06 February 2010

Hampshire Legends

Having missed out on recent presentations I would normally be attending in Ottawa, and suffering withdrawal symptoms, I sought relief in a presentation to the Overton (Hampshire) History Society.

David Nash Ford is a local historian living in Wokingham, Berkshire, who originates from Yateley in Hampshire. He gave an entertaining presentation at the village community centre to nearly 40 people, a very respectable turn-out from a village of 4,000.

Illustrated by PowerPoint his presentation consisted of a series of anecdotes on local legends, from Roman times to the 18th century.

He recounted local Hampshire variations of stories also claimed by other areas, that of King Canute not holding back the sea, and the mistletoe bough bride.

Two legends related to Hampshire weather vanes, a bedbug vane at Kingsclere and a cockatee vane at Wherwell

See www.nashfordpublishing.co.uk and www.berkshirehistory.com for more.

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