Peter Viney ... (Website hidden)3
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
British (England - South East - Oxford, Sussex) British (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
I'm looking over the veil of Penner in Buckinghamshire. It is some of the most beautiful countryside in England. You could be forgiven for thinking you were miles from anywhere. But just about a mile away, hidden from trees is Chechen, pronounced Chesson by those born and bred here. This town, secluded though it is, is one of the largest in the Children. Hills on has been the centre of industry since the Middle Ages. As I make my way down the valley, join me in discovering what has attracted people to this busy town for more than 1000 years. We'll be looking at the land on water in and around Chechen, where some of the rich and influential landowners lived, where people worshipped on where they worked, how they care for the sick and needy, what it was like growing up in Chechen. And we'll find out how people spend their leisure time on how Chechens, High Street and its shops have changed over the years. So why is Chechen relatively secluded? Well, it's it's as if it's in the palm of a cupped hand with five fingers representing the five ridges radiating out north and westward. This together, the hills on the south and north east form a natural barrier, although it might not look like it today, the values, as well as the hilltops, were thickly wooded. In the Anglo Saxon period, the trees in the valley bottom were felled, creating fields and pastures, which provided food for a growing population. What had previously been a small settlement or a collection of farms grew into a large village. The first written evidence for Chechen dates from this period when the Royal Lady L Giver bequeath lens in chest Cecil, home to Abingdon Manor. Just Nestle harm in Saxon means the water meadow by heap of stones. Later, when King William the first order his survey, England, in 10 86 this name became sister Harm, possibly because the Saxon name was too difficult for the Norman tongues to manage. Eventually, Sister Harm became Chechen on the river became known as the River Chess. After the town, one of the three sources of the river can be found here close to very lake, the other to flow from the veil above high mead and close to the missing road southwest of the town centre. The river chess is an internationally rare chalk stream habitat. It is home to endangered plants and animals such as the stream water crow foot on the water bowl. The water is rich in iron, hence throws. Original name. I seen the Anglo Saxon word for iron. The mineral content of this water is ideal for grain water. Chris, a major industry in Chechen until the mid 20th century, the water has long been thought to produce good health. In the 18th century, a group of businessmen built mineral cottage over a spring in mineral lane. Their intention to turn Chechen into a fashionable spa town. The river proper begins here at the Meads Water Gardens. It was transformed to create an ornamental lake and public gardens and is the start of a 10 mile walk following the river from Chechen to Rickman's worth. The gardens were originally the site of a millpond for Amy Mil, one of several mills along the chess as well as the usual flour mills. Others have grown bark for the tanning industry. Full woollen cloth spun silk on made paper at Warehouse Mill, the white boarded bond like building used for drying handmade paper remains. Although papermaking of this mill ceased in the 19th century, The Louvre panels allow air to circulate freely so the paper sheets could dry easily. There is no doubt that the river chess played an important part in establishing Chechen as an industrial town. So who lived here saying the 17th and 18th century? Who were the well known families? Two names that appear frequently in documents are Scotto and Allowance. The Scotto family lived in a large mansion known as Berryhill House in what is now Lounge Park. The house was probably built in Elizabethan times and later owned by the witch coat Family Support, which coat planted two double rows of elm trees in the park, known at the time as Berryhill Walk in 18 36 a hurricane are rooted many of the trees, the rest removed in 18 45 and replaced with two single row films making the avenue. These were filled in the 19 fifties as they were considered unsafe. So Frances, which coat sold the property and land in 17 30 to the high sheriff of Buck, Inger John Ware, where gave the house and land as a wedding present to his grandson, Colston Scotto, The Scott has remained a Berry Hill house until the property and all the land was sold to William. Now nes in 18 02 lands had Berryhill house demolished but left the pond intact. It is still known today as Scott owes. Pond in the park continues to provide the town with an excellent recreation facility for all ages off the community. But what about the