Chris Jarman shares this latest news from West Wight. Ed
In 1899 and 1908 two foundation stones were laid at Freshwater Drill Hall (now Freshwater Memorial Hall) and at St Agnes Church Freshwater Bay.
Both had significant connections to the great poet Alfred Tennyson, as the former was laid by his son Hallam the second Baron Tennyson and the later by his grandson Harold Tennyson.
Foundation stones replaced
By 2014 the foundation stones were suffering the ravages of time and had significant erosion to the point of becoming unreadable. With local support, both have now been replaced with re-carved stones.
The one at St Agnes Church funded by Elizabeth Hutchings, Evie Hodgson and Barbara Misner and the one at the Memorial Hall by Freshwater Parish.
The return of Baron Tennyson
All that was awaited was the opportunity to rededicate both stones and the hope that David Tennyson, the present Baron Tennyson who lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, would perform the ceremony in person.
Yesterday, Tuesday, 6th September this at last came to fruition and the Isle of Wight was able to tempt back David Tennyson, if only for a short visit, to see the seat of his famous ancestor and the locations around Freshwater where so much of Alfred Tennyson’s life was focused.
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David, accompanied on his whirlwind tour by Elizabeth Hutchings, Barbara Misner and Chris Jarman, was very pleased to perform the formal ceremony of unveiling both re-carved stones and to learn more about the many locations associated with his family name.
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As well as visiting Farringford, Freshwater Court Lodge and Freshwater Court, David was provided with insights on the considerable wealth of literature and accumulated knowledge that continues to be produced on Tennyson and the related Freshwater circle and which continues to attract streams of enthusiastic visitors to Freshwater.
