Local History News Number 146 Winter 2023

By Alan Crosby

It was late September and we were in Italy, staying a few days each in Bologna, Parma and Ferrara, and visiting other places including Ravenna, travelling around by train. While in Parma we decided to go for the day to Modena, which is about 50 miles away. As was invariably the case for the whole fortnight, the trains a) weren’t cancelled b) ran to time c) were clean and comfortable and d) were remarkably cheap. Such an impressive contrast with … well, guess.

Modena has a minor supporting role in our history as the birthplace of Queen Mary, wife of the ghastly James II, mother of the Old Pretender, and grandmother of the utterly useless Bonnie Prince Charlie (romantic hero and personal disaster zone in the well-tested Stewart tradition). Apart from our general interest in seeing the city, and sampling its gastronomic temptations and vinous pleasures, we particularly wanted to see the cathedral, a World Heritage Site by virtue of its fine Romanesque architecture, wealth of 12th century carving, and magnificent campanile.

We arrived punctually at the station and walked towards the city centre, choosing the shady side of the narrow streets on this fiercely hot day. The prospect of a refreshing beverage, followed by the cool interior of the cathedral, was very attractive. But as we approached the Via Emilia, the great Roman road which runs straight as a die through the heart of the old city, we realised that something was amiss. There was strange activity ahead. Not only were there large bales of hay or straw at the road junction, but large men (and some equally large women) in black uniforms and with suspiciously bulky holsters were standing guard.

Now, on the previous day Italy had had its general election, and although results had not been finalised and declared it was correctly presumed that the far-right alliance led by Giorgia Meloni had won a sizeable majority. So, were we about to witness a coup, a political revolution, street-fighting, a ‘March on Rome’ 2022 style?

No, surely not – for although all the pavements were cordoned off with metal railings, there were crowds of people, the shops and cafes were open and doing a good trade, and many bystanders were holding up phones and cameras (not just the tourists or – as we think of ourselves – the serious visitors). Then we spotted, lounging on hay bales and smoking, a group of people who could have stepped out of a 1930s’ film. The longish skirts of the women, in floral prints, the baggy trousers and flat caps and collarless shirts of the men … so very unlikely the super-fashionable contemporary streetwear of the average Modenese.

The only way to find out what was afoot was to ask one of the formidable characters patrolling the Via Emilia, whose bulging holsters were in fact carrying not guns but walkie-talkies. And lo! Appearances did not deceive: the people who looked as though they’d stepped out of a 1930s’ film actually had stepped out of a 1930s’ film (or at least, one set in the 1930s). The whole city centre had become a giant film-set: there were skeins of snaking cables, generator vans and all sorts of other paraphernalia. And the film was a historical biopic on the life of Modena’s most famous child, who of course was not Queen Mary (1658-1718) but rather Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988). He was born there, died there and hardly ever left there.

There was a distant rumble and roaring, and suddenly about a dozen ancient but immaculate Ferraris hurtled noisily along the street at breakneck speed, trailing clouds of historically-authentic blue exhaust fumes. They were driven by young men with slick hair, wearing goggles and caps and motoring gauntlets, and the assembled throng went delirious, with phones held aloft. This was real history!

We tried to proceed on our way, but were turned back by a couple of burly men with dark glasses. The cathedral, we were told, was closed for the day. “Come back tomorrow”. But we had other plans for tomorrow (Parmesan cheese and Parma ham) so we never made it … but the film is coming out later this year, and we can proudly say that we were there when history was made.

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By Martin Green

Martin Green was one of the founders of the Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society in 1989, and has since, as chairman, provided consistent and enthusiastic leadership such that the Society has gone from strength to strength. An able administrator, Martin is also an excellent speaker who has a natural inclination to share his knowledge and enthusiasm. He has been the major contributor to the Society’s web-accessible database of industrial archaeology sites in the county, and has set up and maintained the Society’s Newsletter and Facebook page to inform the widest audience.

During the pandemic lockdowns Martin, supported by fellow Committee members, instituted several initiatives to keep as many members as possible informed of developments within the society and the wider world of industrial archaeology.

Martin read Economics at Cambridge, with a strong component of economic and social history within that degree, and this ignited an enthusiasm to discover more of the industrial heritage of his native Midlands, particularly that of Warwickshire. A keen photographer, he set about recording the physical remains of the county’s industrial past and actively encouraged others to join him on site visits.

As well as developing the Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society, his long teaching career at Warwick School enabled him to spread the word to younger generations, enthusing them to become active researchers. It is a tribute to his skill that one of his references comes from a former pupil who was inspired by Martin as a Sixth Form student and is now senior curator at a national museum. He writes ‘ … I joined a small group engaged to look at industrial archaeology as a Thursday afternoon activity … and soon found that walking round Warwickshire studying cast iron work, canals and railways, and surviving industrial buildings was fascinating and taught me a huge amount about the area where I lived’.

In 2019 Martin co-authored with Michael Jeffs in a joint project with Leamington History Group an original and award-winning book The Ironmen of Leamington. His own research is always rigorous and presented in a memorable style, earning him great respect for explaining complex matters in a straightforward way.

Martin’s championing of local history has extended to on-site recording, publicity and publishing, and fund-raising. For example, he was instrumental in raising substantial sums to establish the Willans and Robinson archive at Warwickshire County Records Office. This engineering firm initially made steam-powered river launches for the Thames before establishing production facilities in Rugby.

Martin Green has steered WIAS with great skill to the commanding position it now holds amongst groups in the county; in doing so he has used his ability to communicate with everyone to attract many new recruits to the subject.

www.warwickshireias.org

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BALH are looking for people to join as Trustees, Outreach Team and Publications Team colleagues. These bodies collectively direct and actively participate in the Association’s work. We are seeking passionate local historians who are enthusiastic about BALH and want to contribute to our activities.

The Trustees are responsible for the decision making of the Association, and oversee governance, finance, and membership. The Board initiates projects and collaborative ventures, particularly with other national and regional associations, authorises expenditure and monitors progress. Trustees also sit on one of two advisory committees. Trustees bring unique perspectives and experience relevant to local history and local historians, and they are drawn from communities across Britain.

The BALH Outreach Team members organise our events (such as online talks and conferences), represent BALH and local history at third-party events, engage in educational initiatives and produce or source much of our online content. We also tie the Association into the wider historical world, especially local historians and societies across the regions of Britain.

The Publications Team oversee the production of our highly respected quarterly journal, the Local Historian, and newsletter, Local History News. We also produce and market a range of handbooks for local historians, and have ambitious plans to extend and expand our series with new and revised titles.

If you are interested to hear more please get in touch with our new Outreach Team chair, Joe Saunders [joseph6.saunders@hotmail.com].

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A vacancy has arisen for one or more new Trustees to join the Victoria County History Trust. The Victoria County History (VCH), one of the world’s longest running research projects, was founded in 1899 to produce a history of every parish in England and has been part of the University of London’s Institute of Historical Research since 1933. To date, some 6,300 parish histories have been published in nearly 300 big ‘Red Books’, and the enterprise is currently branching out to produce accessible paperback ‘Shorts’ on individual localities. Recent ‘Shorts’ have been on Ledbury (Herefordshire) and Dummer and Kempshott (Hampshire).

The VCH Trust, a body of up to ten Trustees, was established in 1994 to make grants to support the work of the VCH both centrally and in the counties. It meets at six-monthly intervals, typically in June and December, usually by Zoom. Applications are welcome from anyone with an enthusiasm for local history and a commitment to the work of the VCH. Applications will be especially welcome from women and from members of the Black, Asian and Ethnic communities, who are currently under-represented on the Trustees’ ranks. For further information and to offer expressions of interest, please contact the Honorary Secretary, Nigel Saul: n.saul@rhul.ac.uk

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By Dick Selwood, Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society

When the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) “Our Century” project put out a call for partnership events, the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society (HFC) decided not to celebrate a specific event or person, but to celebrate the recorders of history, and create a database of profiles of historians, hosted on our website, and accessible to all. Our idea was accepted and we are now well into a project that we believe will help us to revisit past studies and better understand how our county – and perhaps others – has discovered its past. Hampshire, after all, can lay claim to being one of the pivotal counties in British history.

From the Roman period onwards, it has been part of the frontier towards Europe. William the Conqueror built his palace in Winchester. Winchester Cathedral saw events such as the marriage of Mary to Phillip of Spain, while the Bishops of Winchester were both rich and influential, with a diocese that stretched from Southwark in London to the south coast and included Surrey. The Great Hall contains the Round Table. Portsmouth and Aldershot are important military sites and Southampton an international port. The Solent has witnessed a host of icons and inventions - the Schneider Trophy, the Spitfire, the Hovercraft, even the wind-surfing board!

Our proposal to the IHR drew the definition of historian widely, including, but not limited to, amateur and professional historians, antiquarians, archaeologists, archivists and others. To reduce any risks of controversy we made the decision to impose a cut-off date; we would include only those who had died by 2000.

Working with other groups in the county we were surprised to identify over 200 prospects, and that number is still growing, albeit slowly. A standard data input form provided a structure with headings:

Name and dates

Biography

Sources

Portrait(s), if any, with location/source

Contribution to county’s history

Relevant published works.

Other comments

Contributor(s)

These were then edited into a standard format and posted on the HFC website. Nearly a hundred have been added so far and these cover a wide range of time and activities. Various threads are emerging, for example early attempts to write a county history.

County histories

The story of the evolution of the ‘encyclopaedic’ county history is fascinating. The first we have found (but remain open to finding more) was in the 1770s when Sir Thomas Gatehouse sought subscriptions to his History of Hampshire/ Survey of the County of Southampton. Despite his claims for his research, the little that survives is not impressive and he was only saved from bankruptcy by his son-in-law, after he had auctioned his library.

Other attempts continued through the 19th Century by Richard Warner, a curate at Boldre, and another Hampshire clergyman, William Bingley, a curate at Christchurch. Bingley’s massive 6000 pages of notes and a 144-item archive are now in the Hampshire Record Office.

In 1899 work began nationally on the Victoria County Histories (VCH). Hampshire was the first county to be researched and acted as a test-bed. After the initial plan to call on local clergymen to provide material failed, the project relied on an army of researchers most of whom were university-educated young women. One of these was Audrey Locke, the daughter of the Head Porter of Winchester College, who won the first Charlotte Yonge Scholarship from Winchester High School for Girls, (now St Swithun’s School) and attended Somerville College, Oxford, where she achieved a 2.1 honours in examinations in 1902. Sadly, she died in 1916 so did not receive a degree when Oxford finally agreed to award them to women in 1922.

Hampshire is once again active in the new VCH, with volunteers working on the town of Basingstoke and surrounding parishes. Some of this work is already published as “Shorts”.

Archaeology

Throughout the 20th century Hampshire has played an important role in the development of archaeological practice. In the early years, J P Williams Freeman, a country doctor, wrote Field Archaeology as Illustrated by Hampshire (1915), which is recognised as the pioneering work on the subject. Later on, he co-operated with O G S Crawford, the first Archaeological Officer of the Ordnance Survey and founder of the journal Antiquity. Crawford was a pioneer in the use of aerial photography for archaeological research. His Wessex from the Air (1928) demonstrated this approach magnificently.

