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Faringdon Folly & Diary Dec 2016

Death of Mr T W Craddock, Manor Farm

Death of Mr T W Craddock, Manor Farm
Faringdon Advertiser, 12/2/1921

Sale of The Capital Farm

The Capital Farm, Mr Robert Pike
Faringdon Advertiser, 18/7/1908

Sale of Home Farm

Home Farm Sale, Mr William Parker
Faringdon Advertiser, 5/8/1916

Pusey Estate Sale

Pusey Estate Sale
Faringdon Advertiser, 15/8/1908

Charney Bassett Novices Chase 5 March 1996

Novices Chase 5 March 1996

Emily Hayden’s 100th Birthday

Emily Hayden (picture)
Emily Hayden (text)

Minibus

Minibus

RSPCA

RSPCA fund raising

Play ‘n’ Pray

Play ‘n’ Pray

The Smithy and The Chequers

The Smithy and The Chequers

The Chequers for ‘Sale’

For Lease 2007
For Lease 2012

Sale of Rectory Farm, Sept 24th 1940

Sale of Rectory Farm 24th Sept 1940

Charney Chatter

Charney Chatter Starts

The Bench

and John has since made an Oak replacement bench in 2017 replacing the elm one which lasted 14 years.

The (Faringdon) Archery Club

The Archery Club 1962

1962: Faringdon was set to be put on the map by one of its youngest organisations – the Archery Club. The club was started in 1961 and now hoped to host the National Archery Championships at Charney Bassett where the club holds its outdoor shoots. The club had about 30 members.

Swindon Advertiser ‘ON THIS DAY: Friday, February 16 2018’

From the papers of Vic Hodgkins [courtesy of Rachel Townsend-Green (Née Hodgkins)]

Unimportant Charney

UNIMPORTANT CHARNEY!

Sir, – The war, even though it has been a grim and lasting business, has some consolations, and one of these, I am sure, is our wider view of life. In some cases a keen interest have been aroused in subjects which before seemed to be of no importance, or of no personal concern to us.

One thing which should be of a concern to every individual, and I feel, will be of greater interest to a lot of us who have had a little opportunity to see for ourselves and realise how valuable it is. is our democratic way of life. Great strides have already been taken in our country during this war of which we as Britains are justly proud, and I, as a Berkshire man, have I followed in this paper and others the noble way in which my county is tackling, and sometimes taking the lead in, some of the major post-war issues. But as a citizen of the Faringdon rural district, and who – for a certain length of time. at least will be obliged to return to reside at my present home in Charney Bassett, which incidentally is more than 50 per cent. -the property of the County Council, I am very far from proud or satisfied.

While I do appreciate all the difficulties caused by the war, both now and in the years immediately following the cecsation of hostilities, I have hoped for a long time to find somewhere in your columns that the Councillor for this apparently forgotten village, who I believe happens to be a lady. had at last remembered it and spoken out on its behalf. But silence continue to reign.

And, so as far as Faringdon Rural District Council are concerned it appears that Charney Bassett is to remain a village without any sanitation or drainage and solely dependant on oil for lighting etc., as the Electricity Company have never been encouraged to bring their, power any nearer than 2 ½ miles.

Although the Council are now in possession of an adequate water system, the extetion of it to it to Charney seems to be an impossibility, as the matter, as far as seems to have been made public, has never even been proposed let alone reiected. It will be a distance of only three or four mile away when the supply to Longworth is completed.

All this is without mentioning the national topic of housing. Nothing has been done in this direction, to my knowledge for the past quarter of a century, and goodness knows how long before that!

So I hope the Rural District Council, and particularly the representative of the peaceful parish of Charney Bassett will realise that a lot of the younger generation have successfully taken -part in a victorious fight, and when we return some of us are going to be willing to take on a new fight for the service and betterment of our community. -Yours, etc..

“IDEALIST,” H.M. Forces.

Parish Council (re)starts 1955 (?)
Inspection of Charney (?) Sewage Plant 1960

Gymkhana 1967

Gymkhana: Reading Evening Post – Monday 07 August 1967

The Horn Inn

Faringdon Advertiser, Saturday 2nd September 1865

FARINGDON

Petty Sessions, Tuesday – Present, Viscount Barrington, Hon. G. W. Barrington, and T. L. Goodlake and G. Murray, Esqrs. – The licences of the several public houses in the division were renewed, and there were two applications for new ones. The first was by Mrs. Charlotte Woodbridge, for the “Horns” at Charney, which was granted. Mr. Haines supported the application, Mr. Ormond, of Wantage, opposed. ….

