1773 |
Lord Bute commissioned the mansion, High
Cliff to be built |
|
|
1773 |
Boston Tea Party.
Captain James Cook became first to cross Antarctic Circle, and circumnavigate
the continent (although he never saw land). |
|
|
1776 |
American Declaration of Independence |
1786 |
Smuggling was rife at this time. A letter
from the Customs House in London, dated May
30th 1786 gives details of a landing by John
Streeter of goods from the 'Civil Usage'
lugger:
- 100 small flasks of spirits marked 'F'
- 8 tons of tea
- 2-3,000 casks of spirits
|
|
|
1786 |
Davy Crockett born
Earliest County Hospital opened in Winchester |
1794 |
Lord Butes mansion, High Cliff had to be
demolished because of erosion by the cliffs.
Only the two lodges remain |
|
|
1794 |
Robespierre guillotined after Reign of Terror |
1800 |
Mr James Penleaze purchased part of the High
Cliff estate and built a modest house |
|
|
1800 |
Britain becomes first nation to introduce
national income tax |
1830 |
Charles Stuart, Lord Stuart de Rothesay,
bought back part of his grandfather's original
Highcliffe estate and whilst in France purchased
some beautiful ancient stonework and stained
glass windows and shipped them across the
Channel to build his retirement home on the
Highcliffe estate. He employed the architect
William Donthorne to design the house which
is now known as Highcliffe Castle.
Captain Hopkins of Hoburne bought a field
at Slop Pond on which he built about twenty
houses (extending from the present Stanley
Road westwards). The residents objected to
the name Slop Pond so the name of the village
was changed from Slop Pond to Newtown |
|
|
1830 |
Employment Law limits 12-18 year olds to
working only 12 hours a day |
1837 |
John Spicer of Somerford Grange gave a field
called Nundy Cole to the village, and a small
lecture room was built there for the Newtown
mission church. Written into the deeds was
the clause that if the building was not used
for divine worship for twelve months it was
to be used as a school for the poor of the
village |
|
|
1837 |
Coronation of Queen Victoria |
1838 |
A large ship the 'Herman Julius' 336 tons,
was wrecked at Chuton (Chewton) Bunny.
Crew of 11 were saved, one was lost overboard
before she struck. Bemister and Holloway
purchased the wreck |
|
|
1838 |
Final abolition of slavery in Britain and
its colonies |
|
|
1842 |
Miner's Act stopped women working down the
mines |
1843 |
The ecclesiastical parish of Highcliffe was
formed out of those from Christchurch and
Milton but the civil parish remained the
same.
Lord Stuart de Rothesay gave the field, Lodge Close, which was close to
the Castle gates on which to build a church for the villagers. St Mark's
was consecrated in 1843 by Bishop Dr Sumner and cost £1,464.4s.3d |
|
|
1843 |
Britain annexed Natal |
1868 |
Mudeford sandbank extended along the coast
beyond Highcliffe Castle creating a 'run'
between it and the cliffs which sometimes
froze during the winter making a natural
ice rink for skaters |
|
|
1868 |
Ulysses S Grant became President of USA |
1869 |
An evening school for boys only between the
ages of 13 years and 21 years was started
by the schoolmaster. It was open Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday evenings and the fee
was 2d. a week |
|
|
1869 |
Suez Canel opened |
1873 |
School Log: Many children are unable to attend
school for want of boots |
|
|
1873 |
The typewriter introduced by Remington |
1876 |
School Log: December 8th. At 11.30 the girls
were marched from the school to Highcliffe
Castle to each receive a red winter cloak |
|
|
1876 |
Telephone invented by Graham Alexander Bell |
1878 |
School Log: Several children are tapping
for Sir George Meyrick |
|
|
1878 |
Manchester United founded (as Newton Heath) |
1880 |
School Log: Children absent at Bournemouth
for the opening of the new pier |
|
|
1880 |
The Eastman Kodak company was founded |
1882 |
Lady Waterford established a milk shop 'a
Temperance Lodge' in the village to encourage
the inhabitants to drink milk instead of
spirits. She painted the shop sign herself,
a brown cow on an olive green grass background |
|
|
1882 |
The mythical Ashes were created after England were beaten on
home soil for the first time - by Australia.
