These pictures were taken by Bob West during the May Bank holiday weekend 1997. People in the pictures include Ann and Francis Shergold, Reg Hall, Craig Godwin, Jamie Blackwell and other members of the Francis Shergold side.
This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy. The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.
These pictures, all taken by John Grout, record the brief moment in time where the Market Square Garage was totally removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. Bell Cottage, the little thatched house is clearly visible.
This is the December 1998 issue of The Beam. A publication by the Parish Council that is produced 3 times a year and given free to all households in Bampton. Topics and advertisers are :-
The Bampton Beam Volume 13 No.3 August 1998 Pg. No. Summary of Content
1 One article on page one. BAMPTON’S GOT ONE AT LONG LAST – A BUS SERVICE INTO OXFORD. Bus Route 18 – By Jonathan Phillips –District Councillor. Including timetable. 2 Three articles and one advert on page two. BAMPTON VILLAGE HALL – advert. Bampton Village Hall. Don Quixote de la Mancha. FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S BAMPTON. BAMPTON FIRE STATION Still Under Threat! 3 Nine articles on page three all under title ‘BAMPTON PARISH COUNCIL NEWS’. Traffic Calming. Police. Allotments. Pavilion. Land between Aston Road and Buckland Road. Millennium. STOP PRESS! Traffic Calming Update. Help required to set up an Indoor Bowls Club. THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL Bampton and Lew 4 Nine adverts on page four. Toby Vines. E. TAYLOR & SON FUNERAL DIRECTORS. Market Square Garage, Bampton. THE CROP SHOP – TOO N. WOODLEY BUILDING MAINTENANCE. BAMPTON FAX BUREAU. THE APPLIANCE DOCTOR. Curtain Choice. BEAMTECH 5 One article on page five. NEWS FROM THE BAMPTON MILLENNIUM COMMITTEE – including form entitled ‘BAMPTON MILLENIUM COMMITTEE’. 6 Five articles on page six. THE WITNEY AND BURFORD HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN. AGE CONCERN LIGHTS OF LOVE West Oxfordshire Citizen Advocacy. VOLUNTEER LINK-UP 7 on page seven. MISSING 8 on page eight. MISSING 9 One article on page nine. BAMPTON PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP Taking care of their early years 10 One article on page ten. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 11 One article, one advert and one cartoon on page eleven. W.R.S.V. by Jean Howell, Bampton / Aston Organiser Sharing the Caring with community care – advert. Bampton Bill – cartoon. 12 Four adverts on page twelve. STE-MARK WINDOW CLEANERS & PRESSURE WASHERS PHILIPPA RAYNE – Registered Osteopath. FIONA GEARY – Physiotherapist. LESLEY MELLIN – Reflexologist. Aromatherapist. THE PUMPKIN CLUB CHRISTMAS BINGO ARGOSY BLINDS 13 Three articles on page thirteen. LAVENDER FLATS Written by Mrs Joan Smith THE MUMMERS ARE BACK!! By Don Rouse. This is a story about the life of a Labrador pup called Mandy-Jane. 14 Two articles on page fourteen under the title THE GARDENING PAGE. BAMPTON GARDENING CLUB NEWS. WEED’S AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM By Edie Bindweed 15 Two articles on page fifteen. ARCHITECTURE ROUND BAMPTON Written and drawn by Gilbert Marsh. Garden Gates in Bampton. What’s happening in Market Square. 16 One article on page sixteen. ROYAL AIR FORCE, BRIZE NORTON Do we Care! By Flight Lieutenant Adrian Dant M Inst. Pet. RAF Station Environmental Protection Officer. 17 Two articles and one advert on page seventeen. New Boss for Signals Units Released by Flight Lieutenant Dave Rowe, Community Relations Officer. REMEMBRANCE DAY by Mrs E. Quick, an Ex-service Great Grandmother. OLD PILOTS, BOLD PILOTS by Archie Jackson – advert for book. 18 Eight articles on page eighteen under the title ‘NOTICE BOARD’. BUSH CENTRE. BAMPTON EXHIBITION FOUNDATION. THE PUMPKIN CLUB CHRISTMAS BINGO. BAMPTON BRIDGE CLUB. BAMPTON WELFARE TRUST THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY SOMEWHERE IN BAMPTON SOMETHING LURK’S BAMPTON CLASSICAL OPERA 19 Four articles on page nineteen under the title ‘NOTICE BOARD’. FOXBURY FARM Books Wanted BAMPTON YOUTH CLUB HAWTHORN FARM RIDING FOR THE DISABLED GROUP. THE BURFORD SINGERS 20 Three adverts on page twenty. PITSTOP GREY GABLES GARAGE Electric Vehicles Ltd. 21 Two articles on page twenty one. THE COOKERY PAGE By Gilly French. Party Food. General Ideas. Recipes. THE TAPPERS HIT TOWN by Rachel Piggott 22 One article on page twenty two. OUT OF WORK FARMER –TURNED AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT By Dan Rouse 23 One article and one advert on page twenty three. Contd ... OUT OF WORK FARMER –TURNED AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT By Dan Rouse 24 Five adverts on page twenty four. New carpets fully fitted. ANDREW BOWMAN MASTER THATCHER. CHENNELLS R. COOPER A. SIMMONDS The Old Fashioned Village Store. 25 One article on page twenty five. LETTERS TO : AUNTIE BEAM 26 Three ads on page twenty six. BAMPTON ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH GROUP by Margaret Bruce-Mitford CARPENTER home improver D&K Building Services 27 Two adverts on page twenty seven. Select Blinds Farmington STONE Company 28 Three adverts on page twenty eight. CARPENTER / HOME IMPROVER SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BAMPTON D & K BUILDING SERVICES 29 One article on page twenty nine. WEST OXFORDSHIRE ARTS ASSOCIATION NEWS AND EVENTS 30 One article on page thirty. Macmillans Cycling Challenge by Jo Lewington 31 Three articles on page thirty one. THE ROBERT VESEY ROOM BAMPTON LIBRARY W.O.A.A. Highlights July, August and October by Margaret Bruce-Mitford 32 One advert on page thirty two. Bampton Youth Club 33 Three articles on page thirty three. Competition Corner August winner 1998 THE BAMPTON BEAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS THE BAMPTON BEAM’S CROSSWORD 34 One advert on page thirty four. Piggott’s School of Dance 35 Three articles on page thirty five. Diary of Forthcoming Events BAMPTON DIRECTORY 1999 THE BAMPTON BEAM – publishing information 36 One advert on page thirty six. BAMPTON SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
This is a group photo of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men taken at Grey Barn house in Queen Street in 1998. President was Francis Shergold and the squire was Tony Daniels. The dancers plus musician, cake carrier/collector and fool include:-
The Bampton Beam was produced about 3 times a year and a copy given to every household. This issue is from April 1998.Articles covered and advertisers includeAmnesty InternationalArchitecture Around BamptonBampton & Aston Meals
The Bampton Beam was produced three times a year and a copy given to every household. This issue is from August 1998 and the topics covered and advertisers include:-August 1998 Pg. No. Summary of Content 1 One article on page one.FIRE!! EMERGENCY!!FIRE!!
West Oxfordshire Arts hosted a wonderful exhibition called 'Rich and Rare' in February 1998. It was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Association.30 master craftsmen displayed work in gold, silk, exotic woods and silver