Faringdon Advertiser Petty Sessions 2nd July 1901: Eliza King

Eliza King, granted the transfer of the licence of The Horn.

Faringdon Advertiser 10/9/1910: Sudden Death

Inquest at The Horn.

Faringdon Advertiser 12th July 1913: Wilful Damage

Wilful damage to window of The Horn

Faringdon Advertiser 6th March 1920: Alteration Plans

Faringdon Advertiser 6th March 1920: Alteration Plans

Wantage Brewery Co proposed plans for alterations to The Horn

Oxford Journal – Saturday 19 March 1757

Oxford Journal – Saturday 19 March 1757
We hear, that Powney, Esq; and Anthony Keck, Esq; of Charney, near Abingdon in Berkshire, intend to offer themselves Candidates for Verdurer of Windsor Forest, in the room of Penyston Powney, Esq; deceased.

Oxford Journal Saturday 16 May 1789

Oxford Journal Saturday 16 May 1789

TAKEN up, at Longworth Lodge, near Kingston Inn, Berks, on Thursday the 7th of this Instant May, A Bay GELDING, the Nag Kind, with four white Heels and a cut Tail, rather stiff in the fore Legs, about fourteen Hands and a Half high, new shod, marked F W. The Owner of the above Gelding may have him again, on paying the Expences, by applying to Mr. Thomas WOODBRIDGE, Charney.

Reading Evening Post – Monday 7 October 1968

Reading Evening Post – Monday 07 October 1968 Sheepdog trials
Daily Herald – Thursday 25 June 1953

Daily Herald – Thursday 25 June 1953
VILLAGERS ANSWER TORY BOASTS

Abingdon by-election. Candidates: Ted Castle (Lab.), Airey Neave (C), George Allen (Lib). Polling: Next Tuesday. From ROY NASH ABINGDON, Berks, Wednesday YOU would hardly credit It, but the Tories in this by-election are running their campaign round the slogan “Prosperity under the Tories.” In case you did not know It, you folk of Battersea and Birmingham. Manchester and Monmouthshire, life is cheaper and better for you today than ever it was under the heel of Labour.

There are unratloned sweets in the shops, and the tax on furs has gone down. If those are not signs of New Dawn, the Tories don’t know what are.

That, apparently, is the general view of Mr. Alrey Neave, the Tory candidate here, who is a great bemoaner of Socialist ” muddle and hardship.”

Mr. Neave should have come with me today to Charney Bassett, a tiny village in the west of this 300-square-mile constituency. He might have learned a few facts about the life of the lower-paid workers. Instead, my companion was Mr. George Allen, the 30-year-old Liberal candidate. Mr. Alien is a gentle, sincere man but without hope of success in this three-cornered fight.

FOR CHILDREN

In the centre of the village he embarked on some doorstep canvassing and turned up a path towards a typical Berkshire cottage. Then, in the window, he spied the now-familiar yellow bill advising the electors to “Vote for Ted Castle,” the Labour candidate.

Out the cottage came Mr. Richard Dore, 38-year-old farmworker. with his wife, Dorothy.

“Liberals?” said Mr. Dore. “I’ve a great respect for what they did in the past. But we like Labour’s record.”

He pointed to his two children. Anthony, aged nine, and Brenda, five. “Labour studied the children—you must agree to that.

“I say this election is between the Tories and Labour only “

” Yes. and look what has happened under the Tories.” Mrs Dore chipped in.

“They have the cheek to tell us that sweets have been freed. My children can’t have a variety of sweets even if they are off the ration—they cant afford them.”

FOOD PRICES

Then Mr. Dore again: ” What have the Tories done for the agricultural worker? Nothing at all. “They talk about their record. I have seen country working folk turned out of their homes by the Tories in the past. I have seen the way the Tories neglected the land.

” And Mrs. Dore added: “As a housewife say get the price of food down. The Tories won’t do that and it’s no good suggesting the Liberals will. They can’t get it down.”

“No.” said Mr. Dore. and nodded towards the Ted Castle bill. ” It seems to me that working folk must support the people who look after working folk.”

Mr. Allen went off a sadder man. And if there are enough Richard and Dorothy Dores at the Abingdon poll on Tuesday, Mr. Neave and his Tory friends will be lot sadder too.

