Monday 30 August 2021

Some Maps of Eton Wick

 

Part of a large scale plan of Eton Wick
that was displayed at the 1977 The Story of a Village exhibition.

 
The exhibition that was held in August 1977 to raise funds to enable Dr Judith Hunter's to publish her book, The Story of a Village - Eton Wick 1277 to 1977 had several maps on display. Some of these maps that reveal the extent of the village development over the years have remained in the History Groups collection of documents.

Monday 23 August 2021

Tough Assignment - The Eton Wick Chapel in the Maidenhead Circuit.

The two services held each Sunday in the Eton Wick Chapel rarely figure in the records except when the change of time for the evening service was confirmed each spring and autumn. Circuit plans would have told us who was to preach there each Sunday and at the mid-week evening service (first mentioned in 1904), but unfortunately no early plans survive. We can be sure though  that most of the preachers came from outside the village, and mainly from Maidenhead where the Superintendent Minister resided.

Unlike incumbents of the Church of England, Primitive Methodist ministers rarely stay at any one place more than three years and share the conducting of services with other ministers and lay preachers. In spite of this there was no lack of fellowship nor contact between preachers and congregation. After all the preachers who came from outside the village had to make the journey on foot and often spent the whole day in the village being fed and looked after by chapel members. The five mile or more walk could seem a very long way to new preachers as Mr Lodge wrote with wry humour remembering his early days. Still feeling rather tired after walking from Maidenhead to Winkfield Row he was told by a lady there, 'You will never make a Methodist preacher; why William Evans comes six miles further than you and does not complain; a young man like you tired before you begin!'

Eton Wick did have one preacher of its own - John Lane. He was already accepted as a lay preacher by 1893 when the earliest of the surviving minute books begins. Another member of the Eton Wick Chapel had also become a preacher by this date, Frank Tarrant of Dorney. In 1893 he was away from the area working for the Evangelical Society. He came back for two weeks in the autumn of 1894 to take services at Cox Green and Eton Wick, but this was probably the last time for within a few years Frank Tarrant was to leave the Methodist Church for the Congregational. Soon afterwards he was ordained pastor of that church.

His conversion to Christianity had been one of Annie Tough's early successes and to the end of her life she was to remain proud of her protégée; she was delighted when he eventually became minister at Windsor. William Folley was also brought to Christ through the efforts of Mrs Tough though he belonged to the Maidenhead Church and not the Eton Wick Chapel; he was ordained in 1917 and soon after this he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Although she was busy in many roles, Mrs Tough was not yet a preacher, but in March 1901 she took the first step on the ladder by becoming an exhorter, a position that no longer exists, but which might be described as an apprentice preacher. She was on trial as an exhorter until the end of 1902 as were several others, all men, who came 'on the plan' at the same time. Annie Tough wasn't the first woman lay preacher in the Maidenhead Circuit, indeed the Maidenhead Chapel had been one of the first in the district to welcome them, but there were still very few. Francis (Frank) Paintin and S Baker from Eton Wick were also examined and accepted as exhorters in the early years of the century. Frank Paintin became a full local preacher in 1907 and, like Annie Tough, took services at Eton Wick as well as other chapels in the Circuit.

1924 Circuit Plan
Mrs tough was planned to preach at Eton Wick
in October at the Mothers Meeting.

Unlike incumbents of the Church of England, Primitive Methodist ministers rarely stay at any one place more than three years and share the conducting of services with other ministers and lay preachers. In spite of this there was no lack of fellowship nor contact between preachers and congregation. After all the preachers who came from outside the village had to make the journey on foot and often spent the whole day in the village being fed and looked after by chapel members. The five mile or more walk could seem a very long way to new preachers as Mr Lodge wrote with wry humour remembering his early days. Still feeling rather tired after walking from Maidenhead to Winkfield Row he was told by a lady there, 'You will never make a Methodist preacher; why William Evans comes six miles further than you and does not complain; a young man like you tired before you begin!'

Eton Wick did have one preacher of its own - John Lane. He was already accepted as a lay preacher by 1893 when the earliest of the surviving minute books begins. Another member of the Eton Wick Chapel had also become a preacher by this date, Frank Tarrant of Dorney. In 1893 he was away from the area working for the Evangelical Society. He came back for two weeks in the autumn of 1894 to take services at Cox Green and Eton Wick, but this was probably the last time for within a few years Frank Tarrant was to leave the Methodist Church for the Congregational. Soon afterwards he was ordained pastor of that church.

His conversion to Christianity had been one of Annie Tough's early successes and to the end of her life she was to remain proud of her prodigy; she was delighted when he eventually became minister at Windsor. William Folley was also brought to Christ through the efforts of Mrs Tough though he belonged to the Maidenhead Church and not the Eton Wick Chapel; he was ordained in 1917 and soon after this he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Although she was busy in many roles, Mrs Tough was not yet a preacher, but in March 1901 she took the first step on the ladder by becoming an exhorter, a position that no longer exists, but which might be described as an apprentice preacher. She was on trial as an exhorter until the end of 1902 as were several others, all men, who came 'on the plan' at the same time. Annie Tough wasn't the first woman lay preacher in the Maidenhead Circuit, indeed the Maidenhead Chapel had been one of the first in the district to welcome them, but there were still very few. Francis (Frank) Paintin and S Baker from Eton Wick were also examined and accepted as exhorters in the early years of the century. Frank Paintin became a full local preacher in 1907 and, like Annie Tough, took services at Eton Wick as well as other chapels in the Circuit.

