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<DIV><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003>A Willis</SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003>The Salisbury Journal covered a wide area, but=
the=20
Isle of Wight was not included in its remit. If you have ever looked=
at=20
an 18th century newspaper you will realise that 'local' news occupied a v=
ery=20
small amout of space; IIRC only about 1/3 of a column for this=20
edition.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<OL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=3Da>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they know there were eight bells at Ro=
msey=20
and Carisbrooke ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dove=
=92s Guide=20
first edition appeared in 1950.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
=20
</SPAN>The price of the few newspapers that might mention Romsey=92s ne=
w bells=20
was very high due to Newspaper Stamp Tax.</FONT> <BR><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] </FONT></SPAN=
><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>Maybe, but newspapers were bo=
ught by a=20
few, and read by many. The bells probably travelled by sea to=20
Christchurch and up the Avon navigation to Romsey, and would have been =
the=20
subject of considerable gossip. Don't underestimate the local gra=
pe=20
vine, and people writing letters to friends. No doubt there was a=
lso=20
something in the London papers. 'Mr Mears is pleased to announce a=
new=20
ring of eight bells for Rumsey, Hants ...'</FONT></SPAN></LI></OL>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did peal bands time their performances in th=
e=20
18<SUP>th</SUP> century ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=
The=20
price of a pocket watch was far beyond the means of a working man.</FONT>=
=20
<BR><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] The =
incumbent=20
may have had one.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003> </SPAN></DIV>
<OL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=3Da>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they communicate with the local ringer=
s, or=20
with the incumbent ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How=
did=20
they obtain the address ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPA=
N>The=20
Penny Post dates from <st1:date Year=3D"1840" Day=3D"10"=20
Month=3D"1">10<SUP>th</SUP> January 1840</st1:date>.</FONT> <BR><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] There was a p=
retty=20
efficient postal system wll before the before the penny post, whos=
e=20
main achievement was that the sender, rather than the recipient=20
paid. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Could they read and write ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Date of the Elementary Educat=
ion Act=20
is <st1:date Year=3D"1870" Day=3D"9" Month=3D"8">9<SUP>th</SUP> August=
=20
1870</st1:date>.</FONT> <BR><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=
=3D2>[A=20
Willis] They could probably read, but they may not have been able=
to=20
write. The latter was an entirely separate art, and was not taugh=
t=20
simultaneously with reading, as it is today. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Could they afford to buy writing paper ?<SPAN=
=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Was it not very expensive ?<S=
PAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Letters at that time were wri=
tten on=20
both sides, then round both edges, and finally diagonally on any spaces=
=20
left.</FONT> <BR><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A=20
Willis] That was to save money on postage. Usually the recip=
ient=20
paid according to the number of sheets received. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they travel to Romsey ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By very expensive Stage Coach=
?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These were slow and unsprung,=
until=20
the invention of the elliptical spring in 1804.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Where did they find the coach=
=20
timetable ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(The first t=
rain=20
from Nine Elms to Hampshire (Southampton) departed on 11<SUP>th</SUP> M=
ay=20
1840.)</FONT> <BR><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A=20
Willis] Coach timetables were well publicised, I believe at the=20
appropriate London Inn from which they departed, not to mention in the=
=20
papers.</FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">What route was followed from=20
<st1:City><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:City> ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Only a few Turnpike Roads cro=
ssed=20
Hampshire then, and the surfaces were so bad that maximum coach speed w=
as 10=20
m.p.h.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was 1815 befor=
e John=20
Mc Adam introduced improved road surfaces.</FONT> <BR><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] They may =
;have=20
gone by sea to Christchurch. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Where did they stay overnight ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Could they afford a Coaching=
=20
Inn.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Which one was it ?<=
SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How could you book for eight =
in=20
advance ?</FONT> <BR><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A=
=20
Willis] Yes, you could write ahead. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they travel onwards to a port ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:place>Southampton</st1:p=
lace>=20
or <st1:City><st1:place>Portsmouth</st1:place></st1:City> ?</FONT> <BR>=
<SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] might have be=
en=20
Lymington. </FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they sail to the <st1:place>Isle of=20
Wight</st1:place> ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How,=
in=20
<st1:City><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:City>, would they know det=
ails=20
and times of passenger carrying boats ?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Isle of Wight Steam Packe=
t=20
Company was not formed until 1826.</FONT> <BR><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] I would=
be very=20
surprised if there was not a well advertised ferry service (wind permit=
ting)=20
to and from the Island from the days of coracles.</FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">How did they travel to=20
<st1:City><st1:place>Newport</st1:place></st1:City> and Carisbrooke ?<S=
PAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The railway only reached=20
<st1:City><st1:place>Newport</st1:place></st1:City> on <st1:date Year=
=3D"1862"=20
Day=3D"16" Month=3D"6">16<SUP>th</SUP> June 1862</st1:date>.</FONT> <BR=
><SPAN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003><FONT size=3D2>[A Willis] They may have=
=20
walked. In the first years of the 20th century the Bath ringers u=
sed=20
to walk the 8 miles along the Kennet and Avon Canal to Bradford, r=
ing a=20
peal and walk home again as an Easter Monday occupation.</FONT></SPAN>
<LI class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list=
.5in"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">They probably arrived late at Carisbrooke, aft=
er a=20
slow journey.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How did th=
ey ring=20
in the dark evening ?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ho=
w did=20
any ringers practice at the end of a long, working day on dark evenings=
=20
?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Churches were not lit =
by gas=20
until late 19<SUP>th</SUP> century.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&n=
bsp;=20
</SPAN>Street gas lighting first appeared in <st1:place>Pall=20
Mall</st1:place> during 1807.<BR></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SP=
AN=20
class=3D294342519-14112003>[A Willis] Our ringing chamber was lit =
by a=20
lanthorn with 4 candles in it, before the gas arrived in 1887. If=
you=20
are used to a low level of lighting, then it probably wouldn't bother=20
you. Anyway, ringers are supposed to listen!</SPAN></FONT></LI></=
OL>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003>I think you are se=
verely=20
underestimating the degree of 'civilisation' of 18th century life. =
Try=20
some reading. Parson Woodford's Diary shows how much people=20
travelled. Woodford himself though nothing of journeys between Cast=
le=20
Cary, Oxford, London and Norwich. You will also get a good idea of =
just=20
how much in touch with the world a person could be, if they cared to be=20
so. Jane Austen's novels, though written in Regency times do reflec=
t a=20
late 18th century way of life. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003></SPAN></FONT>&nbs=
p;</DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003>I think your retir=
ement=20
should be very full of interest. Enjoy yourself. =20
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003></SPAN></FONT>&nbs=
p;</DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003>Anne=20
Willis</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .=
5in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D294342519-14112003> =
=20
</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>