General Election figures: John Curthoys (Lab.) 19,791; Sir Ralph Glyn (C„ and now a peer) 24,774 Tory majority 4,583.

Reading Evening Post – Monday 24 July 1967

Reading Evening Post – Monday 24 July 1967
MOBILE BOOK SERVICE FOR CHILDREN

CHILDREN in scattered Berkshire villages will not be short of a good book during their summer holidays – Berkshire county library is operating a mobile service for them. A holiday mobile library service was started last year for children living too far away from the town branch libraries. It was a big success, so the county library have extended the experimental first year to cover a wider area of Berkshire.

Peggy Heecks, librarian in charge of the school library service. said “Children living far away from branch libraries depended during term time on their school libraries for books. – Consequently during the school holidays they are deprived of books, at the very time when they have most leisure for reading.

Villages visited on every Monday, until August 14 will be Blewbury, East Hanney, Charney Bassett, Longworth, Stanford-in-the-Vale, and Shillingford. On Tuesdays until August 22 the mobile library will visit Ashampstead, Compton-Westfields, East Ilsley, Beedon, Hampstead Norris, and Hermitage. On Wednesdays Appleton, Cumnor, Wootton, Sunningwell, and Radley. On Thursdays Bosford, Wickham, West Shefford, East Carston, Eastbury, Lambourn. And on Fridays Chaddleworth, Brightwalton, Fawley, Letcombe Regis, and Childrey.

Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette – Saturday 02 July 1887 Queen’s Jubilee

Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette – Saturday 02 July 1887 Queen’s Jubilee

CHARNEY and LYFORD.
These two villages above named fitly celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee, last week. Proceedings opened with tea and supper given to the school children, inmates of the almshouses, and aged poor of Lyford, on the 24th. On the following day, at Charney, a dinner was given to the labourers, with their wives, of the two villages, in a barn kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Robert Pike of Lyford. The .Queen’s health, proposed by Clutterbuck, having been enthusiastically drunk, the remainder of the evening was devoted to dancing, to the strains of the Appleton band. On the following Tuesday, the school children of Charney were invited to tea, followed by the usual sports. In conclusion it should be mentioned that the Vicar and Churchwardens of Lyford have purchased a new Church bell, a permanent memorial of the Jubilee.

Witney Gazette and West Oxfordshire Advertiser – Saturday 11 October 1890

Witney Gazette and West Oxfordshire Advertiser – Saturday 11 October 1890

DEATHS. KIMBER.—October 4th, at Charney, Berks, Louisa, widow of Mr. John Kimber, late of Aston, aged 64 years.

Reading Mercury – Saturday 27 December 1851

Reading Mercury – Saturday 27 December 1851

AT THE PLEASANT AND HEALTHY VILLAGE OF CHARNEY, IN THE VALE BERKS. TO BE LET, and entered upon immediately, at a moderate rent per annum, or for a term of years if required, a comfortable MESSUAGE or COTTAGE RESIDENCE, pleasantly situate in the dry and healthy village of CHARNEY, Berks, near the Parish Church, within easy distances from the market towns Wantage, Faringdon, and Abingdon, and about three miles of the Faringdon Road Station on the Great Western Railway; comprising good parlour, sitting room, kitchen, good bed-rooms, and attics, convenient offices, good cellaring, yard, and a good walled garden: which may be viewed on application and particulars known of Mr. John Loder, of Charney, or of Messrs. Harris and Belcher, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, Abingdon, Berks.

