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Aldbourne Archive
@aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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Aldbourne, Wiltshire
#OnePlaceStudies #OperationNightingale #DiggingBandOfBrothers
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Printing blocks made during the 1970s/early 1980s for postcards showing work by Ann Sullivan. Possibly for Aldbourne Civic Society. These images are created from photos of the plates, flipped and tweaked into black and white with digital magic.
#AldbourneInArt #ArtInAldbourne #OnePlaceWednesday
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.
December 10, 2025 at 7:45 AM
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Wood and copper printing plates featuring sketches of Aldbourne by Ann Sullivan, who lived in Aldbourne during the 1970s and 1980s. I'm guessing made back in the 1970s (but not 100% sure). Now I know how the postcards were made if not exactly when!
#OnePlaceWednesday #AldbourneInArt
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. A postcard with an Ann Sullivan signature presumably printed from the wooden and copper blocks. But there are some differences which may be down to the blocks being worn from use.
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
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13 November 1925 newspapers reported that Aldbourne's Four Barrows were selected for official preservation as just one of many sites (over 70 according to the paper) on 'Wiltshire's numerous list' (photo 2011)
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
November 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
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St Michael's Churchyard is the final resting place of William Henry Walker, who died in 1941 aged 77. The last of a long line of dew pond makers #OnePlaceWednesday #31DaysOfGraves
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
October 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
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Inspired to wander up to the top of St Michael's Churchyard for a moment of quiet. Paused on the way up for a breather and the colours on the beech tree are stunning.
#31DaysOfGraves #Landscapes #OnePlaceWednesday
October 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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Oh wow, what a discovery by @thelineagefinder.bsky.social
My most recent find was a copy of A Country Camera by Gordon Winter (1971 edition) in the second-hand bookshop at @valeanddownland.bsky.social featuring Blossom, Golden and Spark in the capable hands of Harry Wootton and Arthur Watts (1911)
October 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
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One of Aldbourne's great institutions, shared today for #OnePlaceWednesday - with thanks for posting the concert photo to @janh1.bsky.social 🙂
Photo today shows the band in 1885, from the Aldbourne Civic Society Archive ref 155
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.
October 22, 2025 at 11:16 AM
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John Veitch (1856 - 1920), Royal Navy, then Coastguard at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex and in retirement landlord at both the Crown and Blue Boar pubs in Aldbourne. Remembered at the weekend at the St Michael's Church Discovery Day - our village links with the sea
#31DaysOfGraves #OnePlaceWednesday
The grave of John and Emily Veitch in Aldbourne churchyard shows an anchor on the cross The grave of John and Emily Veitch in Aldbourne churchyard shows an anchor on the cross. This photo shows a close up of the anchor.
October 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
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Last weekend I met with a WWII evacuee to Aldbourne in 1939 with many memories and photographs to share. Inspired by this connection, I've been researching Raphael Tuck & Sons postcards. Love this one, showing the 'village council' gathering by the bench in the square
Source: www.tuckdbpostcards.org
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.
August 30, 2025 at 7:02 AM
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A simple and intensely moving commemoration. The National Two Minute Silence for VJ Day 80 at Aldbourne Memorial Hall on Friday 15 August 2025
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.
August 16, 2025 at 9:50 AM
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Love this little tree. Blossoms and berries make frames in their season.
#DiggingBandOfBrothers Operation Nightingale
#OnePlaceWednesday #Aldbourne
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.
August 13, 2025 at 11:11 AM
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TODAY: A long standing village institution, supporting an even older village institution! The 21st Aldbourne Artists Exhibition (founded by Andrea & Peter West) in the Aldbourne Memorial Hall. Free entry to view and find a work of art. Profits to Hall funds. 10-4 Sunday 10 August 2025 🎨
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.
August 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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Harvest at Eastleaze, Aldbourne circa 1941. From the Aldbourne Civic Society archives #OnePlaceStudies #OnePlaceWednesday
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.
July 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
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Each year harebells spring up in a different place in the churchyard, and focus our attention on a different family grave. This year we are thinking about Florence Kate Bowes, died aged 9 years 6 months in March 1914, and her parents Joseph and Rose #HarebellChallenge @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Harebell soft blue flowers growing in long grass beside a gravestone with the churchyard of St Michael's, Aldbourne in the distance
July 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
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Definitely not a Dabchick!