Some outcomes from the project

As well as profiling a growing number of historians on the Hampshire Field Club website (www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk), we are highlighting an Historian of the Month. His/her profile is posted on the home page and featured in the monthly email news bulletin to HFC members. Other planned outcomes include reappraisals of the published work of past historians, often highlighting important studies that for long have been ‘hidden’. In an exercise of historiography, we will analyse the profiles to determine how local studies have developed, leading to papers on themes such as ‘the history of local history’. We have already begun the exercise with articles in the county newspaper, the Hampshire Chronicle. Also, to recognise the many currently active historians, we anticipate in future rolling forward our cut-off date of 2000.

Workshop day

We are planning a workshop day in March 2023 in Winchester to share our experience in the hope that other counties might explore their historians, as well as seeking ideas on how this project can be extended. If you would like to join us, please email celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.

www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk

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During our existence of over 70 years Horley Local History Society has accumulated a very large collection of documents, photographs and books which together form our accumulated archive. These are currently stored mainly in an unheated domestic garage and scattered among the homes of various members.

For some years we attempted to raise sufficient funds to construct a purpose-built archive unit on land offered to us by another local club but this process was interrupted by the Covid pandemic and we have since come to the conclusion that it is probably not the right way forward for us anyway. We run a Local History desk in our Library twice a week but there is no space available there for our archives. How we envy the Societies which are fortunate enough to have a local museum/archive area supported by their local authorities…. in our case, although we have an element of support from our local Town council, this type of financial support is not available.

Consequently, we have come to believe that digitalisation is the way forward for us with a view to making our archives freely available to view via our website. But how do we go about this huge task? We have already decided that our first step must be to be a bit brutal with what we have and dispose of all the material which is not strictly historically related to Horley.

When that is done, we shall need specialist help to categorise and digitalise all the material which we wish to make available. We would then offer the copied physical material to our County History Centre if they wish to retain any of it.

Who do we turn to for this help? We are a healthy Society in terms of year to year finance but we don't have a bottomless pit of cash to pay for such services.

Amongst BALH membership there must be other Societies which have already solved similar problems and others such as ourselves which are searching for the way forward. We desperately need some guidance and help to ensure that our collection is not left to deteriorate in circumstances such as it is in at present.

We would be most grateful if we can find some help to at least guide us as to the correct path through this dilemma.

Doug Cox, Treasurer

Horley Local History Society

treasurer@horleyhistory.org.uk

Please reply to Doug Cox and copy in LHN editor.lhn@balh.org.uk

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By Sheila Graham

It began in 2007 – but when they joined a WEA class intriguingly called Reading the Past: an introduction to palaeography, no-one understood the extent of the ambition of tutor Alan Petford. It was to transcribe and to publish all the probate documents from the ancient parish of Halifax from 1688 to 1700. Halifax parish was the largest in England, made up of 23 townships, from Stansfield and Heptonstall in the west to Brighouse and Rastrick in the east, corresponding roughly with modern-day Calderdale.

Alan identified the relevant documents, which are kept in the Borthwick Institute for Archives in York, and introduced the group to the painstaking and rather addictive process of deciphering the unfamiliar 17th century handwriting from often rather dark photocopies taken from microfilm. There were varying levels of skill and experience, but all were excited by the world that was being uncovered: the array of kitchen implements; the tools of the trade of clothiers, farmers and craftsmen; and the hopes and fears of the people who lived in the valley in the 1690s.

Alan died tragically early, in 2015, just before the first book was published, but he had enthused and inspired to such a degree that there was never any question of giving up. Fifteen years on, the documents of 447 people in 23 townships have been transcribed, and published in nine volumes, by two groups in Halifax and Hebden Bridge. As well as the transcribed documents, each book contains detailed indexes of persons, places and subjects, and expansive glossaries which help make sense of the paraphernalia in the houses and barns. There are fascinating introductions, including research by group members, and scholarly explanations of the process of probate.

Probate records allow us to uncover the world of ordinary people. Wills let us hear their last wishes, to provide for their children and to ensure family harmony. Sometimes the goods and estate are equally divided with meticulous fairness, sometimes all goes to a ’most trusty friend’ with a token shilling for an absent brother. Almost always there is the contemplation and fervent hope of an afterlife. For the family historian there are rich pickings; there are family relationships to be traced, and the silent lives of those names in the family tree to be explored. Economic and social historians will be able to mine these comprehensive transcriptions as will agricultural historians and vernacular building enthusiasts… but it was the real people who demanded to come alive from these scraps of formal writing.

Inventories are like an archaeological dig through ink and parchment; a trip through rooms no longer inhabited, chambers, parlours, kitchens and workshops furnished with longsettles, stand-beds and footchests; arks and hourglasses and all the paraphernalia of the kitchen. Much of the challenge came from the precision of the valuers. Cows were differentiated by colour, by age, by condition – all requiring different terms; and agricultural equipment was also precisely named – with at least three different types of sledge; the processes of textile production from spinning to cloth-finishing and dyeing were represented with names of equipment whose functions and relevance we needed to explore. Even more fascinating were the tools of the trades of the less common occupations: the apothecary’s alembics, powders and treacles; the shoemaker’s leather and lasts; the books of the schoolmaster and attorney; the hundreds of pewter chamber pots stored in a Halifax shop and the rich furnishings in the houses of the better off.

The launch of the final volume in the series took place in Halifax Minster in October 2022. Copies of most volumes are available from either the Hebden Bridge Local History Society (www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk for volumes on Erringden, Heptonstall, Langfield, Midgley, Stansfield, Wadsworth and Warley townships) or for the other townships.by emailing Halifaxprobate@gmail.com

Hebden Bridge Local History Society, Birchcliffe Centre, Birchcliffe Road, Hebden Bridge HX7 8DB

Sheila Graham is one of the founder members of the group

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By Fabian Hiscock

Three Rivers Museum has recently made a very significant acquisition. You’ll remember that John White, who farmed Parsonage Farm from about 1841 to his death in 1904, was believed to have kept a personal diary every day, recording not only his agricultural activities but also his personal life and doings. Extracts appeared in three issues of The Rickmansworth Historian in 1970, by Kenneth Jones, which suggested a great wealth of material in the diaries. But since then both Mr Jones’ identity and the location of the diaries became unknown. An article in Historian 50 (2004) told us that the diaries were in the care of Canon John Paget, once of Watford but then in Chichester, but that was over thirty years ago, and we still had no way to contact the family. An appeal in the Watford Observer earlier this year got no response. But we had, tantalisingly, the family Bible, which Heather Falvey had bought from a lady who had purchased it in an OXFAM shop, and has loaned to the Museum. The rewards for finding the diaries, and being allowed to see and even copy them, would be clearly be very great indeed: but how to find them?

Helped by the census and other on-line records, I knew the family story quite well. John and Sophia White had just one child, their daughter Fanny, who in 1864 had married one of John’s farm students, William Hounsfield. So we had a family name. But the Hounsfields had nine children, so we had rather a lot of family names, and over 120 years in which they moved around, so the trail was a bit tangled – and of course had no contact details, and no certainty that any of them had the diaries. But, prompted by one of the Museum’s members to use the Ancestry service which lays these things out in a useful way, it emerged that William Hounsfield’s mother’s maiden name, Coupland, had been adopted as a family name – so I was now looking for Coupland Hounsfield, which narrowed the search quite a lot. But still no contact details. They came from Companies House – a gentleman of that name had been a company director with an address, albeit 30 years ago. With nothing to be lost by trying a punt, I wrote to that address, although without much hope of a result.

But a week later, I got a wonderful e-mail. Martin Hounsfield confirmed that I had the right man, and that he thought he could help. Stand by! And so I did, hoping to hear something some time. In fact, he came back within a month. Remember that these diaries are family heirlooms, and have been kept carefully by the extended family for over a hundred years, so I was really delighted when he said that the family had decided that the whole collection they had should be donated to Three Rivers Museum. When could I come and pick them up?

This is an act of extreme generosity by the family, and way beyond my wildest dreams. I was both delighted and overwhelmed, and so it was with some trepidation that Les Mead and I collected them on 9 August from Mr Hounsfield and several of his family. It was a very pleasant meeting, on a very hot day near Bognor Regis, and the result is that the diaries, accounts and other papers, in two boxes, are now safely in our store, just a few hundred yards from Parsonage Farm house in Townsfield.

What we have is, as I had hoped, quite remarkable – and there’s much more than we realised. John White himself wrote a deeply personal account between 1841 and 1896: some of the volumes were passed around the family in the 1950s and probably won’t return, so there are some gaps. But we have most of the volumes, and they provide a wonderful insight into how life was round here: we know, for example, who Mr White employed, how much he paid them, and what they did; we know who he met, and who he did business with. But most of William Hounsfield’s farm diaries from 1865 to 1896 are also here: and so are the farm accounts for both farms, as well as a number of other documents and a couple of photos. It is, apparently, very unusual to have such detailed accounts from this period – they alone are a remarkable find. We have a grave duty to keep them safe, and treat them right.

So what now? The first thing to do is list and accession them in full. Then, we’ll digitise them, so that they can be worked on without handling the originals. The next step will be to transcribe them: they’ll be scanned into [agricultural] years, October to September, which will align the diaries to the accounts, and then can be passed to volunteers to carefully transcribe them in to Word files – if you’d like to join the team doing that, which can all be done at home, let me know (see below).

Then, of course, we should share them: the Museum’s digital kiosk might be a first step for the digitised copies, but we’ll want to publish them, with a context and commentary, perhaps in a book (rather large), or online. All that is a huge amount of work, and will require a considerable team at work for some time – probably years. So we have quite a project.

If you’d like to be part of it, please contact me chairman@trmt.org.uk.

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By Paul Dryburgh

Humanity’s relationship with water has become one of the key factors in discussion of our global present and futures. However, coming to terms with increased drought and major, increasingly destructive flood events and driving behavioural change is reliant on positive dialogue around climate change and making that relevant and comprehensible at the local level. One strategy to achieve this is to connect communities with their local history (and historical geography) and tell and retell stories of resilience, risk management and the changing environment over many centuries in creative new ways. Delegates to the Association’s second annual David Dymond Memorial Winter Lecture on 8 December received a superb insight into the power of coupling place-based scholarship and arts-led engagement to build more inclusive cultures around water and the environment as a response to structural, social issues and the local (not to say personal) effects of human-induced climate change.

In a stimulating presentation not dampened by a heavy cold, Briony McDonagh, Professor of Environmental Humanities at the University of Hull, introduced the Risky Cities: Living with Water in an Uncertain Environment project (https://riskycities.hull.ac.uk/). A three-year multi-disciplinary, multi-partner research collaboration funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Natural England Research Council and the UK Climate Resilience Programme, Risky Cities looks both forward and back to examine the influence and impact of water over eight centuries in and around the East Yorkshire estuarine city of Hull, and the histories of water management and how communities in the past learned to live with their watery environment.

The project has several partners, national and local, academic, arts and cultural heritage sectors and local government. It has three main areas of focus: 1) Living with uncertain waters, which seeks to understand how communities have interacted with water and responded to dramatic climate events from the medieval and early modern past to the present, adapting their knowledge systems to develop resilience; 2) Fictions of flooding, which examines how fictions in poetry, prose, drama and newspapers (all of which are increasingly playing a role in reframing and retelling stories locally) arose and developed alongside more archivally rooted histories, and which, by creating artistic recordings, are being used to evaluate the community’s resilience; and 3) Learning from the past for an uncertain future, which employs place-based stories about the past to work with local communities to build climate change awareness and flood resilience.