Reading Mercury – Saturday 25 May 1867
BERKSHIRE. PASTURE and ARABLE LAND, FREEHOLD, and held for long terms of years equal in value to Freehold, situate at GOOSEY and CHARNEY, near Wantage, in the rich Vale of Berks, and SHEEP COMMONS, on Goosey Green. By Mr. CHARLES COX, At the Blue Boar Inn, Wantage, on Wednesday, the 5th day of June, 1867, at Three for Four o’clock in the afternoon, in the following Lots, viz.— Lot 1.—All those two desirable Enclosures of rich Pasture Land, called Great and Little Hydhams, situate Goosey, near Wantage, containing 30a. 0r, 0p., or thereabouts (be the same, more or less). In the Great Meadow is a cowshed or stable, together with pond, and a good supply of excellent water. The Land is bounded on one side by the high road leading from Charney to Goosey, and on the other side by the property of Mr. Oliver, Worcester College, S. B. Pusey, Esq., and W. Dewe, Esq. Also, nine Sheep Commons, or Common of Pasture, going and feeding on the Green, called Goosey Green, now let at £4 1s. 0d. per annum. This lot is held for the remainder of a term of 1900 years, created in 1658, and other long terms of years, and the land-tax is redeemed. Lot 2.—All that very first-rate Freehold Piece of Arable Land, called Butt Lane Piece, at Charney, containing 5a. 0r. 25p., more or less, now in the occupation of Mrs. Loder, and bounded on the north and west by land belonging to S. B. Pusey, Esq. This lot has a long frontage to the road, and is admirably adapted for building purposes. Apportioned land-tax, 12s. 6d. Lot 3.—All that Freehold piece of excellent Arable Land, called Buttock’s Piece, or Woodbridge’s, at Charney, containing about 12a. 3r. 12p., more or less, in the occupation of Mrs Loder, bounded on the north by the Charney-road, and on the south and west by land belonging to S. B. Pusey, Esq. Apportioned land-tax, £1 2s. 6d. Lot 4.—All that Freehold Stone-built and Slated Dwellinghouse, pleasantly situate, in the village of Charney, in the occupation of the Rev. Fossett, at a low rental, at the rate of £15 per annum, containing five bedrooms, sitting-room, kitchen, larder, with outbuildings, large walled-in Garden. well of water, &c, the whole having a frontage to the street of 67 feet 8 inches, or thereabouts. Lot 5.—(By order of the Trustees of the Will of William Dewe, Esq., deceased).—Chapelry or Charney, Berks, Freehold Tithe Rent Charges, amounting to £5 17s. 6d. per annum, charged by the award of the Tithe Commissioners,on lands in Charney, Berks. The tenants of lots 1, 2, and 3, are under notice to quit, so that possession may be given on completion. The lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, may be viewed by leave of the occupiers, and particulars and conditions, with plans, may be obtained ten days before the Sale of Messrs. Dayman & Walsh, Solicitors, Oxford, or of the Auctioneer. Particulars and conditions of sale of Lot 5, may be obtained of Mr. Graham, Solicitor, Abingdon; or of the Auctioneer, Ock-street, Abingdon.

Reading Mercury – Saturday 25 May 1867
GOOSEY, near WANTAGE. Excellent GRASS KEEPING in the Vale of Berks. TO BE LET AUCTION, Mr. CHARLES COX, on Wednesday, June the 5th, 1867, at Four o’clock in the Afternoon, at the “Blue Boar” Inn, Wantage, in One Lot, all that first-class GRASS KEEPING, on Great and Little Hydeham’s, with the piece adjoining, situate at Goosey, containing’ together about THIRTY TWO ACRES, more or less, until the 29th day of September, 1867. The grounds are well fenced, there is a good supply of water, and an excellent Shed recently erected in the Great Meadow. Mrs. Loder, of Charney, will appoint a person to show the above on application. All outgoings will be paid the present tenant. For further particulars apply to the Auctioneer, Ock Street, Abingdon,

Reading Mercury – Saturday 25 November 1871

Mr W M Tagg, Charney Wick Farm, wins prizes for roots at the Abingdon Annual Cattle and Root Show and Dinner.

