Southwater Local History Group - About Us
(Especially for those who are new to the Village)
20 years ago, when Lintot Square was scarcely finished and the Parish Council Office was in the old Scout Hut opposite the old Sports Club in Church Lane, a short series of evening classes was held in that hut, leading to the formation in July 2003 of the SLHG. The aim was to build an archive of information on all aspects of the village life, including the wealth of recollections of those who were born and brought up in Southwater, their family records and more general material, to be kept and built on for future generations.
So successful was was that project that three – yes, three – books have been published; Southwater A to Z a Miscellany, Winning the Clay – an illustrated history of brick-making in Southwater, and Southwater Victorians – Lives and Portraits. Although no longer in print, you can find copies in Southwater Library.
From “Iggy” the iguanodon onwards there have been artefacts – a neolithic flint arrowhead, Roman pottery, etc – and later written records of life in Southwater, so much has been documented by our researchers. Although records continue to be gathered – history doesn’t stand still and we continue to record the many changes Southwater sees – the focus is now more on providing a programme of excellent speakers for our monthly meetings covering a wide diversity of subjects.
The next two dates are detailed below but just some of the other subjects we’ll be featuring include Percy Bysshe Shelley, A Sussex Scrap Book (old Sussex pictures and stories), The Blue Idol at Coolham and Local History and Wildlife.
Speaking of changes, the Village Hall, where we hold our meetings, now has good parking and a brilliant eco-friendly heating system using the lat est ground heat source technology, so you’ll always be comfortable whatever the weather!
As well as what appears in this monthly column, you’ll find posters around the village giving details of each month’s topic. You are welcome to attend any talk as a visitor for £3.00, or take out membership for £18.00 – quite a bargain if you come to every meeting!
Monday 6th February 2023 – 7.30p.m. Speaker – Alex Sewell –
‘Sir Archibald McIndoe and the Guinea Pig Club’ The story of how airman badly burnt and injured in the war were helped back to normality again.
Monday March 6th 2023– 7.30p.m. Speaker – Ian Currie -
‘The Winter of 1963’ Ian also gives talks about the weather on local radio. Please do not attend if you have any Covid-19 symptoms
Contact Jeremy Senneck 01403 731247 for any further SLHG information.