lounge family? Well, they lived here in this mansion called the Berry. The original house was built in the 17 hundreds by William Clowns. Clowns began his career as a clock, eventually becoming secretary to the Treasury. As chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he was rewarded for his services by the king. I was granted the coat of arms with the motto Ways and Means. For next 200 years, the lance family were influential, both nationally and locally and successive occupies the house have generously allowed the grounds to be used for local events. One of the best remembered social occasions held in these grounds was the annual hospital fate, with music provided by the Chechen silver band. Having had a glimpse into the lives of those with position and money. What about the other side of the coin? The poor people of Chechen where they looked after? Well, Chechen has a creditable history of charitable giving. Arms houses have their roots in the hospitals or places of hospitality provided by the monasteries. Before their dissolution by King Henry, the Eighth Responsibly. The poor then fell to the charities. Sweden's arms houses, still standing here in Red Lion Street, were built by the trustees of Thomas Wins Will of 16 24. He left £500 to build and maintain a row of cottages for four poor men of Chechen. Local government also provided for the poor. And from the early 18th century parish work houses employed. The able bodied conditions were deliberately harsh to discourage the idol, but many people fell into poverty through no fault of their own. The word workhouse was calculated to send a shudder down the spine of even the honest worker. Chechens earliest known work house just off the main street house, 20 or so inmates in cramped conditions, the able bodied were put to work in the workhouse gardens across the road. By the early 17 hundreds, the number of poor buzz in the parish had outgrown the original house, and they were moved to a fine new building. Whelan's just down the road in Germaine Street after 18 34 parishes were grouped together to form unions. How did this affect the inmates at this workhouse? Well, they were moved to and from union in the original part of amateur Hospital. On the day of the move, May 23rd 18 35 Pauper's were expected to walk to Amersham, some five miles away. They flatly refused. The situation became ugly Captain Fuller of the bucking Chioma Neri, who had acquired the lordship of the Man of Chechen woman a few years earlier and live close by it. Jermaine's tried to reason with the paupers, but they wouldn't listen. In desperation, Captain Fuller dispatch a rider to Aylesbury Twin, his help from a troop of young Marie. After vociferous protest, the porters gave in and escorted by the soldiers to Amersham. The local population, including the pope's relatives, were very resentful. They felt their loved ones were being sent far away. They rioted on, was sent before the magistrate. All except one ended up in prison. Chechen workhouse was closed as advances were made in medicine and public health. The people of Chechen opened their own hospital in 18 69. Chechen Cottage Hospital was small and homely, which is seven beds before it opened. Those needing treatment faced a 15 mile bumpy ride by pony and trap to the nearest hospital at Aylesbury. In the autumn of 18 71 a typhoid epidemic struck the town. The first cases were here in Berry Lane, then known as Hearns Yard. The epidemic resulted in 29 deaths, the majority of the victims being the poor. There were notable exceptions. The vicar, the Reverend Aylward of ST Mary's Church, died in November. Two nurses on one of the towns to doctors George Faith on, were among the first to die, demonstrating the risk run by those caring for the sick. In 1947 the hospital was acquired by the newly formed National Health Service, and eventually it became unsuited to the requirements of modern medicine. And after a long fight by local people, the hospital closed in 2004. Whilst on the subject of townspeople, we should mention the young men who left their families, friends and their jobs to fight in the two world wars, some never to return home. The first memorials were temporary street shrines to the living. They were adorned with photos of the king, a list of local men on active service on letters and cards received from the front. After the devastation of the first battles, the shrines became memorials to the dead. The memorial here in the Broadway, unveiled in 1921 pays tribute to 110 men who died in the first World War and 77 in the Second World War. Sadly, there are several names missing. Some are commemorated the memorials in churches in and around the town. But many of those who died on their return from the battlefields are not commemorated. A tall the first World War cut into the heart of Chechen and many were lost. The mainstream of Chechens workforce industry is and always has bean at the centre of