Visits - Trust Annual Report 1983
Led by Dr. Akerman, the Romsey and District Society arrived one November Saturday morning for a brief visit, starting with a walk around the Cathedral area conducted by our President. Under the guidance of Chairman Michael Carden and the Trust's architect, Keith Walker, the party then inspected progress on the St. John's Street houses before taking coffee in the Parish Hall, where the hospitality laid on was greatly appreciated. The new incumbent, the Rev. Teare, kindly opened up St. John's Church and, helped by Trust members, described the great task ahead in raising funds to preserve its fabric. Our guests' visit finished with a look at the exterior of the Upper Brook Street Heritage Centre, where the Trust's aspirations were described by Vice-Chairmen Antony Skinner and Hugh Watson.
On a hot July Saturday over twenty Trust members and their guests embarked at the Broadway for an all-day visit to Chichester. A great advantage of coach travel is the ability to see otherwise hidden views, and leaving through Winnall the massive chalk scars of the incipient Easton Lane M3 interchange were clearly visible.
Chichester was reached in sufficient time for a stroll to Pallant House and a leisurely lunch before meeting our hosts, The Chichester Society, outside the Cathedral. Here we rejoined our coach for a journey round the city and were able to appreciate some of the Society's anxieties, such as the Northgate granary, now beyond saving after years of blight and indecision. Back at the Cathedral we split into small groups, and were guided through the small lanes joining the quadrants and told about the areas in which the Society, led by its founder David Goodman, had been active. We then gathered at the delightful mediaeval Hospice of St. Mary, a hall and chapel built in 1269 which now houses eight small flats for elderly ladies.
The Assistant Matron described its fascinating history and we were each privileged to visit one of the two-roomed flats, sitting snugly under the great beams of the hall and separated from its neighbours by a wooden pallisade to ensure privacy. The building suffered bomb damage in the last war and the chapel window shattered; it is now dominated by a magnificent Christopher Webb stained glass figure in plain glass. We then walked to the City offices for tea and were delighted when the Mayor of Chichester, Mrs. Anne Scicluna, joined us and kindly allowed us to see the recently restored 18th century Council Chamber, the Mayor's Parlour and the Civic Plate: A splendid end to a most interesting day.