Aldbourne Archive

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Three American army veterans that were based in the Kennet Valley during WWII. Jack Agnew centre. The other two gents are Earl McClung and Paul Rogers. I think Paul Rogers is on the right.
1906 photo showing stalls and the crowd gathered for Aldbourne Feast
Yellow pinbadge with black writing saying I like Aldbourne Carnival with a black outline of a Little Grebe otherwise known as a Dabchick. Dabchick is the nick-name for a native of Aldbourne and the bird appears as a logo for the village magazine of the same name and the Aldbourne Band.
Poster for the Flora and Fauna summer quiz which will take place for Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July. Prize is a Family Day out at Bowood Park. Pick up Quiz sheets at the Heritage Centre from 10am on Saturday 18th and return them by 5pm on Sunday 19th July. Entry is free but donations are welcome.
Photo shows the cover of a booklet entitled Aldbourne's Awakening a memoir of Aldbourne in 1944 by David Kenyon Webster author of Parachute Infantry and one of the Band of Brothers. The emblems of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Kenyon's sketch of the Aldbourne village pond with the church in the background also features.
A memorial stone to all service personnel stationed in Aldbourne, with poppy wreath, next to an apple tree dedicated to Cecil Newton commemorating all from the village who fought in the Second World War. The photo is taken in the evening with long shadows giving way to sunshine, houses and hills in the distance.
the picture shows the edge of the village pond in Aldbourne with yellow iris just starting to emerge
Bee on a dandelion in the sunshine
Three trees by the bus shelter in Aldbourne. Two are pink horsechestnuts and the middle one is in full green leaf. St Michael's church can be seen in the distance and the thatched bus shelter and village pump in the foreground.
A slide projected onto a wall, having been found in a box from the late Maureen Albright - Aldbourne Photographic Club. The photo shows a gathering on Aldbourne village green in 1974 with speakers standing on the market cross and flags flying
Studland Bay memorial for the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards who died during Exercise Smash 1 on 4th April 1944. Photo 2025. The Memorial is polished black with gold lettering mounted on stone. Poppy wreaths have been laid and there are boats on the sea in the background. The names of the fallen are Lieutenant Charles Robert Gould (C Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards), Sergeant Victor Hartley (C Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards), Corporal Arthur Jackson Park (C Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards), Corporal Victor Noel Townson (B Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards), Trooper Albert Victor Kirby (C Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards), Trooper Earnest Granville Petty (C Squadron, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards)
Pink cherry blossom on a tree by the Aldbourne village pond. St Michael's Church is in the background and in front is a banner showing that the Aldbourne Heritage Centre is now open at weekends. Operated by volunteers so if making a long or special journey please contact the centre to check it will be open https://aldbourneheritage.org.uk/
Photo shows three books. Ramsbury Then and Now by Barbara Croucher. All for the Empire by Roger Trayhurn and Mark Child. Holy Wells of Cornwall by A Lane-Davies, Federation of Old Cornwall Studies
The picture shows tiny bubbles of prunus blossom with the Aldbourne watercourse, brook or bourne along South Street.
Marlborough Times 1860. Source British Newspaper Archive. Advert reads "BROTHER FARMERS Wheeler's Pastry Powder is used at North Farm, making bread, which it greatly improves, both for lightness and whiteness. Valuable testimonial from Eton College: Wheeler's Pastry Powder has been well tested in the kitchen, and found to answer admirably"
Etched copper plates with a business card from R J Gallimore, Printing and Stationery, address 120 London Road, Marlborough. Five digitally enhanced photos showing Aldbourne from Baden Hill, West Street, the Pond, the Square and The Butts.
The image shows copper etched Aldbourne village scenes mounted on solid wood blocks. They are very detailed. The artist was Ann Sullivan who lived in the village during the 1970s and 1980s. The photo also shows a business card for R J Gallimore printing and stationery 120 London Road Marlborough.
Looking back towards Aldbourne village from Four Barrows showing the beech and hawthorn trees on the track with hills in the distance and cloudy skies
Gravestone in St Michael's Churchyard Aldbourne. Inscription reads Peace in loving memory of Mary Jane Walker who departed this life 12 Feb 1937 aged 78 years. Also of her husband William Henry Walker the last of a long line of dew pond makers who died 31 July 1941 aged 77 years. Reunited
Photo dated 1885, with ten men and two boys all in uniform with peaked military style caps and at least one man with stripes on his sleeve. Instruments range from a large drum, trombone, and cornets.