Archival research has enabled the team to address how communities have experienced, responded to and learned to live with water over eight centuries, how they have managed and governed water and how they have adapted and whether this has helped or hindered the development of community resilience and improved local knowledge systems.

While the research has broader import for many urban, coastal communities around the UK and beyond, Hull presents a unique case study. It is a community formed of flood: before the mid thirteenth century settlement on an appreciable scale had been hindered by the saturated environment on the north bank of the Humber. Only from the 1260s when the abbot of Meaux, a house of Cistercian monks whose capacity for transforming local landscapes and systems of land and water management is well known, laid out the town did mass settlement become viable. So much so, that Edward I, appreciating its location for trade and supplying his military machine, founded a new town – Kingston upon Hull – in the 1290s. The project has brought together diverse evidence for a repeated history of flood events over the next four centuries, most notably the bench books of the city of Hull, the returns of the commissioners of sewers, the town chronicle and the monastic chronicle of the nearby abbey of Meaux, as well as the Chancery patent rolls. This demonstrates that flood events were largely tidal surges but could also be compound events of heavy rainfall, high river levels and the like. Generally, in a developing coastal community such as Hull, we can characterise flooding either as overtopping, a rather more short-term and less destructive episode, or as total ingress where ditches and banks are breached and significant, longer-term damage caused. In 1349, for example, a community already ravaged by plague witnessed the destruction of banks and dykes by “the impetuosity of the river”; in the 1390s the town was almost destroyed by flood and the overflow of the Humber. The severity and character of each episode conditioned recovery from them.

A re-examination of the archival heritage, both in printed edition and in the original, permits a piecemeal reconstruction of community response to flood. The accounts of the medieval and early modern corporation reveal a long history of works on ditches and banks, which were often in disrepair. Contemporary mapping and archaeological evidence belies networks of drainage ditches and sluices to prevent tidal waters ingressing and allowing riverine waters out into the Humber Estuary. The sea’s erosive force could be permanently difficult; saline intrusion ruined wells and bore holes.. In the 1460s they even tried the ingenious measure of laying lead pipes to bring drinking water, but the expense of the enterprise bankrupted the corporation! The reliance on manmade management systems made them vulnerable to sabotage, as in the Civil War or as part of local disputes where banks might be deliberately broken to flood land within the catchment area.

Generally though, the stories which have emerged from the archive are largely about surviving and thriving in an estuarine environment. There is evidence of goods and crops being warehoused on the first floor of buildings and stone floors being raised as part of an urban flood resilience strategy. The story of Hull’s relationship with water has, in fact, been less about cataclysm and more about premodern adaptation. Indeed, what emerges most strongly was an ongoing need to manage water infrastructure and mitigate flood risk. This, Professor McDonagh argued, created a stronger sense of responsibility and stewardship for the green-blue home in premodern Hull.

The David Dymond Memorial Winter Lecture pays tribute to one of this country’s pre-eminent local historian, who died in 2021. During a remarkable career which began as an inspector for the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in and around York, including the Hull area, Professor Dymond remained a scholar, teacher, editor and writer of over fifty publications, mostly focussed on Suffolk. A former Vice President and Vice Chair of the Association, David raised the profile of local history immensely, perhaps most notably with Researching and Writing history, a Guide for Local Historians which is now in its fourth edition. The vision of the influence and impact of local history espoused by David could perhaps never have stretched to the kind of co-created artistic interventions developed by Professor McDonagh and the Risky Cities project team. What is undoubtedly true of David, and I am sure shared by anyone who reads this report, is the belief that historically informed, place-based engagement can and does drive cognitive change and enriches lives. Equally, finding new ways of exploring and retelling stories, making the global local and vice versa, are key dynamics of local history. The Risky Cities project provides a wonderful role model.

A fuller version of this report can be found on our website

https://www.balh.org.uk/blog-david-dymond-memorial-winter-lecture-2022-2022-12-27

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By Barrie Trinder

Jeremy Sumner Wycherley Gibson, who died on 28 October 2022, provided dynamism to the Banbury Historical Society for seventy years. He edited a records series of 37 volumes, produced and for some years edited Cake & Cockhorse, was a committee member from 1957 until 2015, and served at various times as secretary and chairman. In 1964 he persuaded borough councillors that the Globe Room panels, removed from the Reindeer in 1912, long assumed to be in the United States but found by the Society to on sale in London, should be returned to Banbury.

Jeremy was one of the founders of the Society. A lecture series ‘New Light on Old Banbury’ was delivered in the early autumn of 1957 by the late E R C (Ted) Brinkworth, then tutor for south Warwickshire for the University of Birmingham Department of Extra-Mural Studies. From that series sprang a meeting in November in the town’s reference library called by Ted Brinkworth, Valentine Bromley, a journalist and amateur archaeologist, and Jeremy, who was working for his family’s firm, Henry Stone & Son, printers. At 7.20 pm only about half a dozen individuals had arrived, but by 7.30 there was an audience of respectable size. Jeremy assumed the role of advocate for an historical society, not merely to organise programmes of monthly lectures but also through publications to enhance popular understanding of local history. The Society was formally constituted at subsequent meetings, members began to transcribe parish registers at the Vicarage, and during 1958 Ted Brinkworth’s 40-page history Old Banbury was published. The first issue of the Society’s journal Cake & Cockhorse appeared in September 1959 in time to advertise the second programme of winter lectures, and in 1960 the first volume of Banbury’s parish register was published. This remarkable ‘take-off’ owed much to Jeremy’s energy and his organising ability, but it also resulted from his imagination. There were few town-based local historical societies before 1960, and long-established county-based antiquarian societies tended to move ponderously.

Jeremy had connections with the history of Banbury through his mother, a member of the Stone family who from the seventeenth century had been active in the town’s Quaker meeting. On his father’s side he was descended from the Rt Rev Charles Sumner (1790-1874), Bishop of Winchester between 1827 and 1869. He was born at Oxford and had pleasant memories as a small child of visits to his mother’s friends at Linden House by Banbury Cross. He owed his interest in history in part to an inspirational prep school master who introduced him to heraldry. He was educated at Stowe after which, like most fit young men of his generation, he was called up for National Service and spent two years as a clerk at Woolwich barracks. He was grateful to the army for teaching him to type proficiently and used his time in London to gain access to the British Library, Somerset House and the resources of the Society of Genealogists. He spent two further years in London studying at the School of Printing and Graphic Arts after which he moved to Banbury to work for Henry Stone & Son, while living with his mother at Bloxham, and, apart from the Historical Society, put much energy into Scottish dancing and mountaineering. In the early 1960s he left the family company and began a career in publishing at Pergamon Press in Oxford, then with Longmans at Harlow, and with Phillimore & Co at Chichester. After his mother died in 1971 [C&CH vol 5 (1971), 18] he returned to Oxfordshire in 1979, settling at Church Hanborough, although maintaining close links with Banbury..

In subsequent years much of his energy was expended in publishing short guides for family historians, on militia lists, quarter sessions records, the location of wills, coroners’ records, protestation returns and even on how to find record offices. At a national level he probably did more than any other individual to stimulate interest in family history. He was a fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries and the Society of Genealogists and was given a lifetime achievement award by the British Association for Local History in 2008.

In 2015, as old age took its toll, he moved to sheltered accommodation at Romsey, Hampshire, near to members of his family, and donated much of his extensive library to the Historical Society. He sometimes travelled to Banbury to hear lectures, and his last contribution to the town’s history was the publication in 2019 of Banbury’s People in the Eighteenth Century, a collection of sources for which future generations of historians will have cause to be grateful.

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Project North Star (PNS), launching in Spring 2023, will provide free resources for those who want to know more about Black History in the Northeast of England. The project is headed by history teachers and academics from across the region, who feel that there is a rich vein of history in the Northeast that is overlooked too often.

PNS will look from the earliest records of Black people in the Northeast to contemporary figures. In its first year PNS will produce a free online Black History resource. It will contain readings of prominent abolitionist speakers who have links with our region to allow the words of those closest to this history to be heard by everyone today.

It will examine the region's role in the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans. Our region's role is an overlooked aspect of this history. Alongside strong links to abolition, the region also supported it; from plantation ownership, investment in and profits made from the enslavement of Black people in the West Indies and the USA. This history can be told from a Northeast perspective that will connect our young people to this history and to the ongoing conversations on this.

Our primary audience is young heritage users and students. It will contain teaching resources, a guided interactive walk in Sunderland and we will place a Blue Plaque to William Wells Brown, a prominent author and abolitionist who spent time in the region. In the coming years we will grow PNS to include more interactive ways to increase participation in this subject.

Frederick Douglass named his anti-slavery newspaper ‘The North Star’. Douglass had lived for a brief time in the Northeast, spoke all over the region, was helped by the Richardson family and was assisted in running the paper by Julia Griffiths from Newcastle. This support enabled Douglass to achieve so much but is too often left overlooked.

We are grateful to be working with Historic England on this, who want to help us with our launch event in 2023.

We are working with the young people of Success4All, a Northeast education charity, who are helping to produce material for our website and advise on its look and how it can be used.

We are indebted to NEEACA who are acting as cultural critical friends. We are supported in this by several notable figures in this field.

This ambitious project wants to hear from BALH members who want to get involved. We are looking for writers, web designers, those interested in this history and those who know of funding streams. We want PNS to be free for all. We are, at time of writing, applying for funding through the National Lottery Heritage Grant.

This is at heart a local history project: one that links our region to an international history and a contemporary issue that we want to empower all those who use PNS to take part in.

Please contact us by email projectns46@gmail.com

Or twitter @projectNS46

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By Mike Esbester

Last year, the ‘Railway Work, Life & Death’ (RWLD) project released an update to our database of accidents to British and Irish railway staff before 1939. This brought our total up to around 23,000 accident reports, across thousands of locations. These can help all sorts of research – including, of course, local history. Our database is a great means of exploring the relationships between the railways and their local communities.

To give one example of that, we’ll look at a case local to me in Portsmouth. On 16 September 1913, 35-year old Frederick Potter booked on for duty at Portsmouth Harbour station at 5.30am. He worked as a shunter – someone who couples and uncouples wagons, coaches and locomotives – for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR). This was a particularly dangerous role, as it involved working in and around moving vehicles.

And so it turned out for Frederick. At 6.35am he went to join an engine to two coaches, but got his right foot caught in some of the track. Before he could free himself, the engine hit him and crushed his right leg. First aid was provided and he was taken to the local hospital. The implications of workplace accidents immediately extended beyond just the workplace and out into the local community.

Potter’s leg was amputated. The local communities in which Potter existed rallied around. It was reported that ‘with the object of assisting Shunter FW Potter […] a successful smoking concert, organised in connection with the London and Provincial Yearly Dividing Society, was held at the Lodge House’. Another concert was held at the Railway Hotel in Fratton. The amount raised was not reported.

