East Tisted, the Station 2004

Maxwells of Selborne

The brother of my 5xgt grandfather William Maxwell, was Thomas Maxwell, born in Harting in 1754. Thomas and Elizabeth's son Henry Maxwell, born 1807 in Harting, was by the census of 1841 living in Selborne with his wife Jane and two sons, Henry Thomas Maxwell and George Alfred Maxwell and daughter Emma Jane. Henry was listed as a Grocer and Draper and this business continued into the 1900s, run by his son Henry. Henry Thomas marries Jane Maria Waterman in 1861 and they have three children, George, William and Kate. His sister Emma Jane marries John Waterman in 1868, perhaps a brother of Jane Maria... The last Maxwell in the village, I think, was Henry George Selborne Maxwell, son of George, who lived to a ripe old age of 97! In the introduction to Gilbert White's book 'The Natural History & Antiquities Of Selborne & A Garden Kalendar', the editor Richard Bowdler Sharpe writes - "Mr Henry Maxwell of Selborne, who has helped me so much in the elucidation of the history of the village ...". He goes on to mention Henry Maxwell's memory of carts running through Selborne. He receives a second mention towards the end of the Introduction "...especially Mr Henry Maxwell whose assistance will be more fully acknowledged in the course of a more detailed work which I have in preparation". I hope my research is correct and as I have just discovered my family's connection with Selborne, I would love to read any other memories of the Maxwells of Selborne... I can't wait to visit!

Selborne

We lived on the outskirts of selborne, my parents and three brothers and sister, at Lower Noar Hill Farm and Homestead Farm. My great-grandparents, grandparents and parents farmed the land between Selborne Common and Noar Hill for more than 70 years. Before us it was the Ganders, who later emigrated to Canada for health reasons. My other grandparents lived in Goslings Croft in the village.

My father was secretary of the Selborne Cricket Club for more than 20 years and actively involved in the youth club and parish council. My grandparents delivered milk by horse and cart to the villagers in the 40s and 50s. In our time there was the greengrocers owned by Grace and Roy Hayward, and of course Bubbles in the middle of the village. Mr Gallop was the butcher and in the early days there was I believe also a 'supermarket' in what became in my days the antique shop near the Plestor. I opened my first PO savings account in the PO (and bookshop) opposite the Queens Hotel.

As children we had the run of all the area, Noar Hill common; Selborne Common, the village, and had enormous fun on the zig-zag, the Big Slide (for those who know), the bottle dump, the river etc. What bliss which today probably doesn't exist for children of today with parents afraid of everything.

Most of my deceased family are buried in the churchyard at St Marys, great grandparents, grandparents (maternal and paternal), uncle (Waller, Buddin, Sargent).

This was my School!

I went to school here from about 1971 when I had just turned 6 until the age of 11 when I was sent off to the Amery Hill Secondary, in nearby Alton.

The school house and St. Andrews Church played a huge part in my life back then as I was also in the Church Choir, Brownies & later the Girl Guides lead by Miss Jennifer Lines - who I adored. I was one of two girls to get sick with Scarlet Fever at this school and there was a big hush up so as not to panic the "simpleton villagers" as the Doctor put it. Charming! I then got Coxsackie Virus and I was off school for a long time that year and it was touch & go for a while. Prayers were said in Church and obviously they must have worked! :)

I hated my school days as the bullying was terrible - all the way through unfortunately, mainly by the same group of girls whom I will refrain from mentioning here, but may justice be upon their heads! My favourite teachers were Miss Hobbs and Mr. Dyson. The Head at the time was a Mr. Benson. I remember the kindness of the Chief cook - Mrs. Worcester (I have paid my respects at the Cemetery), teachers Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Westlake, Miss Pearce and the very awful Miss Shaw, who eventually found someone to marry her. That woman picked on me without mercy - big mistake! Dinner Ladies were Mrs. Bird & Mrs. Richards who hijacked the Brownies and took over at some point, God love 'em!

My family lived further out towards Fourmarks, in Station Rd, which then became Lymington Bottom Rd. We lived in a huge house called San Diego which became Vine Cottage after 1980. My father was the local plumber/builder, Peter Tayman and my Mother was Elizabeth. I had a brother called David. I was known as Kate back then.

My parents passed away tragically quite young and I am now living near Oz. I had a good career running my own business as a Mortician/Undertaker and retired early due to ill health. I am now a Parapsychologist & writer, living alone on an Island offshore Queensland with far too many pets and a yacht I never sail. I was married for 23 years with no surviving children and am on my 3rd engagement! Blessed be to any other schoolies who attended Medstead School...:)