The grave of John and Emily Veitch in Aldbourne churchyard shows an anchor on the cross
Aldbourne village pond in sepia tint with Pond House the Crown Inn and St Michael's Church. There is a gathering near the bench in the square where village worthies have long rested to chat and to put the world to rights.
Photo includes a poppy wreath labelled VJ 80 which was placed on the Aldbourne Memorial Hall at the commemoration also an arrangement of yellow flowers laid in tribute for a father who served in the Burma campaign. Other photos show the names of those who died in the Second World War remembered on the Aldbourne Memorial Hall and the chalkboard giving notice of the Two Minute Silence that was placed by the hall committee to alert passers by during the days leading up to VJ Day. Our vicar and two representatives from the village who gave readings are shown during the service with the wreath and flowers in position.
Football field Farm Lane Aldbourne. Site of the American Army Camp during the second World War. The Pitch with goalposts and houses in the distance are framed by haw berries and green leaves.
A banner advertising the Aldbourne Art Exhibition beside the bench commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Aldbourne Memorial Hall opening in 1922. The Art Exhibition is raising funds for the Hall which can be seen in the background.
Two large horses possibly Shires standing still hitched to what looks like a baling machine. One of the horses has a nosebag. The driver of the machine may also have his lunch which was brought to him by a woman in a summer dress standing by the baler. Two traditional hayricks can be seen in the distance and beyond those the rolling Aldbourne downs.
Harebell soft blue flowers growing in long grass beside a gravestone with the churchyard of St Michael's, Aldbourne in the distance
Aldbourne village pond, famous for the origin of the Dabchick legend. A a little grebe spotted in the dim and distant past or was it a sea woodcock or bobchick? Over the weekend 12 and 13 July the pond had a new occupant. A Loch Ness monster swam amongst the water lilies.
A gathering of older folk at the Silver Threads in Aldbourne. Centre stage is a cake with a single candle, so we think this was a first birthday celebration for the group.
Photo from the Aldbourne Heritage Centre collection shows the village pond at night. This was possibly how it looked for Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Jets of water from a central fountain lit by coloured lights below the water. Lights also hanging around the pond.
A mass of valerian in two shades of pink growing by the road sign for The Green in Aldbourne. A red brick and sarsen wall behind the flowers and the church tower in the background with a threatening sky
Yellow dandelion flower with a very happy bee dappled with pollen
Bright green beech hedge with white cow-parsley flowers. One flower has a pollinator on it. Not sure if it is a bee.
Foreground of photo is the interpretation panel provided and maintained by Aldbourne Parish Council. Framed by apple blossom in front of the village pond with trees reflected in the water.
Blue germander speedwell on the edge of a flinty field with green field and trees in the distance with a grey sky
Cartoon featuring Dabchick Dan. We think on his first appearance in print. Aldbourne Parish News April 1978. Dan is commenting on a very elaborate Easter Bonnet he says Easter Bonnet? There's many a gardener round here as would envy you that lot missus
Aldbourne Heritage Centre open banner. Aldbourne Heritage Centre is next to the Crown pub. The banner is on the railings around the village pond and next to a tree dedicated to Oliver Hawkins.
Watercolour painting of the Victorian school built in Aldbourne 1857, demolished in the 1960s and replaced by the present buildings.
Lesser Celandine on the bank in Lottage Road, Aldbourne
Headline from the Herald and Advertiser 22 April 1949. Village sold to pay king's debt. How Aldbourne nearly became a township. Rich both in history and industry and now a rural gem. Photo features the Rev Gilding who is interviewed later in the clipping.
Photo, taken by Catherine Hutchings. A Shepherd’s Crown, or as described by Andrew Sewell, the conical form of sea urchin fossil known locally as a ‘Shepherd’s Helmet’
Parish Magazine advertisement for Albert Stacey Family Baker. Buns, Scones etc made to order. Bakings carefully attended to.
1939 to 1945 war memorial including Christopher and Patrick McEvoy of the Norfolk regiment and Merchant Marine.
cover of the Aldbourne village appraisal booklet published by the Aldbourne Parish Council in 1978
Deep snow surrounding a lorry fitted with a snowplough