Lyndhurst’s New Forest Heritage Centre in plea for memories of the gypsy compound at Thorney Hill

THOSE with memories of the former gypsy compound at Thorney Hill are being asked to help with an upcoming exhibition.

The New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst also wants anyone who has photos or objects connected to gypsies living in the Forest who were relocated during 1964-74.

Around 12 families were rehomed in prefab houses at the site by Hampshire council.

The Heritage Centre is now planning to mount an exhibition from January to March next year, which will also include objects unearthed during a Romany Community Archaeology project which took place in September.

It was carried out under the direction of archaeologist, author and film-maker John Henry Philips, who is of Romany ancestry, and Dr Stuart Eve of Wessex Archaeology.

Director of the New Forest Heritage Centre, Angus Harley, said: “For those who passed through ‘The Close’, as it was known, this was the final chapter of a way of life stretching back generations. The prevailing policy was that these people needed to be assimilated into mainstream society and the site, complete with resident warden and dedicated social worker, was deemed the vehicle to achieve that.”

From the late 19th century, Romanies and other itinerant groups who had benefited from the wilderness of the Forest faced increasing restrictions on their ability to live in traditional ways. From 1926, they were required to live only in designated compounds in their own shelters.

In 1947 a report by the New Forest Committee reported to Parliament that conditions on the compounds “hardly reached the standards of the Stone Age”.

Mr Hartley said that despite the conditions most of the families living on the Thorney Hill site seemed to have been happy. He said: “Finds from the dig, as well as testimonies we have been hearing, seem to be speak of a largely happy time for the residents but we would like to see and hear more from anyone with memories, images or anything else which might help us build and exhibit the clearest possible picture.”

For more information email angus.harley@newforestheritage.org.uk by 22nd November.