life in Chechen early industries made use of the natural resources provided by the landscape wool leather goods on wooden where we're all important to Chechen at one time or another, the number of cloth workers, including those involved in processes of spinning and dying grew rapidly from the Tudor period onwards. It became the town's major industry until the mid 18th century, cloth production faced a rapid decline in the face of stiff competition from the large scale. Mechanised mills of Yorkshire lace making was one of the several new industries to emerge in Chechen. Around the same time, this cottage industry, employing mainly women and girls, was valued for quality until fashions changed around 18 50 on demand disappeared. The unemployed lace workers transfer their skills to sell spinning powered by steam driven mills. Unfortunately, this new development was short lived, fashions changed again, and growth of the railways resulted in competition for the valuable London markets and elsewhere. Cheshire Mills eventually became unprofitable on reverted to flower production in the 18 nineties. In the early 19th century, straw planting took over for lace making. As the town's major home based industry, Straw was imported to produce Platt for the Luton and Dunstable hat trade and remained the major employment for women and girls until 18 60 in the mid 19th century. The industrial revolution led to a great change in the working life of Chechen folk at the north end of the valley, the new town area, developed to accommodate factories producing, wouldn't wear brushes and boots. Wooden shovels had been made in the town since the 17th century. Now, steam powered wouldn't wear manufacturing took over from the small scale, Would turning Chechen was rightly proud of its master woodcarvers and Turner's. They, too, were employed in this industry. Brush making made use of the vast quantities of off cuts of wood left over from a shovel, making a dozen factories produced every conceivable type from the smallest brush to the largest broom. Another major industry in the town was boot making shoemaking. Having a major cottage industry in Chechen since the Middle Ages, Chechen became one of the main centres in the region for shoe production, especially for the London market. By the end of the 19th century, there were 16 boot and shoe manufacturers in the town, many of them producing heavy boots worn by most working men. As time went by, more and more people found shoes preferable to boots, and in the 20th century, the industry declined steadily, with the exception ofthe selected niche markets. In 1985 Gifford Newton became the first company to abuse leather boots for the fire service. Although they are no longer manufactured today, give us design is preferred worldwide. Bricks and tiles have been produced in and around Chechen for hundreds of years. Until the second half of the 20th century, most of the buildings in the town were constructed of local brick. Their range of colour has given the town a soft, warm, characteristic appearance between the two world wars. Within five miles of the town centre, there were 23 Brit works, many of them owned by local builders, and some are still very much in operation today. Chechens Railway Station opened in 18 69 and here you see the first train. The railway brought new industries to the town. They're encouraged by local workers with a reputation for manual labour, dexterity and loyalty. One of those industries was George Tuttle and Company. They had very close links for the trade union movement and produced a large hand painted banners. Royal occasions brought special orders for the company for the coronation of King George, the sixth in 1937 they made a union jack 60 feet long and 50 feet wide. Another early arrival this time in 1919 with Chicas, originally a manufacturer of leather belts in the city of London, they added ladies handbags to their range. And during the 19 thirties or doctor the trade name Shila craft bags were sold to leading stores including Harrods, Selfridges and Dickinson Jones. Queen Mary and other members of the royal family were customers wooden toys to be made in the town for many years. But this took a new turn when Joseph Eisenman opened a factory, 1913 making dolls. His company later became the Children. Toy works in waterside, from where the range of soft toys, especially teddy bears, brought a new fame to the town. The influx of new and very industries accelerated during and after the Second World War Cos. Escaping the blitz in London, came to the town on Dudley for two good reasons. The close proximity to the city on the comparative safety of the Children's why that could be making thermo ionic valves in London since the late 19 twenties. With the onset of war, the armed forces took a considerable interest in miniature valves and realising that high vet could help them, they built a new factory for them in Chechen to produce fuse vowels