Berkshire Chronicle – Saturday 12 July 1856
FIRE AT CHARNEY, LONGWORTH.
John Archer, 25, charged with stealing, on the 17th Dec., 1855, at Buckland, a gun, the property of the Rev. Joseph Moore. Aslo, with setting fire to two stacks of straw, at Charney, the 18th April, the property of Richard Woodbridge. Mr. Carrington was for the prosecution; the prisoner was undefended. Richard Woodbridge said he occupied land at Charney, and also kept a beer-house. On the evening of the 18th of April, the prisoner was at his house, and left about 10 o’clock rather the worse for liquor. About 22 yards distant from the house the ricks were situated; they were safe at 10 o’clock, and at half-past eleven o’clock he was alarmed by his neighbours that his ricks were on fire. They were both burnt, one was barley straw and the other bean straw. When witness got to the fire, he saw the prisoner and several more there; he tried as much as any of the rest to put out the flames. Charles Grimshawe, landlord of the Chequers, at Charney, who also keeps a shop, recollected the prisoner coming into his shop that evening about half-past ten o’clock for 1/2lb. of shot and 1/2oz. of tobacco; he then went into the inn, and remained until 11 o’clock. He refused to serve him with any beer, because he was intoxicated. Before he left, he asked witness for something to eat, and then to sell him a box of matches. This was refused, witness saying “If I let you have them, you would be likely enough to set some place on fire.” Witness allowed him to light his pipe. Directly after he had gone, witness was alarmed by the cry of fire. At first witness saw his own cow shed on fire, but this was got out; and he then went to Mr. Woodbridge’s premises, where the stacks were on fire. He saw the prisoner there, and after the flames had been somewhat subdued, witness went to him and said, ” You are my prisoner for setting fire to these ricks.” He said, “I did not, I was at Pusey along with John Wenman.” Pusey was about a mile and a half off; it was impossible that the prisoner could have been there and back in the time that had elapsed since he had seen him at his house. After witness had placed the prisoner safely in custody, he went to the house of Wenman at Pusey, and there found him bed. Witness afterwards found some matches in the shed. William Dawson, labourer, said he heard a cry of fire, and he hastened to the place. When he got there no one was present but the prisoner, who was on his hands and knees scrambling the straw about that was fire, and trying to push it towards the other rick that was not on fire. Witness said, “You fool, Jack, what are you got at ? You’re trying to set all these premises on fire.” He made no answer, but afterwards, in reply to a similar remark, said he was trying to put out the fire. His Lordship: Was the prisoner drunk ? Witness: No, sir. His Lordship: What do you call being drunk ? Witness : I call man drunk when he cannot stand, sir (laughter). John Wenman was called, and proved that did not see the prisoner on that evening after five o’clock. The prisoner said he did not set fire the stacks; was going home, he heard the cry of fire, turned back, and endeavoured as much as he could to put out the flames. He had not a match about him, and before be had got ten yards from Mr. Grimshawe’s house his pipe was out. On being asked if he had any one to speak to his cha racter, he replied that his master, Mr. Wintle, was in court. That gentleman stated that he had known the prisoner for some time: did not know anything against him further than that he was a regular poacher. His Lordship said the question for the jury to consider in this case was whether the prisoner had maliciously set fire to the stacks. There had been no quarrel between the prisoner and prosecutor, so that there was apparent absence of motive. They must determine whether intentionally or accidentally set fire to these ricks. Look at his conduct: he was on his knees, pushing the fire towards another stack that was not on fire, giving no alarm. His statements when accused were faise. He would make one remark: if he was farmer he would never employ a man who smoked a pipe. If the farmers were to put “an end pipe-smoking, he was sure they would soon put an end to a number of fires. The jury consulted together for few minutes, and returned a verdict of Guilty. His Lordship said the prisoner had been found guilty of setting fire to the stacks ; there was another charge against him, but there was no necessity to try him on that. The crime was very serious one. The sentence of the court was, that he subject to servitude for six years.

Oxford Journal – Saturday 24 June 1848 Stealing a Shovel

Oxford Journal – Saturday 24 June 1848
STEALING A SHOVEL – On Tuesday last Alfred Jones, labourer, of Charney, was brought before the Bench of Magistrates, charged with stealing (on the 10th inst.) a shovel, the property of the surveyors of Charney, and he was committed for trial at the Sessions.

Reading Mercury – Saturday 18 May 1867

Reading Mercury – Saturday 18 May 1867
BERKSHIRE.
VALUABLE FREEHOLD ARABLE and MEADOW LAND, at CHARNEY and GOOSEY, near Wantage in the fertile Vale of Berks, and nine SHEEP COMMONS, on Goosey Green.
By Mr. CHARLES COX,
At the Blue Boar Inn, Wantage, on Wednesday, the 5th day of June, 1867, at Three for Four o’clock the afternoon, subject to conditions of sale then to be produced:—
Lot 1.—All those two desirable Enclosures of rich Pasture Land, called Great and Little Hydhams situate at Goosey and containing about 30a.; also, nine Sheep Commons, on Goosey Green.
Lot 2. – A valuable piece of Freehold Arable Land, called But Lane Piece, situate at Charney, and containing about 5a. 0r. 25p.
Lot 3 —An excellent piece of Freehold Arable Land, called Woodbridge’s or Buttock’s Piece, situate at Charney, and containing about 12a. 3r. 12p.
Lot 4.—A Freehold Stone-built and Slated Dwellinghouse, with large Garden, pleasantly situate in the village of Charney, and now let to the Rev. Fossett, at the low rental of £15 per annum.
Further particulars in future advertisement. Abingdon, May 2nd, 1867.

