A colourful history tour – Howbery Business park
Thursday 16 May, Howbery Business Park, Wallingford
Wallingford historian, Dave Beasley, invites the Oxfordshire community to join him for a walk back in time to explore the rich and colourful history of Howbery Business Park from 12.30 on Thursday 16 May 2013. Howbery’s Manor House, which dates back to 1850, has been owned by various nobleman and political figures over the years and has even hosted Royal visits including Prince Henry who camped as an ordinary soldier at the Park in 1927 through to Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.
As well as a factual tour of its history, Mr Beasley can provide an insight into life at the Park and has amounted a raft of interesting and quirky anecdotes ranging from the ‘Lady in Grey’ who still walks the grounds today through to tales of Lady Wittenham’s demands on her staff and local scandal relating to Miss Kate Absolon.
“Howbery’s Manor House has certainly played a pivotal role in Wallingford’s history,” comments John Ormston, Chief Executive, Howbery Business Park. “Dave is very passionate about the history of the Park and having worked at Howbery for over 40 years, he is the perfect person to retell its interesting and varied history.”
Mr Beasley has already produced six picture books on local history and has 19,000 photos of the area together with a fascinating collection of original postcards. He first became interested in the Park when he took-up a job as an instrument maker and subsequently became site manager.
Commenting on Howbery Business Park, Mr Beasley says: “When I first arrived at the Park, the owners were only just covering up wooden panels in the library where American servicemen had carved phone numbers during the Second World War. I was inspired to find out more about the Manor House and have been surprised by the facts I have unraveled throughout the years. I look forward to sharing this with the local community.”
If you can’t make it to the Park on 16 May, you may be interested in Mr Beasley’s book released at the end of April 2013 called ‘Wallingford Now and Then’ which features Howbery Business Park. He also has another book due to be published towards the end of this year.
Spaces are limited so be quick to sign-up for Dave Beasley’s FREE history presentation (from 12.30 – 13.30) followed by a walking tour, taking place on Thursday 16 May 2013.
To book your place, contact Donna Bowles at Howbery Business Park: T: +44 (0)1491 822 411 E: [email protected].