for use in anti aircraft shells. After the war, High Vic made a variety of other electronic devices employing over 600 people in the town. Over the years, the old industries and companies have gone, but they have been replaced by many small companies engaged primarily in high tech business, particularly communications on engineering Chechens, workers had families. Many of the Children grew up in Chechen. How and where were the educated years gone by? And as they grow up, what do they do in their spare time? Chechen has several private schools. The 1st 1 recorded was Thomas Horwood School in 16 62. In the early Victorian period, there were four academies in the town, including one in Church Street run by the Reverend John Hall. For the less well off, there were Platt schools where rudimentary education is provided for a few pence each week, arithmetic and Bible reading. We talked alongside the splitting and plotting of straw for looting hat industry. The first free school run on the British school model was this one in town. Full yard. It was built in 18 28 and paid for by public subscription 150 boys were crammed into this small building minute. Books of 18 47 record the schoolmaster as Mr Spraggins, who under salary of £30 a year, The building consisted of one large whitewashed room heated by a coal fire stove with a platform on one end and desks for the boys. In 18 45 Chechens National School, run by the Church of England, was built in Church Street. A row of cottages were knocked down to accommodate it. One large classroom was divided into two by sliding wouldn't petition one section for girls, the other for boys. Children were taught from the age of 5 to 11 or 12 as there was no official school leaving age. You left school when your parents considered you would acquire sufficient education to earn a living. Another early school, established in the 18 fifties, although short lived, was the grammar school at Whelan's, the former workhouse in Germaine Street. It accomodated both day and boarding boys. The fees were £15 a year for weekly borders and 15 shillings 1/4 for day pupils, 18 78. The first board school was built in towns and road to educate Children the homes around the new factories. Why, till school was opened in 18 90 to relieve overcrowding at waterside and towns and roads, schools and to take those boys were attending the free school in Towns in Road, which closed. The first headmaster at Whitehill was Mr Thomas Bailey, followed by Mr Stephen Dodd on then Mr Stanley Cox, who had been a former pupil of the school. Under Mr Cox, the school flourished and classes grew. Mr. Cox retired on the 21st December 1951. It must have been a very sad day for him being being at Whitehill School as a pupil and a teacher for some 58 years. 15 years later, the headmaster of the time, Mr Alec Morley, wrote in the school logbook. Both staff and boys they're reluctant to sever so long and historic and educational chain are looking forward to the opportunities offered by the new premises, which be known as Thomas Harding County Junior School in Germaine Street. And so ended. A Neera, a school built in 18 90 closed its doors for the last time on the sixth of April 1966 so what opportunities were available in Chechen after school hours from 1902 If you're a budding athlete, you could join the Samaras Gymnastic group. But this sort of activity might not have bean everyone's cup of tea. Football, on the other hand, was very popular. He provided an outlet for young people, and many churches and factories have their own teams. In 1917 Chechen football club was formed and reached the final of the F A M A Cup in 1968. Despite their best efforts, they lost a Leytonstone one deal in front of a 54,000 Wembley crowd, a comment at the time. From a supporter. It seems like most of the town was there. Tennis was also popular on the local club. According to weather, the museum library is the third oldest tennis club in the country. If music, theatre and dancing or more your preference, you certainly had plenty of choice in Chechen in the 20th century, nearly all the church's head choirs and gave regular concerts. There was something for everyone in 1937 Chechens, grandest cinema. The embassy opened in Germaine Street. It was a vast improvement. What had gone before. No expense was spared in providing the latest technology to increase the enjoyment and comfort for its customers. And in recent years, they all gave a theatre has provided a wide range of entertainment from modern musicals together on Sullivan, as well as showing films for all tastes on being the home of the Children Film Club Carnivals have been in the town but ceased in the twenties but returned in 1974. And that year a young Mr Terry Wogan was a celebrity, joined here by the Thomas Harding School team. One particular organisation that has a strong following among the young was the Church Lads Brigade seen here on parade outside ST Mary's Church. In