Windsor and Eton Branch of the Women's Total Abstinence Union
tea party at Bell Farm 1904.

Mrs Tough also had her own way of conducting the campaign against the evils of drunkenness, a real problem in England before the First World War. She personally sought out those who found solace - and too much pleasure - in drink, and 'set herself prayerfully and earnestly to rescue them. In this she achieved remarkable success. She won many trophies, and was thrilled with joy at the transformation wrought in the homes and lives of her coverts'. Her biography in 'Christian Messenger' tells the story of one convert.

'There came to reside in the village an elderly man, named William Broad, of fine presence. He was addicted to intemperance, and the soul of many a convivial party on account of his sparkling repartee and mirth-provoking disposition. Our sister invited him, by note, to the chapel. He came a few times. To him it was a novelty to hear a woman pray, and it was afterwards known that he gave a boy a penny to tell him when our sister engaged in prayer, that he might listen outside to her supplications. Despite his bad habits, the Spirit of God laid hand on his heart. At his request Mrs Tough visited him and showed him the way to salvation and led him into the rest of faith. He was then sixty years of age. He at once became a total abstainer and non smoker, and opened his house for a weekly prayer meeting.

His boon companions soon understood the change was not only wonderful but real. True, his Christian life was uphill work owing to his deeply rooted habits and former associations, but he held on his way. Severe affliction attended his later days, and then the call came quite suddenly, and this brand plucked from the burning was safe at last'.

For the three years before his death, however, he allowed class meetings to be held in his house, and the cheerful room, blazing fire in winter and his own blunt and often witty speech helped to draw others to these prayer meetings who might not ever have set foot in the chapel.

In 1911 John Moore, Mrs Tough's father, died. He had been a tremendous support to her, moving to Eton Wick soon after her marriage. He was one of the chapel trustees and a benefactor in many ways, small and large. He was undoubtedly one of those men who liked to get involved and help run things - maybe it was from him that Annie took some of her inspiration - and he had time and sufficient money to do both. It was he that obtained the licence in 1895 so that marriages could take place at the chapel; his youngest daughter, Lilian, was the first bride ever to be married there. Two years later in 1913 John Lane also died. We know little of his strengths and influence, but he like Mrs Tough was a Primitive Methodist of long standing, an active member within the circuit as well as the chapel. He also was a trustee. The loss of the two men inevitably brought changes, which were no doubt increased by the advent of the First World War.

In June 1914 the circuit minutes report that a chapel committee is to be appointed to work with Mrs Tough, consisting of Mrs Lane, Mr Robinson and Frank Paintin.

How long the committee lasted isn't made clear, but it does seem that more and more the chapel revolved round Mrs Tough and more and more of her life was devoted to the chapel. As well as being trustee, society steward and organist, she now became the Sunday School Superintendent in place of John Lane. She had long been concerned with the Womens Meetings or Sisterhood as they were later known, and it is quite likely that she began these even before the chapel was built. She was the leader for many decades. The ladies met on a mid-week afternoon in the tiny schoolroom, bringing with them their sewing or knitting. The meeting opened with a hymn and then, while the ten or so members got on with their individual work, Mrs Tough read the week's instalment from a chosen Christian book. There were no speakers as today, but there was time before the end of the meeting for a cup of tea and a prayer.

There was much more to these meetings, however, than is implied in the above description, for it was through them and Annie's ability to understand other women's problems and to extend to them 'sympathy, tact, kindness and unbounded charity' that - in the words of the Rev Tolfree Parr - she 'won the hearts of the women and led many to Christ.' Was it this work that brought about the 'many recent conversions and the outpourings of grace' at Eton Wick which were reported in the circuit minutes of 1912. At no other time and for no other chapel in the circuit was there occasion to record such success. 

The Eton Wick History Group is most grateful for the kind permission given by the Eton Wick Methodist Chapel to republish this history, Tough Assignment on this website.

Monday 16 August 2021

World War 2 Eighty Years On - August 1941 - An Outbreak of Polio

An outbreak of Infantile Paralysis (Polio) in the district during August affected over eighty people in the Slough area with one case in Eton Wick. This outbreak prevented the village school from re-opening on the first day of the winter term.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

Note from Steven Denham - website manager.

This is just one paragraph from Round and About Eton Wick that I wish to add to. In 1956 I, along with my brothers, Prince Charles and Princess Anne were among a cohort of around 200,000 early recipients of the Salk Polio vaccine

Does any one who lived in Eton Wick in 1956 remember being given the Salk Polio vaccine?

The NHS at 70 page on the practice of health wales website states:

 


Polio: This incurable and deadly disease has also been eradicated from much of the world, including the UK. 

