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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1962-07-25, Page 7s x 4 r 0 • r • w THE NEAR -DESERTED MAIN STREET, This is quite a contrast to Wingham, Ontario, on a Sun- day afternoon. It does show what a nice, peace - "THE SHIP INN" is one of Wingham's five pubs. It displays quite fur town Wingham, Kent is,—All photos by Ben• nicely the old and the new of England with a television aerial THE CHURCH QF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN (Ang- nett « Bryson. mounted on its old thatched roof. It is also a pleasant spot for Iican) is nearly 700 years old. It is the oldest quenching one's thirst after a tiring journey from the city, church in the area and contains its original 13th be Rittgliam abbantrZtuirg WINGIIA111, ONTARIO, 'WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 196Z < •a. �ill 4 'pion I miwtt PiedIfinlham, , EnglaniCharniin.g4 r u, J,1 orid ViIIagii By Paul LI. Bennett and Wiliian! Bryson It had been our intention since coning to England to make a "pilgrimage" to the Lown after which Wingham, Ontario, ties named. So finally, after seven *months in this country, we sum- moned on enough ambition in do so. ''i_ngllaln, in 'England's county of Kent, is six and a half mi1ns east of the old citified tal town of (.'an terbury, and about ten n1i1es north- west of Dover. We were quite pleasantly surprised to find it to be *one of the prettiest villages that we have yet seen, As we ,drove through .ve realized that this is a very old town. One of the first buildings we noticed was the only hotel, 'The Rent Lion, wliiell wns built ht 1286. Very near to this is an old house built in the same year l► for the residence of the Canon from St, Mary the Virgin Chtirch, which is across the street. 1.3th Century Churelt This church also dates back to the 13th century. We closely ex- amined the visitors' book but were ♦unable to locate the names of any- one from Wingham, Ontario, How- ever, there were a few from Wing. ham in New South Wales, Au s- tralia. Inside the church is a plaque w, ii h states that Kentish Dooms- day ''of 10861 records a church in "Wyngehant". The present church dates from between 1272 and 1377. In the floor of the church are the tombstones of some of the early «Canons and also that of John rte Sarostorie, rector of Wingham in 1271. 'while we were there the pre- sent rector was gond enough to show us around. He pointed out the 13th century choir seals which are still in weekly use, and the altar carving which was made in the 14th century and still has the original paint on it, The church is presently Undergoing reconditioning. 6 Has I+'ive Pubs This town, with a population of 1,500, has five pubs in it. Two of these were of particular interest rt ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE CHURCH is another lath century building. The "Old Canonry", the residence of the present Vicar, was, built in the year 1286,. the date recorded over its door. As with 'the other old buildings in the village, the Old Canonry shows very few signs of its age, other than its design, to us as they are of the thatched roof variety. Across the street from one of these pubs called "The Ship", is tate 17th century "Minstrel Tea Room". As it was close to the cus- tomary hour we decided to have our "spot of tea", This place is also quite unique with its low ceiling of exposed oak beams, and the large fireplace. After our tea -drinking ritual we Sawa row of what night be called semi-detached images, which wore built about the Faure period ss the tea room, It would seem that people in the 1600's were considerably sinalint than the!: Pipe ocr" as the doors aro only shoot 5' h" high These hrasa.studried doors greatly amused us and no doubt nur antics in trying to get a picture of one of them had the same effect on the local population. We did manage to locate a few new houses in one section of the town. The buildings seem to be in three distinct stages; the few built about 1287, the 17th century ones, and those built very recently. Th., - latter ones are off the main street and would not be notie, ed by any- one just driving through, Visit Resident On the advice of the local garage proprietor, we visited one of the town's oldest residents She is 88 - years -old Mrs. Louise Plumtre, who has lived in Wingham since 1803 when she moved there from Not- tongham, She is a very active old lady and