AFTER the Second World War, manor houses were being pulled down at the rate of two a week.

Many of them had been requisitioned by the Government for the military during the war and had fallen into disrepair.

The Labour Government had no desire to spend money on restoring homes for the upper and middle classes.

One of the victims was Bentley Manor and traces of the old house can still be seen if you know where to look.

At the meeting on November 15, Maurice Clarke gave a most interesting lecture on the history of the manor which was, for many years, home of the tragic Gray-Cheape family and the Squire of Bentley.

The next meeting will be at Headless Cross Memorial Hall on Thursday, December 20, at 7.30.

After a brief AGM, the secretary will entertain with slides of a recent holiday in Crete. All welcome and for details, call 541317.