Polio is caused by a virus that destroys nerve cells. It was a disease that used to threaten millions of people worldwide. At its peak, more than 1,000 children across the world were paralysed by polio every single day. 

Those who contracted Polio were not only paralysed in their arms or legs, but also their breathing muscles, which put them at risk of suffocation. 

The only way to keep children with polio-induced respiratory problems alive was to put them in a giant metal machine, called an "iron lung", to help them breathe. Hospital wards with children in iron lungs were common just 50 years ago. You may remember such machines yourself. If not, chances are you will have relatives who do. 

Routine vaccination against polio with an inactivated virus began in 1956 and was later replaced in 1962 by the live attenuated oral polio vaccination, which was delivered on a sugar cube. 

Following the introduction of the vaccination, cases of polio fell dramatically with the last outbreak in the late 1970s and the last British case of polio infection in 1984. 




Monday 9 August 2021

Photographic History - Village Characters - The Sons of Albert and Florance Bond

The sons of Albert and Florance Bond taken in 1935. 

Albert started up the village greengrocery business with a donkey (and later a horse) and cart when he was about 14 years old in 1899. The family came to Eton Wick from Hazelmere, Bucks. Albert's brother Tom Bond also ran a Fruit and Vegetable growers and wholesale business in the Wick. They were also cousins of Roland Bond (Contractors). 

The brothers are , from left to right at the back: Frank and Albert Jnr., and the front Edward and Ernest (twins) and Alfred. There were also three older sisters, Edith ( married name Stacey), Eva and Nora (married name Bell). 

Albert (junior) continued the mobile side of the business and Frank joined the firm when they acquired the first of the village council-built shops in 1951. They subsequently added shops in Langley, Holyport and Eton. 

This article was first published in A Pictorial History of Eton Wick & Eton.

Monday 2 August 2021

Eton Wick History Group The Autumn 2021 Programme

Having had to postpone so many of the talks we had scheduled for 2020, due to the Covid Pandemic Restrictions, we are now delighted to announce that we will recommence engaging speakers from September; commencing on Wednesday, 8th September, with the welcome return of Josh Lovell with his talk on the Castle's Waterloo Chamber with special reference to the portraits which hang on its walls. In October and December we will be entertained by speakers who were postponed from last year. 

Dates and details are below: 

8th September 'Thomas Lawrence and the Waterloo Chamber with Mr Josh Lovell 

27th October 'Willie and Ettie :The Souls of Taplow Court' with Mr Nigel Smales 

8th December 'A Window on Windsor's Medieval Past' with Dr David Lewis 

Meetings are held at 7.30 pm in Eton Wick & Boveney Village Hall. The Entrance Fee is £2 which will include light refreshments if Covid Regulations permit. All are welcome. 

Visit our website: www.etonwickhistory.co.uk which has more than 350 articles which tell the story of the village from the Neolithic period to today. 

Perhaps, at this re-awakening of the History Group (and as it approaches its 30th anniversary year), it is appropriate to offer a reminder of how the group came to be formed: the late Frank Bond, former greengrocer and long-time resident of Eton Wick, was always the first to admit that things did not turn out as planned: the group was formed almost thirty years ago after Frank's enthusiasm for the community's past was fired by three factors: first, was his own natural curiosity; equally important was Frank's friendship with a local engineer, the late John Denham, who shared Frank's passion for the past; crucial, too, was the encouragement of a professional historian, the late Dr. Judith Hunter MBE who had written a history of the village.

By the beginning of the 1990s, Frank was newly retired and keen to bring together a small group of enthusiasts who were interested in recording aspects of past village life. The first meeting was held in the Village Hall on a wet November night in 1991. Frank recalled: "We expected to attract six or eight people." In fact, some 46 people turned up and "They didn't want to do research: they wanted to listen to speakers. 

Consequently, since the following year, 1992, the group has held over 200 meetings. Average attendance used to be around 50 but the number tends to fluctuate depending on the evening's topic — some loyal attendees come in from outside the village. In accordance with the wishes of the original committee, there are no rules, no regulations and there is no formal list of members; a small attendance fee (and often a raffle) helps to cover costs. The talks are wide ranging and not just about what happened in and around the village. 

The group has compiled albums of photographs which are occasionally displayed during certain events in the Village Hall; and at the turn of the Millennium the group packed the Village Hall with a very popular three-day exhibition of photographs and memorabilia celebrating the life and times of the village in years gone by; it has undertaken projects like the refurbishment of the Folly Bridge cattle pound, the purchase and installation of the commemorative plaque at the Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Oak tree, and the acquisition of an Oak, through the late Duke of Edinburgh, to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee; and the group collaborated in the design and descriptive data contained in the 'Walk and Cycle around historical Eton Wick' map and leaflet. 

When asked why the group had proved so popular, Frank Bond had replied: 

"The group allows the village to get together with a common interest in the community." 

Teresa Stanton 

Hon. Secretary Eton Wick History Group 


This article was first published in the August 2021 edition of the Eton Wick Newsletter - Our Village. It is reproduced here with the kind permission of the Eton Wick Hall Management Committee.