was quite willing to help us in our inquiries. Even at hei age she is filling in as organist in the church until a regular one is found, In her possession is an old book called "Chronicles of Wing - ham", which was published in the 1890's, From it we learned that Roman baths were uncovered here in July 1881. This gives some idea of the length of time there has hccn a. settlement on the site of Wing - ham. IVIrs. Plumtre said that she hasn't seen much change in the town since she's been there, We gitite enjoyed our visit with this hospitable old Winghamite. We trust that the inhabitants of Wingham were not too pat out at being invaded for the day by two foot -loose Canadians. As this is not a so-called tourist town it is not a common sight for them to have curious people wandering about taking photographs. To sum up our impressions: this is a lovely, if slightly sleepy little English village,. Which is of par- ticular . interest ,to :anyone from Winghani, Ontario, and we would recommend a visit there by any.. one who has the opportunity. You won't be disappointed. Honours in Music Miss Gwendolyn Martin is to be congratulated on receiving honors in the recent Grade 'tr Harmony ex- aminations of the Royal Conserva- tory of Music. Congratulations are also extended to Miss Yvonne Connelly on ob- taining honors in Grade VIII (Sen- ior) singing examinations of the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music. .Both girls are pupils of Mrs. John McDougall of Blyth. century choir chairs. These chairs are stili in constant use today. The church register is com- plete back to the year 1588, 12 1.04) Lj ' ,' 1 t 'IT IS DIFFICULT to say whether this incredulous tourist is sur- prised to find that the "Red Lion Hotel" andpub was built in '1286 and is still standing, or that it is closed at three o'clock in the afternoon. COUPLE MARRIED AT UNITED CIIUREll 1 FORDWICH — A floor -length gown_of,nylon net and rose pattern.. ed Chantilly lace over bridal satin was worn by Ruth Elizabeth Hib- berd on Saturday afternoon when she became the bride of Robert James Campbell, of R. R. 1, Sea - forth. The sabrina neckline was trimmed with seed pearls and irri- deSe'ent sequins and the sleeves ekiirtes bo lily -points. Her elbow- length veil was trimmed with matching lace and held by a tiara of seed pearls and sequins She parried a cascade of American Beauty roses and stephanotis. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert 1=libberd, R. R. 1. Fordwich. she was given in marriage by her father. The groom's parents are Mr. and Mrs, Allan Campbell, of R. R. 1, Seaforth. Rev. J W. Hird. of Gorrie, per- formed the double -ring ceremony in Fordwich United Church, before a setting of candelabra, fern, bask- ets of white shasta daisies and shrimp gladioli Mrs. Ken Graham, of Fordwich, was organist and Miss Georgina Little, of Seaforth, sang "O Perfect Love" and "Wedding P'rayer." She was attended by her sister, Miss Glenna Hibberd, of Kitchen- er, Miss Clara Buchanan, of Wal- ton, and Mrs. Stan. Zurbrigg, of Gorrie, all gowned in aqua organza over taffeta. They carried cascades of white shasta, mums and pink carnations. Miss Sheila Campbell, sister of the groom, was flower girl, Her white nylon dress was worn over taffeta and she carried a nosegay of pink and white Pinocchio mums, Best man was Wayne Dalmage, of Seaforth, and the ushers were Ronald Campbell, brother of the groom, of Landon, and Ronald Hibberd, "brother of the bride, of Fordwich. The church parlor was used for the reception where the bride's table was centered with a three- tier (wedding cake.,Bouquets of shasta daisies decorted the tables. Guests from Walkerton, Toronto, Brantford, London, Monkton, Sea - forth, Walton, Listowel and Bel - more attended and were received by the bride's and the groom's par- ents at the reception. Mrs, Hibberd wore a French blue lace over taffeta sheath with matching jacket, white accessories and a corsage of pink and white mums, The groom's mother chose a beige lace over taffeta sheath with brown accessories. Her cor- sage was made up of yellow and HOW 00 THEY MANAGE TO GET IN? The - „loors on some of these 17th century houses are so low that it would be difficult for some of our large Canadian dogs to enter. ing to get in nowt -Mere s one try- THE WESTERN APPROACH coming into Winri- fham, Kent, England, from Canterbury. This peaceful village is about 65 miles east of London and a visit there makes a very pleasant. day's resting. Wingham, Ontario, was named after this English centre.