Category: Community (Warminster)

Topics about organisations and activities in Warminster.

Fire At Pound Street Maltings, Warminster

Friday 26th February 1982

Firemen from Warminster, Frome and Westbury attended a fire at the Pound Street Maltings, Warminster, in the early hours of Saturday 20th February 1982.

Led by Station Officer Gerald Francis the Warminster firemen had to break down a pair of double doors to get inside the building. They were soon joined by the crews from Frome and Westbury. Five and a half hours were spent fighting the fire in the roof of the top floor of the maltings. At one stage, flames billowed 20 feet high in the night sky.

A third of the roof area was destroyed. Repairing the damage has been estimated to cost in the region of £3,500. The skills of the firefighters limited the loss of grain to about one ton and a half. Production of malt was able to continue on the Saturday morning, thanks to the workmen of R. Butcher & Son, the Warminster builders, who arrived, stripping and sheeting down the roof preventing heat from being lost.

The Director of Beaven’s Maltings, Mr. Hugh Turner, praised the firefighters for their actions. The cause of the fire is being investigated, but arson has already been ruled out.

Bronze Age Palstave On Display At Warminster Dewey Museum

Friday 22 January 1982

A precious new find, by far the oldest man-made object to come its way, has gone on show at Warminster Dewey Museum.

It is a palstave, a Bronze Age axe head, circa 1400 BC, which was found on the Longleat Estate by amateur archaeologist and metal detector user Mr. Kenneth Yarde, who lives at 133 Horningsham.

Technically Lord Bath’s property and consequently on loan to the Museum, Mr. Yarde’s palstave is cast in bronze and measures about seven inches by two and a half. Its cutting edge is well preserved, and time has given parts of the ridge to which its shaft was once fitted a patina like polished marble.

Manned by volunteers and in the care of the curator Mr. Percy Trollope, the Dewey Museum, in Curfew Cottage, behind the Chapel of St. Lawrence, High Street, is able to open only for a short period each week.

But later this year the collection will be moved across the High Street and the Market Place to the new Library building at the Central Car Park end of The Three Horse Shoes Mall.

New Warminster Library And Dewey Museum Preview

On Monday 7 December 1981 the Warminster History Society was privileged to be given a detailed description of Warminster’s new library building and information on how it will be used.

Mr. Peter Pickup, the Assistant Director of Wiltshire Library And Museum Service; Mr. Martin Norgate, the Wiltshire Museums Officer; and Mr. John Hazel, the architect; showed the History Society the plans and each spoke on their own particular aspect.

National standards exist to decide the size of the building which is to serve the population of 16,000 or so of the town and also the large number of people who come from outlying villages to use the library.

The front entrance will be opposite Three Horseshoes Mall, and at the rear will be a garage for the mobile library, a courtyard and parking for 30 cars (a compulsory requirement).

In spite of a probable 30% increase in use, opening hours will stay as present and there will be no increase in staff. A new computer system will operate.

It is hoped that construction will end in late August 1982 and the opening will take place in November 1982.

Mr. Norgate, who has spoken to Warminster History Society before about his relationship as advisor to the Dewey Museum, gave practical information about the type of showcases the new museum will have and the facilities for providing displays.

The Museum will be open 28 hours a week instead of the present Saturdays only arrangement.

There will be a large storage space, in addition to a display area, a workroom for conservation work on artefacts, and another room where researchers can study books and newspapers.

On the ground floor, beyond the display area, will be a meeting room, which the Museum may be able to use for special exhibitions.

The Chairman of the History Society, Jack Field, said that the Society has now become a registered charity and may therefore be eligible for grants.

Miss Stewart-Bam is making a collection of books for the Friends of Wiltshire Museums, to raise funds for museums in the west of the county, and this should benefit the Dewey Museum.

There are various necessary articles which the initial budget is not able to provide.

The absence of Bob Hall, the Warminster Librarian, was regretted, and those present wished him well.

The meeting concluded with delicious mince pies and other refreshments kindly provided by Mrs. Adie, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. West and Mrs. Dodge.

The Warminster History is now looking forward to the interesting programme that has been arranged for 1982.

Elsie Chant

The funeral of Elsie Agnus Chant was held at The Parish Church of St. Denys, The Minster, Warminster, on 26th October 1981. She was 71.

The Warminster & District Church magazine, December 1981, noted:

The death of Elsie Chant, only a few months after that of her husband Roy, brought much sadness to many of us. Elsie Chant had been identified with the Minster for very many years and at one stage was on the Parochial Church Council. Recently she had become a useful member of our choir and her cheerfulness was appreciated by all of us. We extend our sympathy to her children and grandchildren.

The Youth Happening

In the Warminster & District Church magazine, December 1981, Fred Woods wrote:

Christ Church, Warminster

The Youth Happening in half-term week was very enjoyable, and about thirty young people from the three Anglican churches in Warminster slogged through the mud and joined in games and worship together. They included some of our confirmation candidates. Those preparing for confirmation at Christ Church are Christina Bosley, Annette Crowe, Lara Gaskin, Steven and Julia Painter, and Giles Woodhouse. Please pray for them as they take on for themselves the joys and responsibilities of church membership.

Pam Banyard Led Mammoth “Knit In”

The Warminster & District Church magazine, December 1981, included:

St. Denys Church, The Minster, Warminster

Children’s Society. Under Pam Banyard’s leadership £318.55 has been raised as a result of a mammoth “knit in”. Congratulations to everybody who took part. Pam Banyard is pleased to receive the boxes, which should be opened now.

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