The LBSCR found him a new role, as he would have found it challenging to remain a shunter, given the physical nature of the job. Instead he became a porter - much more likely to have been manageable with an artificial leg. Yet it might well be that even this role was too strenuous, as on the 1921 Census he was listed as a ‘railway official’ at a level crossing in Portsmouth – he was probably a gatekeeper, a classic role for disabled employees.

So, we have some sense of Potter and his connections to Portsmouth as a place. We might have drawn more on the census records to detail his family connections – his wife and three children, for example – or where he lived. Was he in a neighbourhood in which other railway workers lived? Such occupational clustering was common. A key point here is that our database is one of many tools available to try to piece these connections together – using it as a part of wider research benefits everyone and produces a fuller understanding of personal and local histories.

Putting Potter in context, for 1900-1939 our database has a further 33 cases of accident to railway staff on Portsea Island, and 16 more in the wider Portsmouth area. (There would have been many more accidents even than this – but they weren’t investigated and so haven’t left the documentary record the RWLD project draws upon.) Why so many? Thinking about the particular circumstances of railway development helps – again, how the local situation dictated the types of traffic and the tight spaces the railway carved out of the urban environment.

We know from the database that Potter was one of 11 Portsmouth shunters hurt at work in this period – representing 22% of accidents in the area. This was by far the highest proportion of accidents by grade/ role. By looking at the data in this way we get a different sense of Potter’s story – less about him as an individual, and more as a member of a particular occupational community within the Portsmouth area. There are a variety of ways it’s possible to extract local meaning from our database.

It’s this kind of thing we’d like to see you doing – making use of the RWLD database to inform your local history research, as one set of records that help you understand better the lives of those who lived and worked in your areas.

There’s also potential here for exciting collaborative, place-based research. We’re currently exploring a possible project in the Portsmouth area, with a number of community groups, to find out more about the lives of the railway workers in our database, including their families and wider civic connections. It will give us a much better idea of how the railways had an impact on the Portsmouth area, via the people who worked on and around them, as well as develop an important collaborative methodology.

Early this year, we’ll also be adding to the database again, with a new run of c.25,000 cases. This focuses on trade union records, from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants/ National Union of Railwaymen (now the RMT Union). The records detail the support provided to members and their families after an accident. In relation to local history, they will help us see patterns of Union activity – where the Union was strong, for example – again contributing to our understanding of the relationships between railway, people and place.

We’d very much encourage you all to have a look at the project and the database, to see what it might offer your research. We’d love to hear how you’re making use of what we’re doing – and your suggestions for what we can do to help local historians use the project. We also welcome guest posts for our weekly blog, so if you have an idea for a local history focused blog, please get in touch.

The database and other resources, including the blog, are available from the RWLD project website: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk

Mike Esbester is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Portsmouth. Along with Karen Baker at the Railway Museum and James King at the Modern Records Centre of the University of Warwick, Mike co-leads the ‘Railway Work, Life & Death’ project: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk @RWLDproject

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Fenland History Saver Shares All is a recent presentation at the Museum of Cambridge by Mike Petty, in which he reflected on seventy years of discovering local history in Cambridgeshire, and some of the interesting people he has been privileged to meet during that time. Slide of Stretham below.

The presentation can be viewed at

https://archive.org/details/a-fenland-history-saver-shares-all-at-the-museum-of-cambridge-november-2022-mike-petty_202212

OR (BALH shortened URL)

https://www.balh.org.uk/VBY136

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By Ruth Herman

Where did you discover history? Was it in CBBC’s Horrible Histories, or was it that delightful product of 1930s, 1066 and all That? Did you have an inspiring history teacher who passed on their enthusiasm. As a reader of Local History News, it is likely that you have a strong interest in the way history is presented. I will now ask you a very serious question about not being serious. Are jokes and quips acceptable or even welcome if they excite a curiosity about the past? Is there a line between a light touch and going for laughs? Should we allow the history book that makes us laugh to be playful with what we might call “facts”. After all, once the history bug has bitten it demands ever greater feeds of accuracy, so can the original stimulant played fast and loose with the “truth”? Truth and facts are in themselves arguable so what does it matter if an entertaining piece is a little short on accuracy?

We need a benchmark for these questions, and I have arbitrarily chosen two books which claim to make history entertaining, but which deliberately offer differing levels of authority. The slim volume which delighted an early twentieth century readership is 1066 and all that. It was originally published in Punch and those of you who have not read it might enjoy its infectious silliness.[i] For my part the joy of it is that it has no shame. Who can forget Williamanmary, known as the Orange, who were initially popular because the people believed “it” was descended from Nell Gwyn? Or “its” Toleration Act which was repealed because “it” could not tolerate the Scots. (The book is completely Anglo-centric). [ii]

1000 years of annoying the French is the other book I have chosen.[iii] It is less of a parody and some claims have been made for the quality of its research.[iv] A simple comparison of one major episode, Agincourt and the 100 Years War, illustrates the differences. 1066 and all that doesn’t even pay lip service to scholarship and takes a tongue-in-cheek reference to Shakespeare as its source:

On the death of Henry IV Part II his son, Prince Hal, who had won all English hearts by his youthful pranks […] determined to justify public expectations by becoming the ideal English king. He therefore decided on an immediate appearance in the Hundred Years' War, making a declaration that all the treaties with France were to be regarded as dull and void. (Ch. 27)

1000 ways is more circumspect, but it does venture a small quip at the end of this paragraph (and uses the safety of a footnote to discuss whether the French ate frogs).

Henry’s troops rested the night at Maisoncelle and then went out to the battlefield next morning to ‘clear up’. As usual, the dead were stripped of their valuable weapons and jewellery and the wounded were asked whether they were in Who’s Who, and, if not, sent to join the list of the dead.

1066 and all that is outrageous in its deliberate misinterpretation of history, and it makes most people laugh. But the question in my mind is how far can we go with the amusements? Does its jokiness make serious historical writing seem too dull and difficult for the general reader? Or does it hook them in and tempt them to look at the past in more detail? Popular historians (Lucy Worsley, Kate Williams, even David Starkey) bring serious topics to the small screen. But while David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes might inspire someone to adopt a tiger, has the Rat from Horrible Histories ever persuaded anyone to adopt a rare book from the British Library?

We are left with the question: can humour spark a passion for history or does it merely rouse a passing interest.

What do you think?

Ruth Herman is retired, and Is a founder member of the Colney Heath History Society; she has written two slim volumes chronicling the village’s surprisingly entertaining past.

[i]Inevitably, researchers have found hidden depths to it. See “Mrs Malaprop Goes to Hastings: History, Parody, and Language in 1066 and All That (1930).” Dossena, Marina. (2017) Lingua nostra. 2017. 10.13130/2035-7680/8314.

[ii] Sellars W.C. and Yeatman R.J. 1066 And All That (Methuen) London, 1930, p. 56

[iii] Clarke, Stephen. 1000 Years of Annoying the French (p. 87). Transworld. Kindle Edition.

[iv] For comments on its accuracy see John Preston, “An end to cordiality”, The Spectator, 8 May 2010 accessed 16 November 2022

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By Jane Golding.

"I thought you would like to know what a successful and enjoyable event the regional conference proved to be. The location and venue were excellent, the speakers very entertaining and knowledgeable, and the catering exceptional. Please pass on to the organisers our thanks for all their efforts, and we feel the BALH is in good hands. We will look forward to the next time." -Yatton Local History Society

Report by Vice-Chair Jane Golding.

Bring together five expert and engaging speakers with a room of enthusiastic and interested local historians, provide excellent catering in a perfect venue, and you can – with fingers crossed - expect something special to happen. If a two-year delay enhanced expectations, they were more than met when our Regional Conference in Taunton finally took place on Saturday 22 October 2022.

From the expected to the unexpected. Sources less well-known to local historians were brought under the spotlight accompanied by guidance and suggestions on how to use more familiar sources in unexpected ways.

Lucy Browne (freelance genealogist, IHGS tutor and AGRA Council member) began the day with an entertaining and instructive account of how to ‘read’ a Coat of Arms, a journey that can often lead to the question ‘how local is your local history?’ We then went into the attic with Mark Forrest (former archivist at the Dorset History Centre, now archivist to Lord Shaftesbury, and author of the BALH publication Manors and Manorial Documents after 1500) to discover what might be hiding among family papers or in the backroom of a solicitor’s office. Mark highlighted questions to ask when seeking out material from within the depths of a collection.

After lunch, Paul Dryburgh (Principal Record Specialist at The National Archives and BALH Chair) provided instructive insights into the use of deeds and evidence from the early modern Court of Wards and Liveries (WARD 2 series). Using case studies from Sevenoaks and the surrounding area of West Kent, David Killingray (Emeritus Professor of Modern History at Goldsmiths) offered fresh perspectives for local research taking in nineteenth century religious and political struggles. Jonathan Mackman (experienced medieval and early modern historical researcher, and BALH Membership Secretary) brought the day to a close with a lively exploration of new ways into medieval and early modern taxation records.

With thanks to everyone who took part and to the BALH team for organising a smoothly run event.

A thank-you from co-organiser Adrian Webb.

Despite a few poor souls being waylaid by Covid the hall in Taunton was filled by the BALH faithful. Situated within easy walking distance of the Train Station and an ample car park, many attendees were grateful for such facilities. Stalls full of publications proved by Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries, the Somerset Record Society, our own BALH publications manned by John Chandler, and the Hampshire Field Club were kept busy when time allowed between speakers. Also present was Tim Collins representing the Friends of Somerset Archives. Never ending supplies of tea and coffee were provided, as well as numerous opportunities for people to mix, share ideas and generally get used to "in person" events once again.

The organisers of the Taunton event are very grateful to all those who bought tickets, brought along books, helped in the kitchen all day, helped put out chairs (and put them away), picked up rubbish, and generally contributed to making the event a great success. We are looking forward to future events.

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By Tim Lomas

The joint Historical Association/BALH project is now coming to an end with a wealth of resources for teaching history in primary and secondary schools. All 12 assignments are now complete and they cover a wide range of age groups from infants to sixth formers. The tutors are delighted with the output – most consist of a series of 6 lessons with full explanations and resources. At the current time the last finishing touches are taking place such as proof reading and checking permissions. This will pave the way for the release of the resources on the HA and BALH websites.

The range and type of resources can be seen in the following summary. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, Year 2 equates largely with 7 year olds, Year 6 with 11 year olds, Year 9 with 14-year olds and Year 11 with 16 year olds.

FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS:

Rachel Bruce worked on one street, Leaman Road in York using maps, photographs, oral evidence and trade directories producing resources for Year 2. The activities relate largely to working class terraced housing looked at who Leaman was, how the street has changed using a walk, maps and photographs. Local shops are also examined using adverts, surveys and directories.

David Fernley’s focus was on another street, Handsworth Road in Sheffield with the resources this time aimed at Year 4. The significance of the area has been probed using a variety of sources including maps, directories, photographs, the built environment, brochures, the church, parish registers and newspapers. Pupils at the end are asked to produce a tourist board leaflet.

In contrast, Matthew Flynn’s focus is on Castle Bromwich in World War 2 where the local contribution is placed in the context of the War especially its role in the Battle of Britain. The importance of Castle Bromwich in producing spitfires is examined as well as the role of Alex Henshaw. Sources include maps, photographs and oral evidence.