|
1887 |
Queen Victoria's Jubilee was celebrated with
nearly 320 parishioners sitting
down to a
substantial tea of bread, mutton,
ham and
shrimps, followed by races, swings
and dancing,
concluding with a firework display
given
by Mrs Stuart. Lady Waterford
threw open
the Castle grounds; over the
gate was an
evergreen arch with the words,
'God save
the Queen'.
Lady Waterford gave the village
the new hall,
The Jubilee Reading Room, to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee. This
later became the Sports and Social Club |
|
|
1887 |
Barnes Wallis born (later to develop the
Bouncing Bomb) |
1888 |
Typhoid Fever hits the village.
School Log: Several children away to see
the opening of the new railway line at Hinton
Station.
Class worked on paper instead of slates |
|
|
1888 |
Jack the Ripper murdered 5 prostitutes in
3 months in the Whitechapel area |
1889 |
The Prime Minister, Mr and Mrs Gladstone,
stayed at Highcliffe Castle for the weekend |
|
|
1889 |
The Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel,
was opened for the Paris Exhibition |
1890 |
Lady Waterford donated the money for the
building of a house for the attendant to
the Jubilee Reading Room |
|
|
1890 |
First moving pictures created by William
Kennedy Laurie Dickson |
1891 |
School Log: September. The Free Education
Act of 1891 came into force and the parents
in our parish will no longer have to supply
their children with pence when they send
them to school on Monday mornings |
|
|
1891 |
Free Education Act passed |
1892 |
A petition was organised to change the name
of the village as so many letters were going
astray. The Post Office agreed that the name
of the village should be changed to Highcliffe |
|
|
1892 |
Liverpool Football Club founded |
1897 |
The Civil Parish of Highcliffe was formed
from part of Christchurch and part of Milton
stretching along the shores of Christchurch
Bay.
It contained 2,615 acres, of which 120 acres
were covered by the tide
4 acres by inland waterways
141 acres were foreshore
896¾ acres of arable land
539¼ acres permanent grass
150 acres woodland and plantations |
|
|
1897 |
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee |
1899 |
Gordon Road became a public highway |
|
|
1899 |
Vacuum cleaner patented by John S Thurman.
It was petrol driven. |
1900 |
February 17th. The supply of water to Highcliffe
was completed, the water let into the mains
on Wednesday |
|
|
1900 |
Second olympic games held in Paris
Labour Party founded
Relief of Mafeking
First hamburger sold in Conneticut |
|
|
1901 |
Queen Victoria dies, Edward VII becomes King
First Nobel prizes |
1906 |
Highcliffe Parish Council discussed the intolerable
nuisance of dust caused by motor cars passing
at high speed through the village.
It was proposed to build a Parish Hall by
public subscription and house-to-house collections
were organised. The Hall, consisting of one
room, a gas ring and a stand pipe, was built
at a cost of £1,147.11.7d (This Hall was
later to be used as a Public Library) |
|
|
1906 |
Mrs Emily Pankhurst leads a delegation of
suffragettes to meet the Prime Minister
Huge eathquake destroys much of San Francisco
Zulu revolt crushed
First transatlantic wireless signal sent
by Marconi
|
1907 |
The German Emperor, The Kaiser, stayed at
Highcliffe Castle for three weeks. It was
well known that The Kaiser loved children.
Before he left he gave a tea party for all
the children of the village |
|
|
1907 |
Boy Scouts movement established by Lord Baden
Powell - on Brownsea Island
Plastic invented |
1908 |
John Frampton gave a piece of land on which
to build a Methodist Chapel (on the same
site as the present church). The chapel was
opened on Whit Monday by Miss Lassells of
Winkton Lodge.
