 between Basingstoke and Reading.
U1 UTILITIES
U1-1 Plans of the Old Telephone Exchange, Victoria Road.
Floor plans and elevations
W1 War
W1-1 Copy of local history from newspaper 1901 and wartime incident in Kingsclere 1944
W1-2 Royal messages re WW2
W1-3 Hand drawn map of war in Berks and Wilts 870/871 AD
W1-4 POW camp 1946 (Germans in residence)
W1-5 The horse at war, medieval
W1-6 List of notes taken from ‘Berkshire and the war’ with list of names and ranks etc WW1
W1-7 List of names on MWE war memorial
W1-8 Excerpt ‘England’s Hour’ by Vera Brittain who stayed in Mortimer at some point in WW2
W1-9 Letter from Fred Kent to his mum 1942
W1-10 Minutes of Padworth welcome home committee and clothing book coupons, William Kent 1947-48
W1-11 WW1 miscellany and Hopgood ID card 1943
W1-12 War book of Mortimer Local Defence Committee WW2, and Field Service postcard
W1-13
W1-14 Plus magazine, Aug 30th 1989, 50 years after war broke out
W1-15 Hopgood National Insurance Card 1950-51, + St Saviour’s war memorial list, + Mortimer war memorial list
W1-16 National inventory of war memorials + Mortimer in WW1 and WW2
W1-17 Facsimile of the Times VE day 8th May 1945
W4 Wellington Estate
W4-1 Extract from “Trees and the English landscape” on planting at Wellington Estate – includes an amusing exchange between the author of a book on Victorian gardens and the Duke of Wellington, in which mis-read handwriting causes confusion between beeches (trees), and breeches (underpants!
W4-2 Newspaper cutting from 1931 about Mrs Jack, the old nurse, at the Waterloo Ball on the 116th anniversary of the battle…Stratfield Saye, Mortimer, Berks.