Aimed at the youngest pupils, Fern Hunt used a single building, the Meeting House in Claverham to look at its role and significance in the village and how it has changed over time. In addition to the building itself, the available sources include a diary. Pupils are asked to focus on what the building can tell us about the village.

10 and 11-year olds are the target for Sussannah Russell looking at childhood in Wrecclesham. The main source is a series of seven log books. Reconstructing life 150 years ago also involves using the census, tithe map, burial records, newspapers, photographs, memoirs and a physical walk. Some attention is also given to archive conservation.

The final primary contribution is by Thomas Rous who has produced teaching ideas and resources for Year 5 and 6 pupils on the experiences of Caribbean migrants in Hackney between the 1950s and 1970s. There is a heavy reliance on oral history but also photographs, newspapers and even poetry. The activities contrast migrant expectations with life experienced and look at the motives for coming to Hackney along with why experiences were so varied. There is also useful advice for schools engaging with a local history oral project.

FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Neil Bates focuses his work on Andover with Year 8 students. His key question is “How should we tell the story of Andover?” It involves building awareness of the broad sweep of Andover’s history such as the Enham Code, Harrow Way, execution site, ancient pubs, priory, leper hospital, Civil War, workhouse scandal, witches, plane crash, Battle of Britain, D Day, memorials, Swing Riots, slavery, Iron Age settlement, Roman settlement, railways, amenities and Danebury Hill Fort. It also critiques existing town trails and encourages pupils to improve on them.

The Bristol Bus Boycott is the theme of Laura Gladwin. Aimed at Year 9 pupils, it makes links to the broader topic of Civil Rights and the contextualisation of race relations. Sources used include speeches, newspapers and film. Memorialisation is also addressed and the last task involves justifying replacing the Colston statue with one to Paul Stevenson.

Sarah Jackson focuses on Mill Road in Cambridge and its changing identity between 1962 and 1988. Considerable attention is given to migration and cultural history in general. Much reliance is placed on oral history and testimony. Emotional and physical experiences are analysed, for example, the Windrush generation, black people, middle classes, alternative cultures and LGBTQ+.

Year 7 pupils are the target of Stuart Roper’s topic on unrest in Chard especially in the 1840s. It is placed in the wider context of protest over time. The pupils are asked to research in order to produce an article for the local museum. As part of it the resource covers issues such as the exploitation of child labour; living and working conditions of working classes; poor law and local workhouse including regulation of paupers. The sources used include poor law commissions, newspapers, census and diaries.

The roots of radicalism in Stroud form the theme of Eliza Ruxton’s project. Interestingly it involves both Year 8 and sixth formers, the latter preparing archive boxes for the younger pupils. The result is a look at how radicalism has changed in Stroud from 1500s right up to Extinction Rebellion and the Radical Book Club. In between it covers Wesley, non-conformism, workers’ rights, Chartism, the Stroudwater Riots of 1825 and antislavery.

Finally Paul Wainwright explores a sensitive issue in Liverpool with Year 8 pupils. They are asked “what should we write next to this painting?” The painting is of a philanthropic local merchant also involved in the slave trade (Bryan Blundell). The wider context looks at what Liverpool was like by 1700 (using maps, town books) as well as why the increase in trade changed Liverpool (using maps and text base sources). The pupils are being asked to discuss whether there has there been a hidden history and what interpretation should we offer now.

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Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society is pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of a major project under the title, ‘Local History Lives’. The project builds on the successful completion in 2019 of the digitised catalogue of the Society’s archives, comprising some 10,000 separate items.

The Society, recognised as the oldest local history society in Hampshire, has been publishing its Occasional Magazine since the inception of the Society in 1909. Although publication has indeed been occasional in the intervening years and decades, the Society can now boast over 150 well researched articles on the history of Milford-on-Sea, its inhabitants, its church and its environs.

All 150 articles can now be viewed on-line on the Society’s web-site, https://www.milfordhistory.org.uk/ . Advanced search facilities enable searching by topic, author, year of publication, and period of coverage, providing historians who have an interest in the locality with an invaluable extended resource.

The project, under the direction of the Society’s web master, Chris Sanders, is continuing with two more phases. The next of these, which is currently well under way, is the Names Directory to enable searches through over 75,000 records of people or places associated with Milford.

The final phase of the project is the digitisation of Parish Registers from 1594 to the establishment of the General Register Office in 1837 under the terms of the Registration Act of the previous year. These registers contain over 20,000 entries, and comprise the records of Milford itself and of neighbouring Hordle and Milton, the last of these involving close co-operation with Milton Heritage Society.

This would not have been possible without the dedicated work of transcribing which has been carried out by members of both Societies over many years.

The Society wishes to place on record its appreciation of the considerable financial support and grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hampshire Archives Trust, Hampshire County Council and Milford-on-Sea Parish Council,

It is expected that the final phases of the ‘Local History Lives’ Project will be completed during the course of 2023.

Enquiries: Barry Jolly 01425 291122; barryjolly@gmx.com

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Cheltenham Local History Society (CLHS) celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2022. Since its establishment in March 1982 the CLHS has gone from strength to strength and now counts around 350 people among its membership. Among the activities organised to celebrate its anniversary is the production of a short audio-visual production telling the story of CLHS in pictures, music and words. This is available via the CLHS web site (see https://cheltlocalhistory.org.uk/resources/research-displays/). It has also held several special events, including a Local History Afternoon on Trade and Industry, various walks and outings and the unveiling of a Civic Society blue plaque honouring Alfred Miles, one of the town’s great antiquarians. Plus a cake. PIC https://cheltlocalhistory.org.uk/

Yatton Local History Society in north Somerset has published a 40th Anniversary Edition of it journal Yatton Past & Present. The varied content has been drawn from past talks at their meetings, an MA dissertation, and inspiration from questions posed during History Month at the local library, plus memories from local people and organisations. It is the thirtieth publication from the society, the first 16 are available on their website. https://yattonlocalhistorysociety.co.uk

Wickham History Society marked its 60th anniversary with a village life exhibition, delayed by Covid, but nevertheless much enjoyed and very well supported. As well as twelve different displays on aspects of village history, visitors could look at the 1840 tithe map and books of old photographs and press cuttings of village life. Spotting yourself and friends in old school photos or in the cast lists of Wickham Dramatic Society was very popular and Wickham History Society got lots of valuable information as a result. There were twenty follow up enquiries or offers, which included history of buildings in the village, photos of village events and five opportunities to follow up with oral history recordings. Over 150 WHS publications were sold. They also launched their latest production ‘Roman Wickham’. Copies can be purchased for £3 through the Wickham History Society website www.wickhamhistory.org.uk or by phoning 01329 833103 - free delivery locally, otherwise £4. Other local history publications include Images of Wickham, a History of Wickham and Guide to Historic Wickham.

A new publication from Fordingbridge History Society is ‘A Place of Last Resort: history of Fordingbridge Workhouse’. It tells the story of the workhouse from the 17th century to the present day, making comprehensive use of local newspapers, maps and contemporary documents. Particularly impressive are the architects’ plans for the rebuilding in 1883, including details of the drains! http://www.thefordingbridgehistoricalsociety.com/

Avon Local History & Archaeology Newsletter for December 2022 contains very useful extensive and illustrated summaries of the talks presented at their Local History Day in October on housing. Technical details on carrying out building recording; wide-ranging discussion on researching and writing a house history; Victorian housing in Bristol; a project on medieval and early modern housing; and a ‘Homes for Heroes’ estate together make for comprehensive and valuable reference material to keep. https://www.alha.org.uk/publications/newsletters/newsletter-december-2022

There is a new comprehensive website for Bedford Architectural, Archaeological and Local History Society at www.baalhs.co.uk. This will be updated regularly with news, events and publications, and it has an email contact function to get speedy replies to queries. The old site has not yet been taken down, but please use the new address here.

The Family & Community History Research Society has been developing a new website. A special feature will be an expansion of the links section, where fuller entries on societies and organisations will be found, including not only contact details but a longer description, and information about their events. It is due for launch in early 2023. http://www.fachrs.com/

Esher District Local History Society was founded just over 50 years ago. Rescued from near closure in 2028, it has since prospered, despite having few meetings during the Covid years. The October 2022 meeting had an attendance of 75. The Esher area has a rich history, providing scope for a variety of invited speakers. Newsletters extend back to the earliest days of the Society, contributions are by members of the group, and including bringing up to date articles that have appeared earlier. The current issue contains an article about ‘Coaching Days’ written 50 years ago, illustrated by this photograph of the White Lady milestone near the Ditton boundary in the parish of Esher. It was erected in 1767, and (in 1972) had ‘recently been cleaned and renovated by experts’. One of the founder members was Royston Pike who left a number of monographs which are amongst the material available to subscribers in the EDLHS Members’ Room of the website. There is an active Facebook page with many photographs and where meetings are advertised (as well as putting up physical posters). The Society has close ties with Elmbridge Museum and Surrey History Centre. http://www.edlhs.co.uk

Fleet & Crookham Local History Group Newsletter reminds readers to keep for their archive material relating to local events, and national occasions such as the Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Coming in the Spring will be the Coronation. www.fclhg.org.uk

Discovering a hitherto unknown old photograph and then examining it in detail, comparing with later ones, plus maps and other sources of evidence, is an exciting and rewarding process. Borough of Twickenham Local History Society Newsletter has an excellent example. The photograph, from the 1870s, shows the premises of boatbuilder T G Tagg, and beyond in the trees the ‘Anglers Retreat’, a beer house moved from Ash island to Tagg Island due to repeated flooding. In 1872 Tom Tagg took over the licence and built the Island Hotel on the other side of his boatyard. The old ‘Retreat’ seems to have become domestic accommodation, housing 25 year old waterman James Hammerton at the time of the 1881 census. www.botlhs

There is a delightful account from Ravenstonedale Parish History Group in Cumbria Local History Federation Bulletin 89. Amongst other research they are doing, it has been found that signalmen on quieter railway lines found ways to supplement their income between trains. At Ravenstonedale haircuts were available at the signal box. www.ravenstonedale.org www.clhf.org.uk

Two related items from Clish-Clash, the e-newsletter of the Scottish Local History Forum, which might be of interest further afield. David Alston has been researching slavery connections in the Highlands for the last 20 years; his book Slaves and Highlanders was published in 2021. His research, and huge detail, including spreadsheets and summaries, information from beyond the Highlands, collaborations with artists and much more, can now be found online here https://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/. University of Dundee Founders Project Final Report, commissioned by the university into its historical links with transatlantic slavers, is now available to download. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/download/114231/media. https://www.slhf.org

The Bulletin of the North-East Methodist History Society often publishes items of wide interest, given the many ways the Methodist Church intertwined with local communities. September 2022 marked 90 years since the three branches – the Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and United Methodist - came together to form what we now know as The Methodist Church. Following the closure of Corbridge Methodist Church, the discovery of some crockery raises an intriguing question. It was not unusual for churches to have their name on such things, but in this case instead of the expected ‘God is Love’, or ‘Jesus Saves’ or similar sentiment, there is a flag with the word ‘Aggressive’ (illustrated). Has anyone seen anything similar or can offer an explanation? Editor:christinecaddy.2727@gmail.com www.northeastmethodisthistory.weebly.com

Collections need memories. Project Purley has built up a remarkable collection of memorabilia, including photographs, magazine articles, newspaper cuttings, programmes, and tape recordings. Recently a major exercise to digitise this material has been undertaken, in the process creating a new reference system to assist searching. They are appealing for members and friends to contribute their memories to build on the descriptive detail that is available for each item. www.project-purley.net

The East Yorkshire Local History Society is based in Hull and aims to keep track of news and events across the Riding. Their Newsletter, only three A4 sheets folded to make an A5 booklet, serves the members well. It always announces forthcoming events arranged by the Society, and prints generous reviews of talks and visits in recent months, recording the visits in photographs as well as words. There is also a valuable list of events being held by other groups in the area, and such useful information as the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society maintain a comprehensive list of other societies at www.yas.org.uk/Learn-more/More-Yorkshire-links . http://www.eylhs.org.uk/

City of Rochester Society Newsletter reports on some moving lamp pedestals. When the Old Bridge was opened in 1914 the approach included some large ornate lamps (see pic). The New Bridge, constructed in the 1960s required a change of road layout, and the lamps were taken down, the pedestals stored, until they were re-erected at the entrance to Rochester Pier at the Esplanade Gardens, in 1987. Needing restoration work, they have again been removed, by a large crane, and

Society news elsewhere in this issue: a question from Horley Local History Society (p 8), and work by Hampshire Field Club (p 7), Hebden Bridge Local History Society (p 9), Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society (p 20), Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group (p 28), Clements Hall Local History Group (p 28), Old Edinburgh Club (p 29).

