Tower and Town, June 2026 (view the full edition)Children Of MinalHow different life is for our children and families compared to 18thC Minal. Life was hard for families and children; basic living conditions; candles, open fires; outhouses for toilet and washing clothes and a range to cook on. Children spent most of their childhood living within the village, helping parents with chores and playtime would be simple with home-made toys and games. Poverty was a real issue for many families as was illness; the Burials Register in1810 note a family at Werg Mill lost all ten children to Consumption. Children were expected to work from an early age. In 1879 Harry Watts aged 14 was employed by a farmer, Mr. Butler from Stitchcombe They were on their way back from Marlborough, when the horses took fright and bolted down the hill; Harry was drawn under the wheels of the wagon and died. On the roadside where he died still exists a memorial stone cross. In 1808 "a poor woman in Minal had provided school and education to 14 village children"; this ended in 1818 when the only education for the poor was via two Sunday schools. The Rector Charles Francis seeing this plight gave land and £4,000 to build a school. In 1906 the average attendance at the school was 70. It closed in 1969. We moved here in the 1980's. Every summer Lady Brooke and parents organised games on the sports field, followed by swimming in Shelagh Ainslie's pool. Sunday school and a youth group were run by villagers. In 1990, the village playground, next to the old schoolhouse, was under threat of proposed housing. Village mothers fought to save it. Later Di Devonshire alongside the Parish Council raised funds and redeveloped the site to the wonderful playground we have today. Children have been at the centre of many village events. Fetes with maypole dancing, the annual Guy Fawkes competition; dressing floats for the Marlborough carnival and celebrations for Royal events. In 1990 we re-enacted what life might have been in the 18th century, held a Minal Merrymaking event and Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Children made hobbyhorses, dressed up and we danced to 18th C music in our new village hall. It is true that the life of children now is different, but at the heart of each child is the yearning for exploration, play and creativity.  Gilly Price |