Oxford Journal – Saturday 27 April 1878 Alfred Woodbridge

Oxford Journal – Saturday 27 April 1878
PETTY SESSIONS, APRIL 23.
Present, T. L,. Goodlake, G. Murray, W. Dundas, and W. J. Butler, Esqrs.
Alfred Woodbridge, carter, Charney, was charged with assaulting and beating Peter Ballard, under carter, at Charney, on the 21st April inst. – Fined 6d. and 9s, 3d. costs, which was paid.

Reading Mercury – Saturday 23 May 1874

Reading Mercury – Saturday 23 May 1874
Mrs Loder, who is declining farming. For sale at Mrs Woodbridge’s, The Chequers.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard – Saturday 25 July 1857

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard – Saturday 25 July 1857
Fighting after indulging in the revelries of Charney feast

William Cheer, of Langworth, farmer, was brought up in custody charged with assaulting P.C. Burnett. The prisoner had been indulging in the revelries of Charney feast, on Monday last, and about two o’clock on the following morning, was found by the police fighting and creating a disturbance, with a mob of upwards of fifty persons around. When requested by the officer to desist and go quietly home, he replied that ” he didn’t care for the rural police, or anybody else in Charney, and he was determined to fight some one.” He quickly put his threat into execution by knocking down Burnett, but he was eventually secured by the assistance of P.C. Burritt, who fortunately came up at the moment, and Cheer was hand-cuffed and conveyed to the lock-up at Faringdon, but not until he had treated Burritt in the same manner as his brother officer. The police certainly used great forbearance toward their prisoner, under the circumstances, surrounded as they were by a drunken and irritated rabble. The Bench commented strongly on the violent nature of the assault on the officers, who were using their best endeavors to prevent any further disturbance, and to quietly disperse the mob. Fined £3, and £1. 4s. costs, which he at once paid.

North Wilts Herald – Monday 20 May 1872 Pugilistic Inn Keeper

North Wilts Herald – Monday 20 May 1872
A PUGILISTIC INNKEEPER William Fragley, of Charney, innkeeper, was charged with assaulting Frederick Fuller, a pensioner. It appeared that Fuller went to defendant’s house and had pint of beer, when defendant asked him if he was not boxing man, and on his replying that he was not he put himself in a fighting attitude, and struck complainant twice on the mouth with his open hand, and said he had heard talk about his “science” and told him if he would come out he would see what could do for him. George Harris, a witness, sated that he saw defendant strike Fuller in the face, and heard him say that if he had a pair of gloves he would box with any man in Charney.—Fined £1 and 17s. 6d costs.

Comment:
1871 Census of Charney gives Charlotte Woodbridge as landlady at the Horn and nor was  William Fragley  the landlord of The Chequers.
 
William Fragley nor anything like him does not appear on the 1871 Census.
 
However there is a William Frogley on the 1871 census in Denchworth – a farmer of 980 acres. Could he also have owned the Fox? He was born in Sparsholt in 1813 but appears on the 1874 register of electors under the landowning qualification for the constituency  of Faringdon under the Chapelry of Charney. There was a William Fragley/Frogley Jr but neither he nor Day appear on the 1881 census in Charney either.
 
Perhaps that as Fuller “went to the defendants house” it was outside Charney Bassett?
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard – Saturday 19 July 1884

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard – Saturday 19 July 1884
FARINGDON. PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—(Before D. Bennett, T. L. Goodlake. and W. Dundas, Esqrs.)–George Waldron, farm foreman, Charney, was charged with assaulting and beating Henry England Phelps, a dairyman, also living at Charney, on the 19th July inst. Fined £2, and £1 14s. costs.