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There are two contrasting exhibitions at Hackney Museum, as well as their permanent displays. Beginning in February ‘Hackney 300,000BC’ provides a rare glimpse into the distant past when Hackney’s landscape was like a south African savannah roamed by mammoths, hippos and lions. This exhibition is funded by the Royal Society’s Places of Science scheme. Until 20 February ‘Faces behind the fashion’ shares the story of people involved in the 20th century garment trade in Hackney with photographs, pamphlets, illustrations and portfolios. Hackney Museum, Technology & learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane, London E8 1GQ https://hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk

On Saturday 22January 2022 a huge fire destroyed one third of the site of Frogmore Paper Mill. The cafe, gallery, shop, workshop, museum and teaching/conference space were gone. The staff were grieving, shocked and dazed, but by the Monday a meeting was being held to make of plan of action for recovery. Since then they have received amazing support, monetary and practical donations, and other help from friends and family, local community groups, specialists and businesses. Fortunately papermaking could continue. The archive was undamaged. A substantial number of artefacts have already been restored. Some fund-raising events have been possible, including a street food market, group boat trips, and a couple of film location bookings. All being well, visitors will be welcomed back by late 2023. There are a number of videos on YouTube illustrating what the mill does. Frogmore Paper Mill, Fourdrinier Way, Apsley, Herts HP3 9RY 01442234600 https//www.frogmorepapermill.org.ukP3 9RY

Thornbury & District Museum, located at 4 Chapel Street, Thornbury, Gloucestershire, and much appreciated by the community, is under threat. A statement from the trustees last summer explains the possibility that they will be without a home when their tenancy with the Armstrong Hall Trust expires in November 2023. Other options are being urgently explored, but finding alternative affordable premises seems unlikely. The museum is closed for its winter break until February. Thornbury & District Museum, c/o The Town Hall, 35 High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AR https://www.thrognburymuseum.org.uk

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Since 2020, the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England has been working on a large scale research project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council: ‘Intergroup Dynamics in the 1831 Reform Riots’. With the help of archivists, curators and community groups in Blandford, Yeovil, Worcester, Dorchester, Bath, Sherborne, Newport and Bristol, our researchers have been reopening the book on the wave of serious public disturbances that shook the country after the House of Lords booted out the Great Reform Bill in October 1831.

An important part of our work has been liaising with local communities and holding public talks, guided walks and research workshops in towns where rioting took place. It’s enabled us to share what we’ve learned in the archives and pick up on a wealth of local knowledge in the process. There is a beautifully designed travelling exhibition. https://riot1831.com

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The Cheltenham Local and Family History Library has been relocated into the main Pubic Library on Clarence Street. Resources formerly on open shelves in the old local studies library have been moved to the new venue, arranged as before. There is a bookable microfilm reader with print facility, for viewing historical newspapers. The Cheltenham Map Collection is on open access; material such as street directories, electoral rolls, and the Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic photographic supplements are available on request. Email cheltlocalstudies@gloucestershire.gov.uk www.cheltlocalhistory.org.uk

The Local Studies Group of CILIP (the library and information association) is calling for submissions to the Alan Ball Award for outstanding Local History publications, both hard copy or digital, that have been published in 2022.

Deadline for submission is end of February 2023. Go to this link for more information and how to submit your publication: https://lslibrarians.wordpress.com/local-studies-publication-e-publications-of-the-year-awards/.

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Readers will be familiar with archives from the user’s point of view, but what is it like from the other side of the search room desk, especially when you are starting out in a professional career as an archivist? A recent Newsletter from Bedfordshire Archives gives a link to descriptions of experiences from two of their newly-qualified staff. BALH shortened URL is https://www.balh.org.uk/MGC139 The same Newsletter reports on work experience provided for students from Bedford Sixth Form College, and the pleasures of getting out and about again, showing their resources to members of the public. https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/Archives-Service.aspx

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By Ann Redshaw

Rockingham is a picturesque North Northamptonshire village watched over by the still inhabited Norman castle and church at the top of the hill. An ancient main road sweeps down that steep hill, bisecting the village with its eighteenth– and nineteenth-century houses, laid out much as they were from at least the seventeenth century. This account began when some years of family history research into the village of Rockingham coincided with the Heritage Lottery-funded Parish Hall renovation project. The grant supported the Rockingham History Group to research aspects of the hall’s history as a school.

The estate archives are shared between the Record Office and the Rockingham Castle Estate whose archivist proved both knowledgeable and very supportive. An extensive database evolved so that hitherto unused original documents combined with information from sources such as parish records, wills, censuses and newspapers, began to reveal a picture of life in this small parish still owned almost entirely by one family. The information and stories were too rich to abandon after the project was completed, so curiosity-driven research continued. But how to disseminate this new knowledge? A book was obvious but necessitated reversing the detailed thinking to form broad topics which would hopefully interest both the ‘lay’ reader and the academic, always hungry for references. Rather than produce a ‘complete’ account of the village, themes were chosen on the basis of the available evidence.

As Rockingham is such a small parish, it is difficult to use the available sources for statistical analyses, although sometimes trends can be matched against national and county information. For example, education. The 19th century National School was straightforward to investigate and place in the local and national context, but there was a gem in the archives in the form of an 18th century school register.[i] Secondary sources suggested it was a charity school. Google found a contemporary publication from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge not only dating our school to 1717, but also giving full details of funding strategies, staff specifications, curriculum, home-school contracts, behaviour guidelines and reading lists. It also made it possible to place it within the local and national contexts of such schools. The pupils’ names enabled the calculation of their ages and family size from the parish records. Estate records revealed the occupations of parents, and their rent and charity lists gave a guide to their relative wealth. Some invoices carried the mark or signature of their fathers. There was even an example of a pupil’s handwriting. Church records came up with the teacher’s salary and the oversight of the rector who was also a headmaster at a private school six miles away.

The opposite strategy was applied to a selection of the stories. Take the eighteenth century estate gardener Mathew Allen whose employment contract listed his duties, responsibilities and perks. Secondary sources lent the background to the development of gardening. Castle meeting minutes indicated he was also the castle brewer so these items were placed in a section dealing with employment. Although he never signed his name, he was one of the very few inhabitants who significantly improved his wealth. This was established by examining the estate accounts which evidenced his move to a more expensive house and acquisition of land. This information was placed under the heading of ‘Wealth and poverty’, along with the financial information from his inventory and will. And of course the inventory details gave a peek into his house and furnishings, another chapter for the book.

Rather different resources were used to record almost every house in the village. Perhaps unusually none of the houses were copyhold, belonging exclusively to the Watson estate. Only two survive from before the Civil War (the Castle having been on the front line) so the others were replaced piecemeal, it seems as they became ruinous. Seen as basic accommodation for the labour the estate required, they were simple and relatively uniform. Evidence for this comes from the estate accounts and estate maps. In addition, most houses were renovated by the estate in the 1950s and it retained ‘before’ photographs, both inside and out, and professionally drawn up ground plans. The estate maps peopled the houses from 1806 so, in combination with the censuses, it is possible to identify the occupants’ jobs. The houses are organised by broad national building trends such as pre Civil War, the ‘Great Rebuilding’ and model villages.

The newspapers of the nineteenth century however, preserve a whole new aspect of local history. Reports on contentious issues of the day whether they be compulsory vaccination or the moral and practical efficacy of benefit schemes, their arguments expressed in their own language hold an immediacy and sometimes shocking insight into the prejudices of the time which raw data lacks. In many ways these insights may reflect the experience in other villages and perhaps also different centuries. But what to do with all that unused data? A website perhaps?

Available from the author rockinghamhistory@mail.com £20 + P&P

[i] ‘Education in an eighteenth-century Northamptonshire village: The Rockingham schools’ register 1764-1773’ (The Local Historian Vol. 46 no.3 July 2016) pp220-228

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By Iain Taylor and David Killingray

Sevenoaks 1790-1914: Risk and Choice in West Kent seeks to tell the story of the Kentish market town 25 miles southeast of London in a somewhat different way.

There are many histories of English market towns and rural areas for the long nineteenth century, but many are very limited, failing to address the various complex interactions taking place in these societies. Almost all suffer, in one form or another, from what John Marshall calls the ‘tyranny of the discrete’, with an over-narrow focus, while generally ignoring the important national and regional factors that undoubtedly influenced those localities to a very significant degree. We seek to avoid falling into this trap by concentrating on how extra-local issues impacted on the broader Sevenoaks area, to give a more complete picture of events. Most importantly, we wish to introduce an entirely new approach to studying local history, for the main thread running through this book is the twin ideas of risk and choice.

Our basic argument is that, particularly for poorer people in early nineteenth-century west Kent, their lives revolved around overcoming the everyday risks that could and often did impact their very survival, especially the struggle to obtain the four bare necessities: food, clothing, housing and fuel. Those efforts are placed within their contemporary contexts, examining what types of risk mitigation strategy were available to the disadvantaged in relation to employment opportunities and family support. We then analyse other areas of risk, especially those arising from poor health and substandard sanitary conditions, and the ways that these too might be mitigated. Our contention is that focusing on the risks people had to bear, how they coped with them, what impact that might have had on other social groups (which carried the potential for various political conflicts), and how those risks were eventually removed or reduced, provides a fruitful new way of looking at the history of the Sevenoaks area in this period. And we believe there is no reason why this methodology might not be extended to other places, too.

Since risk bore disproportionately heavily on the poor, the primary emphasis will be on history ‘from below’. Thus, our concern is the mass of the population, most of whom were poor; despite the recent labours of many historians, ‘there are still few histories of the working poor and they have names and faces, and stories to tell’. This means we need ‘so far as possible, to see things their way’, which requires digging deep in the available sources to uncover what the lower social orders were thinking, doing and feeling. This does not mean ignoring the well to do and the ‘middling sort’, whose lives and fortunes also changed in this period. Our starting point is therefore those things central in the lives of labouring people in west Kent.

