Archive
The Wymering Manor Plays 2016
Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st April, 2016
Performance times: 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Wymering Manor has been at the heart of stories and legends of Portsmouth for generations, here is a chance to listen to four stories that reflect the diversity of those who have lived in this important historical gem hidden away in the North of Portsmouth.
Written by Stuart Olesker and John Stanton (‘War Games’ at The Mary Rose Museum, ‘A Kind of Conjuration’ at Square Tower and ‘Ill Wind’ at Round Tower), the four playlets draw you deep into the house and its history. From a candlelit entrance of a medieval legend we move through time; reflecting the changing social tapestry of those who have worked and lived in the house.
As you make your way upstairs the candlelit promenade reveals some of the important visitors who have visited the house and then finally a nod to the pressures of those living in a house throughout a time of turmoil and religious persecution.
Due to the nature of this theatrical piece places are limited to 15 persons as you tour around the house and therefore we advise booking your tickets in advance. All profits from the performances go to The Wymering Manor Trust towards the upkeep and maintenance of the building.
Don’t miss this fascinating glimpse into another world as the doors of Wymering Manor are opened and the tales are ready to be told.
This promenade theatre piece will last approximately 1 hour and offers a unique perspective to the location after dark.
Please note there are stairs and uneven surfaces in low level lights. Suitable for 12 years and up when accompanied by an adult.
REMEMBER WHEN
The day a Sherman tank destroyed lads’ football
Eddy Amey has met many evacuees, but has never heard of anyone who was despatched to Newport the Isle of Wight He says: I wonder how many other children were evacuated there? He was a pupil at St Luke’s infants in 1909, but was returned to Portsmouth when his family was rehoused from a slum house in Hampton Street, Southsea, to Washbrook Road in the newly built ”Garden Village“ of Wymering council estate [illegible].
They lived there until 1950 and that period has stirred memories for Eddy of St Michael’s Grove, Fareham. He remembers many households keeping chickens and rabbits and growing vegetables to top up rations, while next door but one even kept a goat in the back garden.
On Sunday mornings entrepreneurs with tradesmen’s cycles would comes around hawking cockles, winkles and watercress [illegible]. On Sunday afternoons we were sent to Sunday School at Wymering Church. We would escape as soon as we had a star stamped on our attendance card.
“Once a fortnight you had a short back and sides haircut. You joined a queue at the side of a house in Washbrook Road where an elderly man set up shop in his shed with two benches for those waiting and a barstool for barbering 6d (2.5p) for men and 3d (1p) for boys.
Eddy recalls that a man in Lowestoft Road would put on films for youngsters. “There were three benches in the sitting room for about 20 kids and an hour of silent black and white films.
In the summer Eddy remembers grass sledging down Portsdown Hill and playing lamppost cricket and football. He adds ‘Our football was curtailed for some time when a Sherman tank in a convoy ran over the only proper football we had. All this was against a background of air raids and austerity and going to and from the tunnel shelters in the chalkpit or the Anderson shelter in the garden
When the Americans arrived they annexed the school and housed a coloured regiment there because the American army was segregated at that time.
The top picture shows a garden party at Wymering manor, probably between the wars.
FOW News
Newsletter of the Friends of old wymering AUGUST 2006
WE’VE DONE IT! but this is just the start…
HELP! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
If you have some spare time and would like to be involved in the future of Wymering Manor, we need your help!
We are planning annual community events as well as a special education scheme for children so we need people who can act as volunteer guides and others to help in organising events for local people. We also need a Volunteer with computer experience (Microsoft Office) to help with our membership and information services.
If you can spare some time and have an interest in the future of this wonderful building we would
love to hear from you.
VISIT:
See Joan & David Fryer at the Open Days
PHONE:
John Goodall (Chairman) XXXXXXX
WRITE:
FOW-Volunteers, 305a Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, PO1 BPD
E-MAIL:
XXXXXXXXXX
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR!
