September 2023

A number of people asked at our Local History Day to join the Group. After some difficulties finding a venue for a group more than double our previous size (we used to meet in Peter Barge’s front room) we managed two enjoyable meetings of the enlarged Group before lockdown intervened.…

Our repeat of the Local History Day was, of course, cancelled. The Museum has asked us to retain the material in case a space falls open when the re-open and we have done this.

The History Day went well. We had lots of visitors, lots of interest and some nice compliments, which made all the hard work worthwhile. The news is that we have committed to do the show again at Emsworth Museum. This will be for a much longer period thus Group members…

THE PARISH HALL, WESTBOURNE, PO10 8UL SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020, 11.00 – 16.00. The Westbourne Local History Group presents a working exhibition of its interests in uncovering and recording the history of Westbourne, featuring “Old Maps, New Names – The route to Emsworth and Westbourne via Cinsworth and Eastbourne”. “The…

We have just completed a major upgrade of the PHOTOS section and there are many new photos to view, comment on and add information about.  Please have a look. There are gaps and weaknesses in the collection.  Please let us copy any old photos that you have so we can…

(CATCH-UP) –    If you missed it – the article is available on Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/ThatsSolent/videos/312132146084549/ The Group will feature tonight on local TV Station “That’s Solent” – Freeview Channel 7. Filming took place today prior to the normal Group meeting and highlights our latest project “Lost Shops and Businesses”. The clip…

A little time ago the Group took over responsibility for the Westbourne Past Photo Gallery section of this website. Our first task was to add a descriptive label to each photo. This is done. And we have added a few. Now, Dear Readers, it is over to you. Please have…

Jim Clarke is making good progress in tracking down details of the many shops and businesses that have disappeared from Westbourne over the last 80 years or so for our next publication. However what has proved very illusive is getting original photographs of these.  Jim begs everyone to allow him…

The Group is delighted to have a further new recruit. Clive Pugh has joined and is most welcome. Many people may know Clive already as an active member of Emsworth museum and an expert on maps of the area.

The most important reference work for any would-be Westbourne historian is a book published in 1913 by Rev. J. H. Mee entitled “Bourne in the Past”. It has been out of print for many decades and available copies are extremely rare. The Group has scanned the entire book with its…