The total cost of the building was £683 14s
8d |
|
|
1908 |
First Model T Ford was built
Electric washing machine invented |
1913 |
Landslip at Chewton Bunny, about 40 yards
of footpath disappeared.
Six garden seats were given by Mr Nethercliff
to commemorate the King's Coronation and
placed on the cliffs.
General Stuart Wortley invited a Mr Green
to lay out a nine hole golf course on the
Castle estate |
|
|
1913 |
Louis Bleriot flies the English Channel
Henry Ford introduced first assembly line
|
1917 |
Highcliffe Parish Council became the Rat
and Sparrow Destruction Committee offering
1/- for a rat head: 1d. for a sparrow's egg:
3d. for a fully fledged sparrow's head and
2d. for an unfledged sparrow's head |
|
|
1917 |
Bolsheviks storm Winter palace to start Russian
Revolution
The film Birth Of A Nation released
Balfour Declaration supports
a Jewish homeland
USA finally declares war on Germany
|
1921 |
Lady Curzon Howe complained of charabancs
using Hoburne Lane |
|
|
1921 |
Irish Free State (Eire) founded
Communist Party formed in China |
1922 |
Dowling Woodman of Gordon Road offered to
collect old tins and such like, and dump
them at a cost of 15/- a day. All rubbish
to be left in a basket and placed in the
road opposite the residence.
The Council accepted the gift of the Coronation
Clock which was to be erected outside
Misselbrook and Weston's (now G&T) |
|
|
1922 |
Insulin first used for diabetes treatment |
1923 |
Re-formation of the Highcliffe Volunteer
Fire Brigade - General Stuart Wortley offered
to hand over the Fire engine which had been
housed at Highcliffe Castle |
|
|
1923 |
Unsuccessful Nazi uprising in Germany
The Great Gatsby released
Traffic signals introduced |
1924 |
Street lighting was installed. It was to
be extinguished by 10.30pm |
|
|
1924 |
South Africa adopts Africaans as official
language |
1926 |
The cliff top was leased from General Stuart
Wortley including the Tea House for £400
for the first 7 years with an option to purchase
for £8,500 |
|
|
1926 |
Hirohito ascends throne of Japan
General Strike
Baird demonstrates the first television |
1927 |
Freehold of the cliff top purchased
Wharncliffe Road made up.
The Golf Course was extended to 18 holes |
|
|
1927 |
The Jazz Singer released with Al Jolson - the first talking movie
Lindberg flew The Atlantic |
1929 |
Referendum held concerning the revision of
local government areas showed:-
Highcliffe to amalgamate with Christchurch...........450
Highcliffe to amalgamate with New Milton................6
Highcliffe to remain a Rural Parish........................80 |
|
|
1929 |
The Wall Street Crash starts the Great Depression
Motorola introduce the car radio |
1930 |
The Enterprise Hall was built to cater for
a variety of leisure time activities.
After World War ll the British Legion bought
the Hall for their headquarters. The Hall
was then demolished and Homecliffe House
was built |
|
|
1930 |
Frozen peas go on sale for the first time
(from Clarence Birdseye)
Pluto discovered |
1932 |
The present Recreation Ground purchased from
General Stuart Wortley for £1,750
***** Brief items from the Parish Council
Records.
The first Parish councillors were: Chairman:
Rev Algenon Ryder: Ernest Bellairs, High
Castle estate manager: Horatio Ellwood, School
Master: Albert Nugent, leased Beacon
Lodge: and William Surgon |
|
|
1932 |
Sydney harbour Bridge opened
Broadcasting House opened
Three main Methodist groups in Britain came
together to form present Church
Infamous Bodyline cricket tour to Australia |
1934 |
School Log: October 21. Magic lantern show
given by the headmaster, with the assistance
of Mr Toms who provided electrical current
from the engine in the school house |
|
|
1934 |
Rearmament in Japan
Nylon invented |
1937 |
School Log: November. Free milk scheme started
for all children of school age |
|
|
1937 |
Guernica in Spain destroyed by German bombs
Invented by Frank Whittle, the jet engine
is first tested |
1939 |
HIGHCLIFFE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
The Highcliffe residents were very active
during the War ably led by Mrs Violet Stuart
Wortley of Highcliffe Castle. She encouraged
everyone to work for The Cause, as she called
the War. Whether it was knitting comforts
for the troops, caring for the wounded or
ensuring the safety of the people of Highcliffe.