One flipside of risk is choice; others might include trust and hope. Risk diminished as economic improvements from c.1850 put more money in people’s pockets, including some of the poorest in society. Choice was not merely expressed in terms of greater disposable incomes and a growing ability to choose a wider range of consumer goods. For choice or, perhaps better, pluralism made accessible to a larger number of people many more opportunities and rights: the entitlement to vote; alternate places in which to worship (or not); access to knowledge and education; more spare time and a wider choice of sporting and leisure activities. How and why people (especially the poor) clamoured for more choice, and how and why they expressed those choices when they had the opportunity to do so, we believe drove the historical process in, broadly, the second half of the nineteenth century in much the same way as risk did the first. Pressure from below to reduce risk or enhance choice was not necessarily welcomed by all, giving rise to political factions and class conflict. Steering a way through life’s difficulties was a complex and multi-influenced process, so we believe describing it in terms of risk and choice is an entirely valid approach.

These emphases feature in few other local histories. Politics in its broadest sense is often ignored. Religious belief and activity tends to concentrate on buildings and the clergy, while ignoring how faith impacted on the lives of ordinary people. Politics and religion were so often interwoven in people’s minds and responses in the long nineteenth century that they deserve to be considered together. After a chapter examining west Kent society and the power and authority structures that governed it, we combine politics and religion in two chapters under the broad heading of ‘Ideas, Beliefs and Values’. These deal with adherence to and expressions of both religious and political ideas and opinions. This means seeing ‘parish pump’ politics as important to communities and assessing religious (and non-religious) beliefs as powerful and dynamic influences that helped shape the ideas and actions of individuals, in both local affairs and national issues. This, in turn, requires historians seriously to understand the moral imperatives of religious belief and practice as they were played out locally in relation to the national political stage.

In addition, a risk- and choice-centred framework enables us to examine more fully during the long nineteenth century the impact on west Kent of important socio-economic developments: Britain’s rapid increase in population; Sevenoaks’ close proximity to rapidly expanding London; the growth and change in agricultural output; industrialisation and urbanisation; the growth of steam and steel; changes in working practices; the national railway network; the growth in the power and influence of the state both locally and nationally; radical changes in labour relations; changing religious affiliations and the decline in religious belief; advances in the medical sciences; an increase in ideas of individualism and personal leisure time; and ideas of progress. By the early twentieth century parts of west Kent could boast a distinctive working class, whereas a hundred years earlier there were only incipient signs of that major reordering of society and attitude.

Sevenoaks 1790-1914: Risk and Choice in West Kent is published by the University of Hertfordshire Press, priced £14.99 https://www.herts.ac.uk/uhpress/books-content/sevenoaks-1790-1914

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by the Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group (NIAG 2022 3rd edition ISBN 978-0-9576647-5-3) £9 + £2.50 p&p from https://www.niag.org.uk/publications.php

In 2001 the Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group published a guide to their county’s industrial heritage because physical evidence of its industrial past was fast disappearing. A second edition was published in 2011, and, as more changes have occurred since then (some positive, some negative), this publication brings the position up to date.

The Introduction outlines industrial development in the county, suggesting that lack of coal beneath the ground retarded its large-scale industrial development; nevertheless various industrial activities were eventually established. The industries included in this guide are: extractive (stone quarries, lime kilns, cement works, brickyards, smelting, and of course, the steel works at Corby); processing agricultural products (flour mills, maltings, tanneries, sawmills); textiles (fulling mills, paper mills, clothing factories); boot and shoe making (workshops, warehouses, factories); engineering (agricultural engineers, factory machinery); brewing; distribution (market halls, wholesale warehouses); transport (turnpike roads, canals, railways); services (water supply, waste disposal, illumination, power, reservoirs, pumping stations, gas works, generating stations); and entertainment (early theatres, cinemas). Some fascinating statistics emerge, for example, of the 90 plus original railway stations, only six are still functioning. On the other hand, all of the canals remain open apart from a short branch from Cosgrove towards Buckingham.

The guide is arranged alphabetically by place. Each site has a unique number and can be located by means of an 8-figure grid reference so that it can be found on a map to the nearest 10 metres (helpful in a built-up area). This grid reference can also be entered on the Grid References Finder app (https://gridreferencefinder.com). For each site, as well as a brief description and history, there is one of three symbols denoting the nature of access to it (open to the public; viewable from a public route through or near the site; only visible on private property and permission needed for access).

As the book is ordered by place, the index identifies types of industry or transport by site number, thus enabling the user to locate particular types of industrial site. This book is well organised with some lovely colour photographs and is a model for other counties.

Heather Falvey

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by Clements Hall Local History Group (CHLHG 2022 iv+112pp ISBN: 978-1-999-665-531) £8 + p&p enquiries@clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk

Before about 1850 there were some small-scale industries in the Clementhorpe area of York (to the south-west of the castle, on the west bank of the River Ouse), some of which were to become significant in the development of the city; in the late nineteenth century Clementhorpe was a hive of industrial activity; manufacturing continued in the earlier part of the twentieth century; by 1985 the area was deindustrialised. Thus, as in many British towns and cities, although significant at the time, most industrial activity only lasted about 150 years.

Chapters 2 to 7 of this book provide a narrative of the area’s industrial history through time and chapters 8 to 18 cover local industries by sector. Several maps, including ones from 1852, 1864, 1892 and 1956, are used to trace development over time. Stories relating to some of the industries have been located in newspapers; censuses have been used to identify numbers of workers in particular industries; and some oral histories have been collected.

In general the river played a big part in transporting supplies inwards and products outwards: trade directories reveal the presence of at least 8 boat builders operating in the area. Other industries included brewing, coal storage and distribution, construction and timber trades, fertilisers, iron founding, metalworking, engineering, printing, tanning, threadmaking and dyeing.

Two examples of the rise and fall of a business will give a flavour of the story of industrial Clementhorpe. Perhaps the most famous local business was Terry’s, the confectionery manufacturer, a big employer in its day, which produced a vast range of items, including candied lemon, citron and orange peel, medicated and other lozenges, as well as a variety of chocolates. Although the founders opened a shop in York in 1767, the Clementhorpe factory was not established until the 1860s. The main frontage of Terry’s Confectionery Works, facing onto the river, was about 80 metres long. The whole site was demolished in 1987 and is memorialised in Terry Avenue. Another huge waterfront building was that of the York Equitable Industrial Society (later the Co-operative Society), which was used not only for warehousing but also for the manufacture of breads and cakes, meat pies and bacon. The central premises, opened in 1899, covered some 3,074 square yards. In 1908 the bakery supplied 482,096 loaves and 1,161,056 pastries. The site was closed in phases from 1968.

Most of the industrial buildings in Clementhorpe have been demolished and replaced by new dwellings but fortunately several archives have photographs of the original buildings. This is a nicely produced and well-illustrated book, although there is no index. A list of the sources used, and more information relating to each chapter, can be found in the CHLHG’s website.

http://www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/projects/clementhorpe-200-years-of-work-and-industry/

Heather Falvey

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By Simon Fowler

Friends of Victoria House 2022 ISBN 978-1-3999-3512-8 £7, + £2 p & P from the author at 254A Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 3EG, email simon@history-man.co.uk

The Abbeyfield Society, now known as Abbeyfield, was established in the 1950s. Richard Carr-Gomm, a former Army officer, volunteered as Britain’s first male home help. He discovered that the needs of the people he was looking after were not necessarily material, but they were often lonely. From this grew the nationwide organisation we know today.

This book traces the history of the Abbeyfield movement in one locality. For forty years Victoria House was home of many of Kew’s elderly residents. Vital to its success has been the work of the dedicated staff, and the important roles played by volunteers to ensure the founding principle that the community be involved continues. In the four decades since its foundation, the needs of residents have changed and put greater demands on all elements of the organisation.

Research during the pandemic restricted opportunities for oral history, though the author succeeded in contacting volunteers, families of past residents, and former members of staff to build up a detailed picture of a much-loved local institution. The result is an inspirational story, and a unique history of a modern care home.

https://www.abbeyfield.com/the-abbeyfield-difference/

JH

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The Old Edinburgh Club (OEC) is pleased to announce the completion of a project to digitise nearly 70 articles first published between 1991 and 2008. These authoritative articles appeared in the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, the Club's journal which was launched in 1908.

There is an eclectic mix of topics featuring Edinburgh people, places, culture and society. Topics include the 'Defending the Burgh', 'Fire and Filth: Edinburgh's Environment, 1660-1760', 'New Light on the First New Town', 'The Palace at Edinburgh Castle' and 'The West Port Murders and the Miniature Coffins from Arthur's Seat'.

Well-known authors include Iain Gordon Brown, Owen Dudley Edwards, Rab Houston and Charles McKean.

The digitisation was enabled by a bequest from an OEC member, Miss Jean Butchart who had previously helped to fund that of 35 earlier volumes dating back to 1908.

The articles are available for download on the OEC website at:

https://oldedinburghclub.org.uk/boec/boec-new-series-contents/

Earlier volumes can be found at: https://oldedinburghclub.org.uk/boec/boec-original-series-contents/

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Who and what we are: The Association is an unincorporated charity governed by an elected Council. Its purpose, as expressed in its charitable object, is promote the advancement of public education through the study of local history. It aims to achieve this by encouraging and assisting the study of local history throughout Great Britain as an academic discipline and as a rewarding leisure pursuit for both individuals and groups. The elected members of Council are the trustees of the Charity.

What have we done: the year in review has seen a welcome return to archives and in-person meetings where local historians can research and share their findings in tried and tested as well as new ways. Nevertheless, the online world now takes a much greater role in all our lives and in the Association’s business. In terms of publications, all bar the most recent issue of The Local Historian remains free to access online after the removal of the paywall last year. We continue to develop new publications. Hard on the heels of his Reading Early Modern Handwriting, in March 2022 Dr Mark Forrest published Manors and Manorial Documents after 1500, an indispensable guide to post-medieval manors, their records and how to use and locate them.

