Bills Posts

Yesterday’s post contained some questions. I said that I would try and get into the library. Well, I did that. I have to confess, that I really didn’t expect to have any success, but as usual, it was a local history enthusiast that really save the day. All of today’s information is courtesy of Joan Russell’s pamphlet from 2004.

First off, I said that I wasn’t sure which bishop of Westminster was associated with Gosport, it was Godfrey De Lucy. Gosport is definitely a poor cousin to other towns, whilst it’s creation was called for in a charter, it is only be location. The Charter granted on the 25th of August 1204 said;

Profits which may reasonably be derived from the village newly built upon the harbour in the manor of Alverstoke

The village, not even by name. King John was attempting to mass his fleet for an invasion of Normandy – which didn’t happen. At the time, there was a manor in the area, the Manor of Alverstoke lorded over by Bishop Henry of Blois.

2004 was the 800th anniversary of the creation of Gosport, Joan Russell wrote her pamphlet as part of the celebrations. I’d really like to get a copy. It has an ISBN Number (0 9524650 5 1), so I should be able to get one, but I had a bit of trouble getting a good response to the search for the publication.

I shall try again.

The high street has a timeline built in to it down near the Halifax Bank (actually, I can’t remember which shop the time line is right next to – I will have to check that). The first line is 900 and something the first mention of Alverstoke and Rowner. I thought that the next entry 1204 The Bishop of Westminster creates the Manor of Gosport. I thought that would be a better subject for a vlog.

I have begun to research what happened in 1204. I have identified the Bishop of Westminster. There was more than one, due to death, I’m not sure which is the bishop I’m interested in. Amongst the questions I want to ask are why and for whom did he create the manor, and how did he do it by written decree or the spoken word? both are valid.

It appears that there are now searchable versions of of the Anglo-Saxon chronicles online. I have to learn how to use them. I hope they are in plain English. That may help me, but I think I also need to get in to the library. I’m hoping that they will have information there. I also have access to the multi-volume Oxford history of England and that says nothing about Gosport.

The conclusion must be that there will be very little if anything simply because Gosport just isn’t sufficiently important. I hate to say that, but I think that may be the case.

At the first opportunity I shall continue the research.

I think one of the sights this morning was a squirrel sat on the top of a telegraph pole. It must have had quite view from up there.

I was very curious as to what was going on at the cross streets. The manhole covers are being put in place. Not much else going on along the high street.

The cockle ponds look to be in a bit of a state. The pond weed is making the surface very scummy, not at all pleasant, and it really is invading the pond. The jellyfish are looking a bit sorry for themselves as well. I saw only about a half a dozen. But what I did see were lots of little creatures – which look like the shrimp-like beasties were there a couple of years ago. Looks like we may be in for a similar invasion this year.

Not much else’s going on.

I’ve done a little bit of research into The Manor of Gosport, formed I. 1204 by the Bishop of Westminster. So my first thought was to check my understanding of what is a Manor?

It’s not just a Manor House, the Manor of 1204 would encompass an area of land of a non-predetermined size and would include all of the people who live in the area, serfdom I guess.

It’s reasonable to ask for whom was The Manor of Gosport created, and who were they that justified this magnificent reward, and I have to confess that I don’t know, I haven’t found that out yet, and I may not find out.

The manor itself could be created through a document being issued, or simply word of mouth. I haven’t done anywhere enough research to determine how Gosport came about, or at least the manor.

The history of Gosport is a relative time line. What do I mean by that? The Manor of Gosport was created in the twelfth century by the then bishop of Winchester. Since the day of the creation, the town’s history has evolved.

The points in the towns history that stand in my mind are;

• The manor of Gosport is created
• The civil war
• The Palmerston forts
• Haslar hospital
• The Borough (G/A) or (A/G)
• Queen Victoria
• D-Day

There’s a level of detail to the above list. There could be more granularity, and I may have the dates wrong. But these are key points in history that deserve exploration.

What I should really be doing is what I would dearly love to do and that is to practice what I am really looking forward to doing in Dorset, getting my connection to the past. That involves researching learning practicing, committing to doing something.

Do you know? I think I may have a go.

Hotels are interesting places. They offer the same function, but each hotel is unique in its own way. This hotel is very nice. The food delicious, and the service superb.

I’m afraid I had some connection issues, which meant that I wasn’t able to do my blog for two nights. Now I could have written the two entries and then posted them today, but for the first time since I started I made a conscious decision that would take a break.

I am not giving up the blog, I am back to the daily post. I may take a longer break in the future. I’m heading for post 1095, that represents 3 years of postings. Of course it is not literally 3×365, because I’ve messed up where I lost days, but I will have done the posts.

I have a dear friend, let’s call him “Mark” we only get to meet 2 or three times a year, but every time we do, he likes to do a guest blog entry. I have been talking to him about my writings. He is suggesting that I might consider changing how I do the blog. Perhaps moving to a weekly post, with more research, a longer post with more detail. The idea kind of appeals to me.

Not yet though. Possibly not for quite a while possibly if ever. I’d want a clear schedule so know what I would be writing about and I do have an idea, but it does have a massive dependency.