September 1914 After the outbreak of the first World War, the church lads formed part of 16th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. The corps was disbanded after the war. Chechens, young men were quick to join or Baden Powell scout movement. The first Chechen Boy Scout group was formed in 1907 and is credited as being the second oldest scout group in Buckingham Show on the first Chechen pioneer. Girl Guides was founded in 1915 the main aim was to help the war effort, and since then, the guys movement has continued to flourish. Chechen people have had a reputation for being independent of mind and spirit. This is reflected by a wide variety of places of religious worship in the town. It wasn't always so until the reign of Henry the Eighth, the parish church with the centre of religious life. Everyone followed the Catholic faith here in Chechen. The parish church was dedicated to ST Mary on probably had bean sinks Anglo Saxon times when the building would have been a simple wooden structure. By the 12th century, the church was constructed of net flints and limestone dressings. The parish of great Chechen said have being the largest in Buckingham Show was unusual because it was made up of two church estates. Chechen Woburn, administered by the suspicion Abby of Wogan. InBev Richer and Chechen. Lester ON Minister by Lester Abby After the dissolution of the monasteries, the patronage of Chechen parish was passed to the two principal lay manners of Chechen Hi M and Chechen berry. The church we see today underwent a major restoration in the Gothic revival style in the Victorian period. The architect was George Gilbert Scott, designer of the Albert Memorial Hyde Park, another ST Pancras hotel, and his Midland Hotel Parish. Churches across the land have within their walls memorials to commemorate the lives of often eminent people who live within the boundaries of their parish. Sometimes the local Squire and his family other Lando's in their family benefactors to the parish on those who were killed in battles both here and abroad. The mirror's church is no exception and has its own memorials, so let's have a look at them. Firstly, we see this very large monument to Lady Mary, which coat in the South transept. She was the wife of Sir Francis, which coat the owner as we know of Berry Hill House in Lands Park. And here in the chancel on memorials to the Scott owes relations of the witch. Coates, who also lived in Berry Hill House and also to William Clowns, was, we know lived to the Barre, and here are stained glass windows, denoted by early members of the lounge family. Thes two windows in the chancel originally had shutters. Their date and original use is a mystery. They now contain memorial designed by pre Raphaelite artists and Crossman Edward Burne Jones on are dedicated to a young officer who fought in the Boer War. Before we leave ST Mary's, the churchyard is worth exploring. As you can see here, there are large blocks of stone incorporated into the foundations. This type of stone is referred to locally as putting stone. It's a type of conglomerate. Rock, pebbles and gravel are embedded into natural cement, like dried fruit and a pudding. Other piece of this type of stone have been found in the park and around the town, and it may be that they once marked out of much earlier pre Christian place of worship. This cross was erected in 1908 and is a reminder of that spirit of defiance, independence so prevalent in Chechens history. It commemorates Thomas Harding, 1/16 century Marta Harding farmed done grove above the town. I was caught reading a religious book written in English, illegal in Catholic England. He was arrested, accused of being a lard, a follower of the teachings of John Wycliffe, who held beliefs contrary to their traditional church. He was tried, sentenced to death and held in a room of the South Port here at ST Mary's Church on the 30th of May 15 32 he was taken in procession, toe white hill and tied to a post on top of a bonfire. The fire was lit, but before the flames could engulf him, a bystander threw a piece of wood. It hit ******* the head and killed him before he could suffer an agonising death by burning after the English Reformation, when the Protestant Church of England was established. So Mary's became an Anglican parish church. The movement began by Wycliffe and others continue to rise to new sex and denominations. In the Christian Church, Chechen was particularly well served by the Baptist Church. At one time, an area of Chechen was known as God's acre, having three Baptist churches on one acre of land. Quakers, congregation ist Presbyterians and Methodist also made their own place of worship. Here in Chechen Chechens, Catholic community worst in private houses until said Columbus Catholic Church, was founded in Newtown in the late 19 fifties. Chechens Muslim community has been in the towns since 19 sixties, and in 2005 the town's first purpose