Village History
A relative of one of our past Sheet Village Association committee members, Peter Baillie, has kindly sent us a bundle of archive material. Peter was a committee member for many years before retiring in 1995.
Click on photos to enlarge:
Every village has its parking and traffic problems. The streets and houses were often built before motor vehicles arrived, and too narrow to take large trucks and houses too narrow to park more than one small car outside. A few shots to show how quiet and empty Village Street and The Green used to be.
How peaceful. This postcard has a postage stamp dated August 1912 when Village Street was called Sheet Street. You can see that numbers 6 and 7 were one house, with canopy over the front door.
This photo from the Petersfield Post 6th November 1975. Caption reads ‘These picturesque cottages in Village Street have frequently had their front porches demolished by heavy lorries. Residents hope that a vehicle width restriction on the road will improve the situation.’
These two photographs taken in September 1987 show the lack of cars parked around the Green and down Village Street.
This article in the Petersfied Post from June 17th 1992 celebrating the opening of the Petersfield by-pass, says in the first column …… ‘At the moment all that disturbs the peace and quiet is the constant thunder of traffic but all that is set to change. ……… the picture postcard village centre should really return to the tranquil peace and quiet of a bygone age when the new Petersfield by-pass is opened. Villagers will be getting out the champagne to celebrate when the stream of cars and lorries which flow through Sheet on the busy A325 is reduced to a trickle.’ The Villagers did indeed celebrate with a Street Party in September 1992 – but more on that in ‘Sheet Street Party Archives’.
And a few old photos of struggling trucks:
Sheet Street Party Archives
Three photos of an Empire Day celebration 1909. The Carriage, and with procession down Farnham Road. Empire Day on the Village Green.
Invitation and Programme for the September 1992 Sheet Street Party to celebrate the opening of the By-Pass. Huge fun and games with so many activities, competitions and races! Wheelie bin races, tug of war, children’s bike race and more.
Below is an article in the Petersfield Post with photo showing face painting by Margaret Jennings and Wendy Larken at the September 1992 Street Party. Ambrose Barber, the chairman of the Sheet street party committee, said between 500 and 700 people joined in the festivities. Village vicar Peter Ingrams and the Rev Brian Cook both dressed up in Victorian costume for the day. And Mr. Barbour said one of the funniest moments was when he overheard one party-goer ask: “I wonder if they are real vicars?”
The Trafalgar Day party, complete with ships, on the Millennium Field 2005
The Ugly Bug Street Party – 2006 (photographs by Lucy Pringle)