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
JUST THE START
Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Old Wymering together with the Portsmouth Society and the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust, a new sustainable future has been secured for Wymering Manor.
Following a detailed presentation to Portsmouth City Council, the Leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, approved the proposal for a comprehensive restoration to create a venue for functions, community events and exclusive hotel accommodation.
Specialist craftsmen are now being brought in to deal with the urgent structural repairs to parts of the historic timber framing of the building which is recorded in the Domesday Book.
Once the structure is secure, internal works can begin on decoration and furnishings to create a unique venue for wedding receptions and other special celebrations.
Lavishly furnished period bedrooms, with sumptuous en-suite bathrooms, will add to the occasion.
A great part of the success of the proposal can be attributed to the tremendous support of almost 3,000 people who visited the Manor on special Open Days. Thank You!
Who’s Who
Joan and David Fryer (above) became great campaigners for Wymering Manor
when its future became uncertain. Joan is the Secretary while David is Treasurer.
FOW Chairman, John Goodall, (left), has had an interest in historic buildings for over 30 years taking a keen interest in preservation and restoration. John also heads the newly formed history group.
Tracey Jones (above) is one of our FOW guides and used to work at Wymering Manor when it was a youth hostel.
VOLUNTEER MEETING
If you would like to take a more active role in the Friends of Old Wymering, why not come along to our first Volunteers Meeting which is to be held at Wymering Manor.
Thursday August 17th 6.30pm
KIDS ARE WINNERS TOO!
During the next two years, while restoration work goes on at Wymering Manor, there will be a great chance for children at local schools to visit and find out more about the history of this fascinating building.
The Friends of Old Wymering are hoping that volunteer teachers will come forward to help prepare educational project packs for children of all ages. If you can help, why not come along to the Open Day or contact Celia Clark.
THUMBS UP FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE
English Heritage were responsible for the uplift of Wymering Manor to a Grade Listed Building. This places the house in the top 10% of the most important histone buildings in the country English Heritage have given their support to the proposal for the Manor to be used as a Hotel and function venue. Before that can happen, there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done. Urgent repairs to the original timber framing have now been approved and a schedule of essential work is being prepared in conjunction with the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust.
CO-OPERATION FOR RESTORATION
Architect Richard Vickery of RBA at Gunwharf Quays is now preparing full plans in consultation with English Heritage and the head of Portsmouth City Council’s Conservation Team, John P. A group of experienced traditional craftsmen have been gathered ogether for this unique project with works expected to start in October this year. Look out for the dates of Open Days and you be able to see how the work is progressing.
WYMERING MANOR
OPEN DAYS
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AUG 12 & 13
10AM-4PM Refreshments available ADMISSION FREE (SUGGESTED VOLUNTARY DONATION TO FOW OF £2 PER PERSON).
CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
GUIDED TOURS SUBJECT TO LIMITED NUMBERS EACH DAY.
Arranged by the Friends of
Old Wymering
DID YOU KNOW?
Here are some of the facts about the history of Wymering Manor.
…Wymering Manor was once near the shore of Paulsgrove Lake.
…William Maldwith lived at Wymering Manor at the time of “The Great Survey” or “Domesday Book” in 1086.
…Peter de Cosham and Fulco de Wymering once held the lands in return for military service at Portchester Castle.
Wymering Manor is closely associated with the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Holders of the Manor had the church built in 1180 and added the south aisle and Lady Chapel in 1260.
…There are two Priest hiding holes at Wymering Manor, built after the dissolution of the monastries. Secret staircases once led to a private chapel in the attic.
…Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands, a friend of Queen Victoria, stayed at the house during her visit to England in 1865. As a result, one of the principal bedrooms is now known as the Queen’s Room.
…Wymering Manor was visited by Queen Mary in 1929 after she had visited her husband King George V at Bognor where he was convalescing. She had afternoon tea with members of the Knowlys Parr family and shocked everyone by smoking a cigarette!