Category Archives: History

Community, History, Nearby, News

New labyrinth


My wife Lesley and l recently invited friends, family and neighbours to help us with the Dedication Ceremony (inauguration) of our new Chartres-inspired labyrinth, which has been two years in the making here at Chater Valley Farm, Pilton. The labyrinth is open to the public but we just ask that people wishing to walk it contact us beforehand in case we’re tied up with farm work. Here is a link to the Veriditas website telling you about labyrinths. https://veriditas.org/New-to-the-Labyrinth.

I trained as a Labyrinth Facilitator with Veriditas last year at Bedford University. Our labyrinth is a “medieval” design based on the famous labyrinth at Chartres cathedral in France. We were inspired to build it after reading the words of Danish philosopher and poet Soren Kierkegaard, who said: 

“Every human being comes to earth with sealed orders. However we need the tools to find our orders and decipher them. Many people find their way to the labyrinth in searching for their own special talents. The labyrinth is a transformational tool that can help people discover their sealed orders.”

The labyrinth and the meditative walks it offers is the final step in the offerings here ar Chater Valley, which include ‘Back to Nature’ Retreats, Equine Therapy, Biofield Tuning, Sound (& Gong) Therapy & Healing, and Wellness workshops.

So there are now two labyrinths in Rutland that we are aware of. The other one, known simply as The Old Maze, is of course in Wing itself and is one of only eight surviving turf labyrinths, and has existed for a couple of hundred years.

We shall occasionally be organising special hosted events such as combined SoundBaths and candlelit labyrinth walks. Email us if you’d like to know the dates.

Or if you’d prefer to walk the labyrinth alone or with friends please call us on 01780 720660 or 07768 466968.

Malcolm & Lesley Malcolm@chatervalley.com

Community, History, Nearby, News

Wing Parish and The Great War 1914 – 1918


From David Seviour 19/11/2018

During my research for ‘A History of Wing Village and Its Setting 1066 – 2018’ I noted the Church memorial plaque related to the installation of its clock to commemorate those residents killed during this great and terrible war. I made mention of this in the book and specifically mentioned the Rector’s Wife, Mrs Taverner and the commemoration of their son, Arthur Fred Taverner, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, who died as a result of wounds received in the Battle of the Somme. Arthur Taverner stood in Wing for the grief within thousands of communities at the loss of their young men between 1914 and 1918.

It was only later, after the book had been printed, that in a two hour conversation with Dorothy Buckby, that we touched on this same subject and she lent me a commemorative book produced by the Rutland Record Society in 1919. Few copies perhaps survive, but it sets out a comprehensive listing of those Rutland residents who served in the Great War.

It reveals that in 1911, Wing’s population stood at 297, comprising 142 males and 155 females, in 72 families. 66 males joined HM Forces representing 46.4 % of the male population. 9 were killed, representing 13.6% of those joining and 6.3% of the male population. Significantly, it also states that 14 were disabled, 9.8% of the male population and 21.2% of those joining the forces. There is a comprehensive list of all those who served and of those who died.

This same book also reveals some of the faces of those boys and men from Wing and surrounding villages who died, 19 year old Arthur Taverner is in the centre, and other names, Bagley, Baines and MacGregor, appear in other parts of the Village History.

wwi men

David Seviour 19/11/2018

Community, History, News

A History of Wing Village and Its Setting 1066 – 2018


From David Seviour:

Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered the book and thank you to everyone who braved the elements on Sunday morning to attend the presentation and in many cases also purchasing a copy of the book. I’ve now completed all the pre-ordered deliveries (bar one) and fundraising for the ‘Church Fabric Fund’ and the ‘Village Hall Trust Community Fund’ from this source as a book launch event has gone well. No doubt the Festival Committee will announce financial outcomes shortly.

Remember, if you have purchased the book you have my e-mail address on its end page and I welcome any constructive feedback on its contents or any useful and related further information.

Conversations.

I’ve had a number of interesting conversations since the event and will be following up with ‘A Wing Listed Buildings Directory’ hopefully by the end of November, as well as further opportunities to buy the history book.

After the presentation, I had one very brief conversation about my comments on there likely being a post mill on the Glaston Road from an early Medieval date despite local history references only confirming that from 1634. I referred to evidence that I had read after the book had gone to print, in relation to land transactions which cited a mill in Wenge by 1209. I didn’t catch the person’s name, but he suggested that this date was too early for Windmills in England and that the reference therefore likely referred to a watermill in the valley. After the conversation I did some further checking and the experts as at 2016 say that there is good evidence of windmills (‘Molendina ad ventum’) having been introduced into England as follows; Dunwich 1199, Willingham near Beccles in Suffolk 1202, Henham in Essex 1202, Leyton Buzzard 1212, and significantly Grimsby in Lincolnshire in 1201.

Best Wishes to you all

David Seviour

Community, Events, History, News, Theatre

Pantomime


Joy Everitt
Pantomime!

Hello

I am chairman of Arts for Rutland and wondered if you would be kind enough to pass this opportunity onto your contacts.

Calling all actors and crew! The Rutlanders Return is a newly written play about life in rural Rutland after the end of WW1. It is being professionally directed by Martin Berry, musically directed by Matt Marks and stage managed by Graham Ellstone. The play is being written by Andy Barrett from Nottingham and we need cast and crew.
The project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery, Oakham Town Council, Uppingham Town Council and Rutland WW1 committee. The material for the script has been researched by a group of local historians and is being transformed into a dramatic performance with music.
A great chance to learn from the professional team. Please come along to Oakham Scout Hut Grampian way Oakham on September 2nd at 11.30am or see A4R.org.uk for more information. Performances 25th to 28th October in Oakham, Uppingham, Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore and South Luffenham.
Contact joy.everitt@gmail.com for more details

Community, History, News

A History of Wing


From David Seviour:

You will almost certainly know that Wing Summer Festival is due to take place on Sunday 26th August which has a whole range of events and activities pulled together for your involvement and enjoyment by the local organising committee chaired by Sally Cox.

I’ve been writing and working on the production of ‘A History of Wing Village and Its Setting 1066 – 2018’, a development of the outline work I had produced for the Neighbourhood Plan Information Weekend held earlier in the year.

I am delighted to be able to tell you that this history will be available as a book on the 26th August. It runs to 20,500 words, 66 A4 pages, and carries 73 photographs, drawings and graphics, many related to old Parish Record photographs. The price is £15 per copy and all proceeds will go to the Wing Church fabric fund and the Village Hall community fund on an equally shared basis.

There will be 300 first edition copies available by the 26th August and sales can be pre-booked on a first come first served basis, with priority to Wing Parish residents. There will be no restriction on the number of copies (within reason) purchased by each resident so non-resident family members can be covered. Hopefully, they will make a great Christmas gift!

Pre-sale bookings can be made by either sending me an e-mailed request/order or dropping a request/order note through my post-box at Dove Cottage, Middle Street, Wing. Pre-sales will be booked in date order of receipt. Matching payments can either be made to me personally in advance or on the collection of the book, both will be receipted for record purposes.

I will be giving a talk and presentation on the work at 11am until 12 noon in the Village Hall on the 26th August at which first copies of the book can also be collected.

Histories of this kind never come to an end so if you have any comments or contributions to make after reading the book please feel free to let me have them.

A companion document, ‘Wing Village: A Walk Through History’, 14 A4 pages, 5,500 words with photographs, providing a guided walk will be made available on a similar basis but in PDF format later in the year.

The book is dedicated to Wing residents and I hope you enjoy the read.

Best Wishes

David