The Fernhurst Society
Tales from the Archives - 32
From fencing to flowers
To most residents, the green, open space in front of the parade of the shops at Crossfield has become like a second village green. It’s a delight to look out on, especially in the spring with its colourful carpet of crocuses and snowdrops and in December we all gather for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree which heralds the start of the festive season. The Fernhurst Revels was even held there one year.
But go back to before the Second World War and it was a very different picture. Fernhurst was a centre of the chestnut fencing industry and, thanks to the abundant woodland surround the village, was well able to support two separate companies. The larger, better known one was at Henley on the main road and operated by the Ralphs but there was another one in the middle of the village. This fencing yard, run by Bert Welland, stretched from what is now the print business on the main road and covered the whole area of Crossfield Green plus Russett Court and as far along as The Leys. Mr Welland had his office there as well as a stable for his pony Kit, which was harnessed to a cart and used for collections and deliveries. In the winter his two sons, Jack and Horace, as well as Sid Dudman and Jeffrie White, would be cutting chestnut poles in the woods and in the summer they would be making up the pales, cleaving and going through the whole process of producing fencing and related products.
If you would like to know more about this story, or research other local topics, the Archive is open on Tuesdays, 2.30-5pm in the Village Hall. Other times by arrangement.
Christine Maynard
Fernhurst ArchiveOne of a series of short articles bringing you some of the incidents from our rich village history. Collated by Christine Maynard, based on documents preserved at the Fernhurst Archives, these originally were published in the monthly Fernhurst News.
The Fernhurst Archives
Fernhurst History