built mosque was owned in Bellingen Road, now returning to ST Mary's. If we go down the hill away from the church into Church Street, we will see Chechens, earlier shops and the oldest surviving mediaeval house. It dates from the 14th century that wouldn't tracery around. The windows has survived for more than 600 years. Many of the houses here used to have large wooden shutters. These were thought to be shop counters, but more likely they were protection for the large windows that front onto the street, the junction of Church Street on the high street, A temporary market was held on the banks of the stream, now hidden beneath the market square. When the town was granted a licence to hold a market by King Henry, the third in 12 47 the market traders business increased. Their stalls became permanent sites on eventually, shops were built As the market grew. It attracted customers from outside the town in's open to provide the visitors with overnight accommodation on stabling for their horses. By the 19th century, no fewer than six ins and public houses surrounded Chechens Market square, including the Golden ball in Church Street once used by customs and excise and the checkers in later occupied by Chechen building society. One of the oldest inns in Chechen is the George and Dragon. The Magistrates Court was held here in the early 19th century on doing renovation work in 1971 too early 18th century morals of founder walls in the upper rooms depicting a hunting scene and flowers. Victorian Chechen had three breweries, the largest being Nash is at the bottom of Whitehill. This later became Chechen brewery on eventually Chechen Brackley Brewery and continue to brew until 1957 When it was closed, the shops in Market Square surrounded the Old Town Hall with its characteristic clock tower. In the 17th century, the hall was used to process wheat flour. In later years, the upper floor was used for amateur theatre productions and concerts, and in the early 20th century, as Chechens First Cinema, it had an open air on the ground floor used by market traders and was used for straw Platt Market in the late 19th century, the town hall became unsafe in the 19 sixties and was demolished. In its place is the elegant clock tower, which now marks the spot where the original Old Town hall stood close by is Chechen Museum, which occupies premises dating back in part to the 17th century. The middle part of museum once faced onto Lewins Yard on the Dayton initials in the brickwork, maybe those of Thomas Hall and his wife, Mary. As a merciful grocer, Hall sold goods imported from outside the town and served a growing local demand for luxury goods such as tea and tobacco. A contemporary Thomas Hall was Roger Crab, sometimes called the English hermit. Crab was an eccentric character who made and sold hats and gave away his money to the poor. He was a vegetarian, unusual for the time, and he drank plain water, a risky habit as water was often contaminated. He may have been the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Bad Hat, a character in Alice in Wonderland Crab. Strange behaviour may have been due to close contact with toxic chemicals used in his trade or to a serious head injury received while fighting on the parliament reside in the English Civil War. Over the years, the number and variety of Chechens shops, crew on new customers came from London and elsewhere until the 19 thirties. There were small shops for everyday necessities in most of the main streets in Chechen, people who lived outside the town centre didn't need to walk all the way to the High Street for groceries. There are many street traders in the early years of the 20th century on vendors sold from horse and Cart, an organisation which played an important part in both commercial and cultural life. Of the town was the local corporate society. It offered its members a complete range of products and services. Another shot was Brandon's Chechens, very own department store specialising in home furnishings. Although it ceased trading in the middle of the 20th century, Brandon's building, with its striking 1920 styling, remains Chechen continues to thrive largely because of its specialist shops. Well, that brings us to the end ofthe discovering Chechen. We set out at the beginning of our journey to find out how this town, nestling in the heart of the Children hills, has developed from a not so sleepy hollow to a busy, industrious, thriving town on. Hopefully we have answered that question. We leave you with the words of the late Dr Arnold Baines, counsellor, former mayor of Chechen and well respected local historian. And he wrote, Chechen has stood a little apart from the beautiful rural environment is a town of Crossman, very diverse in origin and not over respectful towards external authority. With all its social tensions. Chechen has bean and still is a true community whose history is not wholly unworthy of its motto. Serve one another.