The Lion Cup

Local History Writing Competition

The Lion Cup has been awarded each year since 2011 for essays on an aspect of the history of the area to the east of the River Itchen. It is designed to encourage research into all aspects of our local history and to encourage people who have not previously written on the subject to do so.

Entries close on the last day of July each year and need to be accompanied by an Entry Form. An Entry Form and Competition Rules are here.

Previous Lion Cup Winning entries

2121 – CANADIAN ADVENTURE – PETER TAYLOR

” … a well-researched and illustrated article … I congratulate the author on the depth of research, obtaining first class details of the passengers, cargos, ships and their escorts in two convoys,”

2020 – ITCHEN BREWERY – BERYL VARILONE

“There is no doubt that the author carried out a massive amount of research” A description of the history of the Brewery, its connections to other local businesses and its ownership over the years.

2019 – THE TRAFALGAR CONNECTION – Peter Taylor

“A well very researched family history that directly connects Bitterne residents with the Battle of Trafalgar and the news of Nelson’s death being brought back to England.”

2018 – BACK TO SCHOOL – Alan G. Clark

“A well-written nostalgic piece of social history, telling us how young children behaved in the 1950s, as well as reminders of the Bitterne area, its schools, teachers and former shops.”

2017 – WHEELS – Alan G. Clark

“A recollection of how boys made their own amusements and toys many decades ago.”

2016 – HUM HOLE REVISITED – Alan G. Clark

“One of the wonderful aspects of life as a child growing up in the late forties and fifties was the freedom to roam that seems so sadly lacking for children today.”

2015 – HEATHFIELD HOUSE – BERYL VARILONE

Built on a plot of 4 acres, 3 rods and 18 poles, the house was built n 1837. This tells the story of the house from then to its demolition in 1982

2014 – MEMORIES OF 76 BITTERNE ROAD – JOAn shergold

Not only a very full description of a house in the 1930s but also of several generations of a local family.

2013 – MAGNETIC BITTERNE – CHRISTINE BAGG (nee shergold)

“An excellent word picture of the Bitterne area when the writer was a young girl, it also painted the same scene when her grandparents were young.”

2012 – BITTERNE WHEN I WAS YOUNG – Jill Abrahams

“Recalls the days when central heating was rare, having to get undressed in front of an open fire and having a hot water bottle that only kept part of the bed warm. I was reminded of delivery men that called with fresh fish …”

2011 – THE HISTORY OF BITTERNE’S LIBRARY – Sandra Naish

From the ‘temporary provision’ of a free library two evenings a week in Martin Parish Hall to the design and construction of what is now known as Cobbett Road Library.

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