North Waltham, Steventon, Ashe and Deane History Society (From Basingstoke Gazette)

North Waltham, Steventon, Ashe and Deane History Society

11:24am Tuesday 1st February 2011 in Reports

IMAGINE the military band marching up the streets of Basingstoke on a Sunday, its young captain calling the drinkers out of the pubs to save them from the devil.

Imagine the response at closing time from the publicans, brewery workers, carters and farm workers, growing malting barley and hops. As author Bob Clarke put it, the scene was set for a glorious punch-up.

With four breweries and more than 40 pubs, Basingstoke was a febrile setting. As the Salvation Army contingent marched out of their barracks in the old silk mill in Brook Street, jokers pulled on ropes laid across their path to trip them up, adding bawdy songs to their jolly hymns and penny whistles to their brass band.

Each Sunday, the threatened workers, fortified with the demon drink supplied by supportive publicans and brewers, caused ever more serious mayhem until in March 1881, a fullscale riot erupted.

Most local magistrates sided with the workers, but Wallis, partner of the engineering company, did not, writing to the Chancellor deploring his fellow benchmen’s leniencies and bringing Basingstoke to the notice of the national press.

Questions were asked in the House, action required to be taken.

But talk didn’t stop the Battle of Church Square the next week.

The Massagainian flyers were posted in the pubs, where drinkers were topping up before pouring out to prevent the army reaching Market Square.

Led by the Adams brothers of the eponymous brewery, they pushed the band back to Church Square where the fighting was so severe that the mayor had to read the Riot Act.

Less compassionate local magistrates sentenced the ringleaders to jail but, on their return from Winchester Prison, they were feted with hogsheads of free beer to wash down a great feast, so at least The Gazette had some news to report.

Gradually, as the Salvation Army had more sensitive captains doing good work, and the citizens realised that their livelihoods were not threatened, the rift which had torn the town apart closed and Basingstoke returned to a sleepier existence.

His amusing anecdotes having whetted our appetites, we all lined up for signed copies of Bob’s book, The Basingstoke Riots and for Grub Street, his stories about the national press.

Our next meeting will be at the school at 8pm on Thursday, February 17, when a selection of film shot around Steventon Manor by the Onslow Fanes will portray ‘A Life of Luxury in the 1930s’