Category: Archive

The Goldney Family and Beechfield House

The Goldney Family and Beechfield House

Who were the Goldneys? If we go back to a document entitled The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1509–1558, we learn that Henry (born before 1517), was the son of a wealthy farmer and clothier named Nicholas Afternewell. The will of Nicholas was apparently...
The Great Thunderstorm of 2014

The Great Thunderstorm of 2014

Few in Corsham will forget the mighty thunderstorm that hit the area during the night of 18/19 September this year. It was as if one of those great spaceships from science fiction was hovering above us for a couple of hours firing down great thunderbolts of lightning...
Reminiscences of Joan Poynder 1897 – 1987

Reminiscences of Joan Poynder 1897 – 1987

Sir John Dickson-Poynder and his wife Anne Beauclerk Dundas of Hartham House had just one child. Joan was born at Hartham Park on 11 September 1897. Joan had a lonely childhood as an only child, spending much of her time with her nanny and French and German...
First motor vehicle registrations in Corsham

First motor vehicle registrations in Corsham

The first vehicle registered in Wiltshire, AM-1, was a 10hp Benz Parsifal, to Wiltshire County Council’s County Surveyor, Charles Septimus Adye on 12th Dec 1903. Listed below are those registered to Corsham people, up to registration number AM-1000: AM-26 Motor cycle...
The Brownings of Leigh Delamere

The Brownings of Leigh Delamere

Our summer outing to see the Victorian schoolroom at Sevington and the Church of St Margaret of Antioch at Leigh Delamere, was in itself a wonderful experience, with Dinah Starkey, one of the Trustees, acting as schoolmistress, bringing to life the days of Victorian...