I’ve barely been out this week. All last week I struggled to walk in the morning, going out I had a very sharp pain just below my left knee, and then towards the end of the week my left thigh started giving me problems, it was agony to lift my leg to tie my shoes. By the end of the week I’d had enough. I decided that I was going to have a resting week.

So, at the end of the resting week, the pain in my thigh seems to have gone, and I only get the occasional twinge below my knee, so once I get this weekend sorted, I will be out walking as normal.

Now, that will be good. As I am digging around for photos to use, and I know people are missing my morning Facebook posts, but this week I have been saving my self for this blog. I’v also today finished reading Real Dorset by Jon Woollcott. It’s been a delightful book to read, stuffed with information about different parts of the county, and written with that quiet humour which I love, making it a delight to read, and yet at the same time frustrating me, because that is the way I would love to be able to write. I know I need to have my own style, but there are things I would copy.

I liked the way Jon has clearly researched his topic, and I find that inspiring me to do the same about things I’ve see on my walk. So I am hoping next week to possibly try a couple of things out.so I am once again looking forward to being on the road, even if it is only three miles in the morning, and two at lunchtime – when I’m able to.

The last couple of nights, I have been writing about connecting with the past, and trying to get a sense of what that means. Over the last few weeks. I have been playing with the artificial intelligence tool chatGPT. It is rather good. What I like about it rather than a search engine, is that when you ask it a question it tried to give you an answer rather than just presenting you with a load of different websites.

Now what I will say is that I will never use chatGPT to write blog post where I don’t tell you I am doing that. Now you can believe me or not when I say that, I can’t prove it to you, but the thing is I know. To do that really would be cheating, so I will always tell you when I’ve used the tool. Like, for example tonight. I think this nicely follows on from the minor struggle I’ve had over the last couple of days. Tonight I asked chatGPT;

What do people mean when they say they are connecting with the past? This is it’s response;

When people say they are “connecting with the past,” they typically refer to a sense of engagement or resonance with historical events, people, cultures, or traditions from earlier times. It implies a desire to bridge the temporal gap and develop an understanding, appreciation, or emotional connection with aspects of history.

Here are a few common ways people may express connecting with the past:

1. Historical Knowledge: People might connect with the past by acquiring knowledge about historical events, individuals, or periods. They may study history books, research primary sources, visit museums, or engage in scholarly discussions to gain a deeper understanding of the past.
2. Cultural Exploration: Connecting with the past can involve exploring and immersing oneself in the cultural heritage of previous generations. This could include learning traditional crafts, participating in cultural festivals, or engaging in activities that preserve and celebrate historical customs.
3. Ancestral and Genealogical Connections: Many individuals feel a desire to connect with their own ancestral roots and understand their family history. This often involves researching family trees, visiting ancestral homelands, or discovering personal stories and traditions passed down through generations.
4. Emotional Resonance: Sometimes, connecting with the past is an emotional experience. It can involve feeling a deep sense of empathy, compassion, or identification with historical figures or events. This emotional connection can be sparked by personal experiences, shared values, or a sense of collective memory.
5. Preservation and Conservation: Engaging in activities related to historical preservation and conservation is another way people connect with the past. This can include restoring historic buildings, supporting archaeological excavations, or advocating for the protection of cultural heritage sites.

Overall, connecting with the past is a multi-faceted experience that can manifest in various forms, including intellectual pursuits, cultural engagement, personal introspection, or active involvement in preserving historical legacies. It helps individuals develop a sense of continuity, learn from the lessons of the past, and appreciate the diverse tapestry of human history.

R

Last night I wrote about it feeling good that there were people who could stand at an historically spot and wonder what does even mean to connect with the past?

I have to be honest, and say that obviously you can’t connect with the past. Especially as in this context I can’t define what connect means. Just as the lockdowns were starting to relax, I went on a RAYNET exercise, it was the New Forest Marathon. But it was being run on a site at Wimborne St Giles. As I was approaching my deployment site, I drove past what I didn’t know at the time was Knowlton Henge. The oddity of a Norman church built in the middle of a Neolithic site, how old I’m not sure, but probably at least four thousand years.

After the RAYNET event, I made a point of going back to the site. I parked up, and walked in to the site. Why was it amazing to be there? At the time, I didn’t know anything about it at all, but now, through the books I am reading about Dorset I seeing many references to the site. Knowing about it gives me a greater appreciation of the place, the time and the people. What little we can know about them at all.

I very much want to visit many parts of Dorset, to experience these places, to know something of the history, and through the history, the people. And I think that is my definition of connecting with the past.

The header picture doesn’t have anything to do with Neolithic times. But it is near Gosport’s Mott & Bailey. This is the site of the Apple Dumpling Bridge.

I wrote a post a while ago about my interest in Neolithic sites and asking how to connect with people who built Stone Henge or Avebury, but what does connect even mean? I have no idea, which means it’s a pointless objective.

There’s a YouTube channel called the prehistory guys. They’ve made a bunch of videos about various sites and aspects. I watched this one today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kylfkoharGA Revealing the secrets of a stone circle in Shropshire.

It’s last few minutes of this video, where the presenter is stood on top of Corndon Hill, apparently it’s an important place in Stone Age terms. He was as befuddled about his feelings as I sometimes get. I found that strangely comforting, that someone with their knowledge felt like that.