A corps of the Local Defence Volunteers or
Long Dentured Veterans, as Mrs Stuart Wortley
called them, was formed.
First Aid Posts were set up at The Ridings
School, Bure Lane, Wood Lea, Shelly Hill,
Whitbury, Seaview Road, Friars Cliff, Woodmanton,
Avenue Road, and St Mark's Hall (which was
also to be used as a Gas Cleansing Post).
There were Rest Centres at Highcliffe Men's
Club, Highcliffe Hall, and Cranemoor Chapel.
Extracts from the 'Air Raid Precaution Log'
9.9.40
6 bombs dropped on Chewton Common. 3 bombs
on Hoburne
16.1.41
Unexploded bomb at Steamer Cottage
19.6.41
LDV reported two small boats making for Steamer
Point
8.7.41
Incendiary bombs dropped at Hoburne, Verno
and Saulfland
24.4.42
Machine gun fire from enemy plane over Highcliffe
Golf Course
8.5.43
Bomb dropped at Woolhayes, 300 yards from
the House, crater 15ft
wide and 4ft deep
30.4.44
Reported parachute landing at Hoburne House
Thunderbolt aircraft crash landed in the
school playground.
12.8.44
Unexploded AA shell on Highcliffe beach
After the War, Mrs Stuart Wortley felt that
the inhabitants of Highcliffe should be officially
thanked for their patriotic devotion. She
invited to the Castle representatives of
those who had shown the 'Highcliffe spirit'.
Her son-in-law, Lord Abingdon officially
thanked the people of Highcliffe for their
efforts.
Amongst the celebrations the 24 men and one
nursing sister who died on active service
were not forgotten |
|
|
1939 |
Germany invade Poland and start WW II
Gone With The Wind released
Australia and New Zealand declare war on
Germany |
1940 |
The western part of the Castle estate was
bought by the Ministry of Defence. The Signals
Research and Development Establishment (SRDE)
arrived, and Steamer Point became the centre
for research topics in communications |
|
|
1940 |
Liner QE II completes secret maiden voyage,
and anchors off New York's Staten Island
Battle of Britain
Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls published
Colour television introduced |
1941 |
School Log: February. First treatment of
diphtheria was given to 47 children by
Dr Parker Williams |
|
|
1941 |
Pearl Harbour bombed and USA finally joins
the war
Orsen Wells' Citizen Kane released
First aerosol can introduced (used for insecticide) |
1945 |
The school was fitted with electricity and
two dances were held in the Parish
Hall to
raise money to purchase a master
wireless
with loudspeakers for each classroom.