North Wilts Herald – Friday 14 November 1890 Petty Sessions

North Wilts Herald – Friday 14 November 1890
Petty Sessions. – On Tuesday—before T. L Goodlake, Esq, W. Dundas Esq. E. Hanbury, Esq., Viscount Barrington Capt. Loder Symonds, the Hon. W. B. Barrington, and the Hon. D. P. Bouverie- Robert Barrett, James Simmonds, and Joseph Jackson, laborers, of Charney were charged with being on licensed premises at Charney during prohibited hours on Oct 30th. Thomas Boucher, landlord of the Chequers Inn, was charged with allowing the consumption of beer at the same time and place—Mr. G. J. Haines defended.—The case was proved by P.C.s Portchmouth and Smith.—lt was urged on the part of defendants that the real time was only one or two minutes past ten.— The magistrate fined the laborers 10s. each, including costs.—Boucher was fined £1 and 9s. 6d. costs. This being the first offence the license was not endorsed.—Henry Barton, engine driver, Hatford, was charged with stopping his locomotive engine on the bridge over the River Ock at Charney on Oct. 28th, in contravention of the county bye-laws.— P.C. Portchmouth stated the facts.— Defendant denied that the engine was resting on the crown of the arch of the bridge.—Fined £1, including costs.

Reginald Lester Pay

He lived in 26, New Road from 1925.

He and his wife Annie are buried at Charney Church in two of the graves with just the simple square vases as monuments.

DEATH OF A HERO

Both Feet Amputated on 21st Birthday.

A WAR TRAGEDY.

As a pointer to the Armistice Day commemoration on Sunday comes this story of a Wantage man whose life was tragically blighted by the Great War. On his 21st birthday he had both feet amputated as a result of his wounds. Now at 40 he has died of cancer.

HE is Mr. Reginald Lester Pay, an ex-private of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who died on 26 October at his home, 26, New road, Charney Bassett, near Wantage. Extracts from Kent newspapers during the war tell a vivid story of his gallant war career. “Reginald Lester Pay, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, only son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pay, of Whitehill, has recently returned to his home. Not only was he seriously wounded by rifle and shrapnel fire, but he also got frostbite in his feet, as the result of which he has lost both his legs below the knee. Notwithstanding his terrible experiences he Is wonderfully cheerful. Indeed, his cheerful disposition has helped him to pull through. He has been for some months in hospital, and for a long time it was thought impossible that he could recover. His unfailing cheerfulness made him the hero and the pride of the hospitals at Reading and Newbury.

A Birthday Present.

 “When war broke out he was eager to go and do his bit. ‘We shall all have to go,’ he said to his parents, and three days after the declaration of war he enlisted. In January, 1915, he was drafted to the front and, as a machine-gunner, saw much fighting until 11 March, when he was wounded in Neuve Chapelle, a bullet going clean through him, narrowly missing his heart. At the same time he received a shrapnel wound in one of his legs. Not until three days later could he be removed from the field, and during this terrible time he was afflicted by frostbite.

“As soon as possible he was drafted to England, and on Good Friday the first amputation was performed. The second took place on 15 April, 1915 — his 21st birthday—and he in fact made some jocular remark to the effect that it was not much of a birthday present! This was at Reading Hospital. Later he was removed to Newbury.

“At both hospitals everything possible was done for him, and before leaving Newbury the mother of one of the nurses presented him with a hand-propelled machine to enable hint to get about until his artificial legs could be fitted.

Learned to Ride Cycle.

“Private Pay may certainly be said to have done his share, but even now he would be quite prepared to go out again if he could and ‘have another go at ‘em.’”

Mr. Pay was discharged from the Army on 12 October, 1915, and came to live at Wantage about 16 years ago. Later he lived at Charlton, where he was sexton at Holy Trinity Church for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Pay and their family of two boys—aged 13 and 11—have lived in Charney Bassett for the last eight and a half years.

Mr. Pay actually contrived to ride a bicycle in spite of his terrible disability. Many of his closest friends did not know all that he suffered.

For four years he has been slowly dying, but would not give in. He was not confined to his bed many days before he passed away – a victim cancer.

Funeral Tributes.

The funeral took place last Thursday at Charney Bassett, and was conducted by the Rev. E. Jones, of Longworth, assisted by the Rev. C. A. Evelyn White, of Wantage. The mourners were Mrs. Pay (widow), John and Frank Pay (sons). Miss Kent (sister-in-law), Miss Beesley, Mrs. Seymour, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Moon, and Mr. Jack Moon. Among the floral tributes was a large wreath from the Charney Bassett parishioners.

Reading Standard – Saturday 28 August 1915
A strange phenomenon occurred at Charney on the Berkshire Downs. From the earth rose a vapour-like column which eventually gathered into a cloud and dispersed in a torrent of rain.

Reading Standard – Friday 13 October 1893

Reading Standard – Friday 13 October 1893
WANTED, situation as GROOM married; willing to help with milking; eight years’ good character.—W. Lowe, Charney, Wantage, Berks.