Thank you to everyone concerned with the Aldbourne Scarecrow Trail this weekend. A truly community inspired event supporting Aldbourne Churches Together and St Michael's School, Aldbourne PSA.
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.
July 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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Aldbourne Over 60's Club (later Silver Threads) started in 1952, organised by Mrs Marjory Sergeant and a group of friends. Meetings were originally in the Church Room, Marlborough Road. This may be a photo of the First Birthday Party for this excellent group. #OnePlaceWednesday #OnePlaceStudies
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.
July 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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Missed out on the purchase of Aldbourne Pond II by Bill Pike at auction recently, with reflections of the fair in the water, and a sketch showing the fountain in place for 1977. I wonder how it looked for Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee? Was a centrepiece created as per the request in the Parish News?
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. Cover of the Silver Jubilee 1977 programme for Aldbourne. Red letters spell out The Silver Jubilee 1977 and the royal crest is below in silver print. Aldbourne Parish News April 1977 We invite ideas from anyone who may be interested, for a suitable Pond Fountain Display during the forthcoming Jubilee Celebrations. The Carnival Fountain will be used for the central display, and if someone can design and make an attractive centrepiece to fix to the fountain, it will add to the pleasures of the occasion. This provides a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate one's artistic ability, and at the same time provide enjoyment to others. There must surely be SOMEONE prepared to help the village and come to our aid? A suitable centrepiece might become a permanent part of the Pond fountain display. Time is not with us, hence the urgency of the this appeal. Will persons having serious thoughts on this problem be good enough to contact the Editor as soon as possible so that action can be taken.
July 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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On the Green, or should that be In the Pink? Hope to see hummingbird hawkmoths and flutterbyes here later in the year 🌸🦋
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
June 6, 2025 at 10:18 AM
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Ida Gandy, The Heart of a Village: An Intimate History of Aldbourne, published in the summer of 1975. A Golden Anniversary Gandy Dandy "glowing on every verge and bank, sending its beautiful, mischievous flakes into every garden. No wonder it survived the Ice Age" #OnePlaceWednesday #OnePlaceStudies
Yellow dandelion flower with a very happy bee dappled with pollen
June 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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A poem of a morning in Aldbourne #OnePlaceWednesday #OnePlaceStudies
"Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.
'Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass" [Rossetti]
Bright green beech hedge with white cow-parsley flowers. One flower has a pollinator on it. Not sure if it is a bee. Heavy white hawthorn blossom with the village football field beyond. Over the weekend this field was a hive of military vehicles, choirs, local dignitaries and memories for VE Day 80.
May 7, 2025 at 9:41 AM
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Missed #OnePlaceWednesday, today is #IsItStraight Thursday, with the History Hound checking my display for #VE80 at the weekend. Did you know a lemon sold for £500 during 'War Weapons Week' fundraising? Rusty could tell you ALL about it 🐾So much history, so little time and space to tell the stories.
May 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
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Paused by the pond this morning (L-R)
*Horse chestnut (Silver Jubilee George V 1935)
*Thatched Bus Shelter - memorial to one of the young men who helped plant that tree: Flight Lieutenant Guy Richard Brown, DFC, RAF died 6th September 1945
*Cherry tree planted in honour of Mr Oliver Hawkins (1976)
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.
April 22, 2025 at 11:05 AM
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#TinyPlants in the Aldbourne landscape for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social this evening. Germander Speedwell. A blue blessing for a safe journey, or a warning that birds will attack your eyes if you pick the flowers. Folklore is a truly diverse (and sometimes frightening) thing!
Blue germander speedwell on the edge of a flinty field with green field and trees in the distance with a grey sky
April 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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One of our favourite family places. Dad used to take me there to explore way back in the day. Visited with the Crofton Beam Engines assistant site manager back in 2023, exploring her ancestry with industrial history.
April 7, 2025 at 6:04 AM
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I’m joining in with the Society for One Place Studies challenge for April 2025 #OnePlaceAToZ and will be adding more on each #OnePlaceWednesday through the month.
aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/a...
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
April 5, 2025 at 9:16 AM