After the war there was a need for quickly
available housing. In Highcliffe this need
was met by the Pre-Fab village which sprang
up at the end of Gordon Road |
|
|
1945 |
USA drops atomic bombs on Japan
Constitution for United Nations established
Microwave oven introduced |
1949 |
Before Highcliffe Castle was sold outside
the Stuart family, the Golf Club members
purchased the course from the Castle estate |
|
|
1949 |
Peace alliance known as NATO formed
Lego invented |
1950 |
The first Highcliffe resident to be elected
to the office of Mayor of Christchurch was
Mrs Wallis-Power |
|
|
1950 |
Stone of Scone stolen from Westminster Abbey
by Scottish Nationalists
Diners Club introduce first credit card |
1952 |
A second Highcliffe resident, Mr Kenneth
Ashcroft, was elected Mayor of Christchurch |
|
|
1952 |
BOAC starts first jet passenger services
Polio vaccine introduced
First hydrogen bomb detonated |
1953 |
Highcliffe celebrated the Coronation of Queen
Elizabeth with dancing, torchlight procession
and fireworks |
|
|
1953 |
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Everest conquered by Hillary and Tensing |
1958 |
The Ministry of Education decided upon a
major building programme. A new two-form
entry Junior School to be built on part of
the Woolhayes estate |
|
|
1958 |
Sir Christopher Cockeral introduces the hovercraft
NASA founded
The first modem introduced by Bell |
1962 |
For many years the Selfridge graves in St
Mark's graveyard had been unattended and
become unkempt. As a result of an approach
made by the Vicar, Messrs Selfridge agreed
to make an annual payment for the maintenance
of the graves |
|
|
1962 |
Cuban missile crisis |
1963 |
The new Methodist Church was dedicated on
June 19th by the Chairman of the Southampton
District of the Methodist Church, Rev R.G.Stonham.
The new Highcliffe County Primary School
was formally opened by Mr J.H.Cordle M.P. |
|
|
1963 |
Martin Luther King gives his "I have
a dream... " speech to civil rights
workers
President Kennedy assasinated in Dallas
First Beatles album - Please Please Me |
1965 |
In May, Highcliffe resident Councillor Mrs
I.A.Stevenson was elected Mayor of Christchurch.
The new building of Highcliffe Men's Club
was opened by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs Stevenson |
|
|
1965 |
Mods and Rockers converge on seaside resorts
First spacewalk - Alexel Leonov
Many new inventions, including portable video
camera, BASIC (computer language), telephone
calls via satellite, soft contact lenses |
1969 |
The Roman Catholic Church, the Church of
the Holy Redeemer in Kilmington Way was opened
and dedicated by the Bishop of Portsmouth.
The Scout Hut in Chewton Common Road was
opened , the land being leased from the Meyrick
estate for a peppercorn rent |
|
|
1969 |
First Moon landing
Concord's first flight
Woodstock rock festival in New
York State
Arpanet lauched - it became the Internet |
1973 |
Highcliffe Friends in Need was started with
volunteer telephone co-ordinators on
duty each morning to take requests for help
and then arrange for volunteers to help |
|
|
1973 |
Government gave go-ahead for Channel Tunnel
OPEC countries triple oil prices
Military takeover in Greece |
1975 |
Highcliffe Bowling Club was formed and the
Club house opened by the Mayor of Christchurch,
Councillor John Morgan |
|
|
1975 |
Russians and Americans shook hands in space
Laser printing introduced |
1977 |
Christchurch Borough Council purchased the
Grade l listed building, Highcliffe Castle
for £65,000. The grounds to be preserved
as an open space with access to the beach |
|
|
1977 |
Red Rum won Grand national for record third
time
First democratic elections in
Spain for over
40 years
First neutron bomb developed
First deisel cars introduced |
1981 |
Councillor Mrs I. Stevenson was honoured
by the award of honorary freeman of the Borough
of Christchurch.
Greystones to be used by the Highcliffe Community
Association |
|
|
1981 |
IBM introduced the first personal computer
Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer
Columbia - the first space shuttle - launched
AIDS virus identified |
1983 |
A new club house was opened at Highcliffe
Golf Club. The new club house was paid for
by the 350 members of the Golf Club.