—Bennett & Bryson photo. SINCE THE ENGLISH consume 460 million pounds of tea each year it is inevitable that one finds tea houses like "The Minstrel" in every town and village. And everyone has to drink his share, even displaced Canadians. 27 CUBS ATTEND HAVE BUSY TI_Mir AT WENT =F_ f CAMP BELGRAVE—Camp - Martyn, on Lake Huron, was the site for the Saugeen District Cub Cainp, where the Belgrave Cubs spent the week- end, Twenty-seven Cubs, Leader Mrs Ken Wheeler and assistants, Mrs. Harold Vincent and Mrs. Gor_ don McBurney attended. Cubs in Tent One -were Stephan 3+e*ir.', (,rant Vincent, Ronnie Tay- lor, '1'nm Black, Keith Black, Da- ;.g c_i hell: Tent Two, George jahnstoo, Rirharw:l Anderson, Neil Vincent, Gordon Rinn, Raprnond VanCaralp; Tent Thiee, Brian Ja- mieson, Jiin Beecroft, Larry Neth. ery, Billy Fear, Gary McSween; Tent Four, Harvey Black, Brian Black, George Cook, Rodney White, Rickey O'Neil, Paul O'Neil; Tent white mums. For the wedding trip Mrs Camp- bell wore a two-piece aqua linen sheath with white accessories and a corsage of red roses They will live at R. R. 1, aeaforth. The bride as agraduate of Strat- ford Teachers' College. VENiTEER IIELP WORKS IN PARK BELGRAE'E-...The new Morris Federation Park is off to a good start. Situated on the banks of the -Maitland R; -e1 at the bridge on Hie .lilt line of TTerris_ it n'°" has lets of sand f;+,the wee ones to play 10, $nr'd s,eimeeleg fr.t. p;wpry age erntru. a barheette and four pie. fables `T hp park i; suon'ored by the itlnrria Federation of Agriculture. whose members held two work bees to prevare the site T.1.1. deed fe the i_alrl i.w55 gic'eri h)' Bcdmin Ltd Sand was donated by Cler Price Twill and trueked by Mel Jermyn, Material for the tables was purchased by the Federation and Jesse 'Wheeler assembled them as itis donation Aber•becucr 'arcs donated by Hobert Procter and further donations of labor, nates'- lel ne financial ,aid will be greatly appretie le l plrc Ptirkirr and three datit. hters, of *Montreal. spent the week -end with their aunt, Mrs Ft. l Mowbray, a nni IMMr, Mowbray, vra'hray, Min- rile ,Street, Five, Clayton Bosman. Donald Ros- man, David Bosman. Owen Far. Gary Barbour. Friday evening. after tents tiV>*.- put up it rained so hard the Cubs all slept en the floor of the 'dining hall. Saturday morning they hik_ i on the nature trail through tib Provincial Park and saw a displav of area history at the new muSeun'. Afternoon swimming was enjoyed. Saturday evening races were held with the following results, 8.yerrs old, first, Gary Barbour, second Grant Vincent; 9 years old firs. Clayton Bosman, tied for secon . Owen Fear and Jim BF.iaeroft ? "� years old, first, Billy Fear. cpc'C?r; Richard Anderson; 11 .ears oil .first, Gary McSv'een. seeond ald Bosman. Kicking shoe farthest r'_,,,, O'Neil; finding shoe and putting ar. first, Rickey O'Neil. second, Ste- phan Fear; pony race_ first, xsv 4 anCamp and Larry Nethery. sea. ond, Gary McSweerh and Geom..- Johnston; eor,.•rJohnston; lucky s p o t, Georg- Johnston and George Cook; s'a'k race, first, Donald Bosman. se.• and, Harvey Black: 'vheelbarro,�• race, first, David O'Neil end r tri MeS`.=ween, second. Gaorge ^ne,i and Larry Nethery. A ball game was held till dsr:, with David Bosntan•5 tear( winning over David O'Neil's team. Camp fire and a wiener roast followed Church parade was held Sunday morning at Tivertcr anal sca' swimming '-•as srri;,,, ad later had turns setting is"! -s easesire dishes s -'eepin;; fluor. -t.' _ .. menu of homemade ste.", vast?rv,:i fruit and cookies. clrng.r.irh ..+ matoes, rrntatcP8, (work watermelon plentyo f bread, n + , eggs was quite edelneie. 1+ a hits-, time fur t;15.- 0:1P111, lit laua.�.ry wn•. th;arrlr the 'r the trp.0sttir'rtatir,n Phare c'!0 ..a nn meeting until Tilos'"v. S•. • 4th et 7.45 in the e..Dr oinni:'v Centre Closing, Program Will Be Friday BELGRA'i'E—The N•g;at;` :: .:'•.. School is into its seearel an enrolment of 1.09 Pr.! ,3 • ra a. attendance of 114 cin :t'r+a.=.v there will be a Closing i "c.g"an' i be held in Knox United. . .thur.eb viewing of the workbooks 9. '4 crafts to be at eight .0.. I e k and. the plogranr to begirt :,Ii tip at S 7. in the auditorium of tine •:titin; 1'. Parents and friend.. psi, rtiu:;t , rlially invited to attend :ln,l what the children have made at the schnnl.