A purpose built Day Care Centre for the Borough
of Christchurch was opened on the site of
the old school in Lymington Road |
|
|
1983 |
First wheel clamps used - in Kensington,
Chelsea, and Westminster
US troops invade Grenada, a Commonwealth
country
First computer virus created |
1985 |
The Christchurch Housing Association built
a large nursing home in Highcliffe, Silverways,
at a cost of one million pounds |
|
|
1985 |
Live Aid - the worlds biggest rock concert
- raised money for the starving
in Africa
DNA fingerprinting introduced |
1986 |
Heila House, a large new medical centre for
the Highcliffe Group Practice was
built at 248, Lymington Road |
|
|
1986 |
Nuclear disaster at Chernobyl causes radio
active clouds over much of Europe
President Marcos flees Philippines
First trans world non stop flight |
1987 |
A disastrous hurricane badly damaged the
roofs of the old people's flats at Greystones |
|
|
1987 |
USA and USSR agree to eliminate nuclear weapons
World stock markets prices crash |
1990 |
A young man lost control of his car and drove
into the Crow's Nest on the cliff top
causing irreparable damage to the café |
|
|
1990 |
East and West Germany reunited
Iraq invades Kuwait, triggering the Gulf
War |
1994 |
Major restoration of Highcliffe Castle was
assured with a grant of £2.6 million from
the Lottery Fund |
|
|
1994 |
Channel Tunnel opened by the Queen and President
Mitterand
Labour leader John Smith died
suddenly
Nelson Mandela because first black president
of South Africa |
1999 |
The Highcliffe Stables Community Trust tried
to save the one hundred year old stable block
at The Globe as an exhibition centre for
the community but poor construction and lack
of funds made it impossible.
Christchurch Council applied and obtained
a licence to hold wedding ceremonies at the
Castle. In 1999 there were 6 weddings. In
2003 the number was 120 weddings |
|
|
1999 |
NATO brokers Kosovo peace talks, and supplies
peacekeeping force
Total eclipse of the sun visible
from parts
of the UK
Many casualties in Paddington train crash |
2002 |
Highcliffe Residents Association submitted
an application for Village Green Status for
the Highcliffe cliff top so that the general
public would continue to have access. This
was later turned down by Christchurch Council
and Dorset County Council |
|
|
2002 |
Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee
Queen Mother dies |
2003 |
Stuart Lodge Hotel in Waterford Road was demolished to be replaced by a
block of flats.
The Council fails in it's bid
for more lottery
money for the next stage of restoration
work
on Highcliffe Castle.
Highcliffe holds a Christmas Festival. Organised
by the Residents Association, it is the first
for eleven years. The main street, Lymington
Road, is closed for the three hour Festival. |
|
|
2003 |
England win Rugby World Cup, beating holders
Australia in Australia to become the first
Northern hemisphere country to become champions |
2004 |
March - Christchurch Borough Council aquired the woodland (now called Rothesay
Wood) between Steamer Point Nature Reserve and Highcliffe Castle. This
allowed the creation of a footpath, and the completion and opening of the
Christchurch Coastal Path, a continuous path from Mudeford Quay to Chewton
Bunney.
Highcliffe Market site closed by the landlord, who was seeking planning
permission to develop the land
December - Despite strong objections from the public, and from Highcliffe
Residents Association, builders McCarthy & Stone had the rejection
of their plans to develop Sea Corner site overturned on appeal. The plans
include flats and a Tesco Express store. |
|
|
2004 |
April - Israel announces that it will unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza
Strip.
December - Enormous tsunami devastates huge areas of Southern Asia, with
at least 225,000 people killed.
|
2005 |
March - Travellers were evicted from the cliff top car park, leaving huge
amounts of rubbish for the Council to clean up.
July - A Picnic Lunch was held on the school field to commemorate the closure
of St Mark's Infant School and Highcliffe Junior School, and the creation
of the new Highcliffe St Mark's Primary School.
October - The Mayor, Councillor Josephine Spencer officially opened the
new Zig Zag path from The grounds of Highcliffe Castle to the beach below.
The wheelchair friendly path replaced an old and dangerous unpaved footpath. |
|
|
2005 |
February - British sailor Ellen McCathy completes a circumnavigation of
the planet. It took 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds.
April - Pope John Paul dies.
July - England's cricket team beat Australia to regain the Ashes in a very
exciting and hard fought series.
July - In a coordinated terrorist attack, four bombs were exploded on London's
tube trains and buses. |