The acceleration of our digital offering begun in 2020 continues apace and now drives much of the Association’s engagement. Digital events are delivered at discounted rates for individual members and members of member societies. The Digital Team led by our digital manager Paul Carter continues to develop and oversee our online offer; Megan Kelleher, now Digital Content Strategy Officer, continues to grow our social media offering across all of the main platforms, allowing us to share new online content and engage the Association in online discussion and growth of local history in new audiences and communities. Together with our Digital Content Officer Catherine Warr, who has produced numerous short videos for publicity and research, they have developed a second series of our ‘Local History Matters’ podcast programme, all freely available on our website, with topics including ‘Why is local history important?’ (episode 2), ‘How to get started in local history research’ (episode 3), ‘How to engage the next generation in local history research’ (episode 5) and ‘Engaging your local community in local history research’ (episode 7). Likewise, the team has delivered several digital skills webinars throughout the year, notably ‘Creating Engaging YouTube Videos for Local and Family History’, ‘Effective social media for local history’ and ‘The 1921 census: opportunities for local history’. This series continues apace and new webinars are being planned for 2023. Likewise, Local History Hour, our monthly online lecture series, developed in 2020 by trustees Dr Adrian Webb and Joe Saunders, has flourished to become a mainstay of local history research online, attracting large audiences. Held on the last Thursday of the months our speakers, drawn from academia and the cultural heritage sector, have introduced the key sources for a wide variety of topics such as ‘Nonconformity from the 17th to the 19th centuries’, ‘National Mapping in the 19th and 20th Centuries’, ‘Looking after the dead, c. 1850-1950’ and ‘Women’s Lives in Early Modern England’, and explored these issues via case studies. In March, the Association collaborated with the Historic Towns Trust to host four evening online academic lectures relating to the historic mapping of urban centres in Britain from the medieval to the modern. Large audiences enjoyed case studies and research tips from a stellar panel of speakers. The collaboration will return in 2023. The Association also ran its inaugural Local History Photographer of the Year and Young Local History Photographer 2022 competitions, encouraging submissions of photographs on local history topics and short captions that convey a personal and local meaning. A very competitive process saw a number of high-quality winners selected. News of the coming year’s competition is shared elsewhere in this edition.

Stephen Miller, our Outreach Coordinator, has been working to streamline the management of our diversifying offer across publications, in-person events and online programme. The change in national circumstances has permitted the Association to restart live events. After several aborted attempts, the Association ran its first regional conference in Taunton in October – ‘Unusual Sources for Local History’. Trustees Dr Adrian Webb and Susan Moore assembled an excellent programme of speakers from within the Association, The National Archives and academic institutions who shared research on sources for heraldry, local politics, manors, taxation and deeds collections. Over seventy delegates enjoyed an informative and social day. This is intended to be the first of many regional conferences, and options are being explored for conferences in northern and north-western England, Devon, the Home Counties, the English Midlands and central Scotland. Keep in touch with Local History News and the website for more details.

What services are provided: Our two flagship quarterly publications, The Local Historian and Local History News, remain central to the work of BALH, providing articles and information on local history across Britain, and offering a source of inspiration and guidance for best practice in local history research, as well as a series of well-regarded awards. In 2022, as reported in April, our Dr Alan Crosby, editor of The Local Historian, celebrated (and that is the correct word) twenty years in the editor’s seat. He has witnessed significant changes in local history publishing and has maintained the pre-eminence and respect in which the journal is held. Dr Jane Howells, who has performed equally sterling service as editor of Local History News for over a decade, will stand down at the end of January 2023. The trustees are delighted to pay warm tribute to her contribution to local history and to the work of the Association in many areas of business. They are equally pleased to welcome Andrew Chapman, current member of the Publications Committee, to take on the editing role. Our website has developed into a forum for individuals and societies and is showcasing several new resources. The Directory of Local History Societies, compiled by Dr Jonathan Mackman, is nearing completion and allows societies across the country to contact each other and attract new members. The website now hosts a growing blog and suite of Ten-Minute Talks, short videos giving bitesize introductions to extremely wide-ranging topics. The e-newsletter (published bi-monthly) has grown exponentially to include a wide range of news and short research features for members. We continue to offer insurance to our society members to cover their activities. Members can now – and are encouraged – to join the Association and pay their subscriptions by Direct Debit.

Local History Day: Led by the Digital Team and with the assistance of numerous trustees and committee members, the Association delivered a new iteration of our flagship Local History Day to a live audience at Conway Hall and an online audience. Simultaneous broadcast was made available to remote viewers of two excellent live lectures by Dr Mark Forrest on his new publication and Dr Janina Ramirez on her latest book: Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages Through The Women Written Out Of It. Conversations with speakers, extra live online content and pre-recorded videos were also broadcast by the Digital Team, all expertly hosted by Megan Kelleher. Award-winners and others in the live audience were also interviewed by Catherine Warr and Marek Masojada, a placement student from Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury who worked with the Digital Team to produce extra content for the Day.

Our annual awards were also announced, and the recipients’ varied achievements introduced, in a video produced with several of our Trustees. Fortunately, some of the recipients were able to attend the ceremony remotely.

David Dymond Memorial Winter Lecture: On 8 December, the Association hosted its second annual Winter Lecture dedicated to the memory of the Association’s former Vice Chair and Vice President, Professor David Dymond. We welcomed around 150 attendees online to hear Professor Briony McDonagh, Professor of Environmental Humanities, University of Hull, to speak on ‘Landscape, environment and learning histories’. The lecture explored land and water management over eight centuries and documented the public history collaboration at the heart of modern research projects. The Association was delighted to welcome members of the Dymond family.

The Trustees believe that the Association continues to run effectively and according to the constitution and rules of its charitable status. Constant attention is being given to find ways and methods for the Association to function more effectively in reaching a larger constituency of people interested in local history. In all these endeavours the Trustees are grateful to all those who support BALH whether on paid contracts, on committees or as volunteers without whom the Association could not function.

Dr Paul Dryburgh, Chair BALH

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During 2022 BALH's outreach efforts, carried out by the Outreach Team, Outreach Coordinator and the Digital Team, have been considerable. These activities are continuing throughout the winter of 2022-3.

In October our Local History Hour was on 19th century working class writing and a study of William Small of Salisbury and in November was on 19th and 20th century parish politics.

Our second ever winter David Dymond Memorial Lecture was on the history of water and flood management in Kingston upon Hull and its uses in the present day.

In January we welcomed representatives of the Society of Genealogists and the Society for One-Place Studies respectively to two evenings thinking about the ties between local and family history.

For 2023 we are planning a series of talks with the Historic Towns Trust, further Local History Hours and the 2023 Dymond Lecture. We also have webinars scheduled in for February and March being run by our Digital Team who are sharing advice on using social media and creating YouTube videos for local history. Please get in touch if you know of an excellent local history speaker we should host.

The BALH blog continues to draw in excellent research as does our popular series of online 'Ten-Minute Talks'. We are always looking for new blogs and videos so please let us know if you would like to share your local history research with a wide audience.

The BALH Outreach Team, which promotes the Association and local history generally, is looking to expand to keep up with our growing range of activities. Please see elsewhere in this issue (page 6) for information on this.

Keep up to date with our activities via

Local History News, the BALH website and e-newsletter.

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The following people have received recognition in the New Year Honours List 2023:

John BISHTON. For services to the Preservation and Heritage of the Historic Buildings in Bruton, Somerset

Peter JARDINE, Volunteer, Isle of Wight Steam Railway. For services to Heritage Railway.

Peter KYLE, O.B.E., lately Chair, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. For services to Cultural Heritage.

Kathleen MACLEAN (Kate Dickson), lately Trustee, Architectural Heritage Fund. For services to Heritage.

Edward MALLINSON, Chair and Boat Manager, The Shamrock Trust. For services to Steam Boating Heritage and to the community in Cumbria.

Eve SALOMON, Chair, Horniman Museum and Gardens. For services to the Arts and Heritage.

Andrew SCARFFE. For services to the preservation of Laxey and Lonan Heritage and the Isle of Man Railways.

Ian SWINNEY, Countryside Area Ranger, Bookham Commons. For services to Conservation and Heritage in Surrey.

Jenifer WHITE, Historic Landscape Adviser, Historic England. For services to Heritage and to Historic Parks and Gardens.

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By Alan Crosby

In October, giving a talk to a local history society, I was asked about time travel: “If you could go back in time, where and when would you go to”? That’s an extraordinarily difficult question, not least because of a fundamental philosophical and practical issue – would one be there as an invisible and intangible incorporeal presence, or would one be a material object and, if the latter, could one change the course of events? Could one, for example, save the day for Richard III at Bosworth, deflect the arrow heading for Harold at Hastings, cure the malady afflicting the 41-year-old Jane Austen, warn the captain of the Titanic about the iceberg in the distance, or knock a bit of sense into Mary Queen of Scots?

It's probably just as well that (so far, and touching wood) the ‘changing the course of history’ option is not available (in fact neither is the other option, but let’s not worry about that). The problems that would be created for historians are beyond imagining – suppose that the Norman Conquest didn’t happen, or Mary and Elizabeth found (on meeting each other) that they got on tremendously well (although if Richard III won at Bosworth the Tudors wouldn’t have happened anyway). I remember that a few years ago there was a brief and curious vogue for counterfactuality, with perhaps rather nonsensical books on that theme: ‘What if …’. Nevertheless, it’s a dimension to the ‘planned versus accidental’ arguments about historical events and processes, a valid debating issue: the molehill that tripped up William III’s horse in 1702 was not put there by the king’s enemies, even if they delighted in the accident itself and in its consequences. On the other hand, the nightmare of Ukraine is clearly the result of planning, albeit of a catastrophically inept variety.

As a local historian, my interests might be different in scale, and I’d prefer to be an observer of events rather than an influencer and game-changer, tempting though the latter might sometimes be. I’d like to discover whether my interpretations of what happened in the past were borne out by the contemporary evidence of actions and conversations – and there would be infinite potential for filling all those gaps which result from the absence of documentary sources. But maybe I’d enjoy being a hidden bystander at historic events, or simply seeing what places really were like in the past – did they smell as bad as we think, was that long-vanished building as impressive as archaeological investigation suggests, what was the local accent three centuries ago?

So, where and when … and I’m spoiled for choice. Might I stand on the rudimentary platform when the first public train arrives at Woking Common from Nine Elms on 21 May 1838, 144 years before the publication of my history of the town which grew on the empty heathland around the railway station? Or perhaps I’d be a fly on the wall of the council chamber in Thetford Guildhall in the 1660s, when the Corporation was riven by politico-religious factionalism (which led to one of those lacunae – the assembly minute book mysteriously disappeared). Or how about meeting Benjamin Shaw, the Preston mill mechanic (1772-1841) whose autobiography I have edited and published?

Perhaps I’d simply go back to Gloucester Cathedral on 6 September 1910, to be present when Ralph Vaughan Williams conducted the premiere of his ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis’. I first knew that magical work almost fifty years ago, and its glory and emotional power have remained with me ever since … haunting, historically evocative, intricate, soaring, exquisitely crafted, bridging the centuries, spine-tinglingly beautiful. I’d be there in the cathedral, hearing the mysteries unfold in that magnificent setting, and (whether ghost-like or corporeal I know not), and just as Herbert Howells and Ivor Gurney did, surely I would then ‘wander the streets of Gloucester for hours unwilling to return home and unable to sleep from the power of the experience’.

But I won’t be travelling backwards in time – and that’s for the better. The present seems to be more than enough to cope with, and I can hear Vaughan Williams on electronic devices whenever I choose. As for travelling forward and seeing the future, definitely not!

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I am a qualified archivist with a passion for local history, education and learning. I’m currently working as Access and Digital Engagement Archivist for the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, where I am also their medieval specialist.

Throughout my career I’ve developed opportunities for a diverse range of audiences to engage with archival collections and local history. In particular, my role as Access and Engagement Archivist for Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd between 2014 and 2021 brought me into direct contact with many of York’s local history groups, and I supported several groups with the development of bids to external funders. The role also gave me responsibility for both the Local History manuscript and photographic collections and the Local History reference library, which helped me create a range of onsite and online offers for young people and adults in both formal education and informal settings (including one education session delivered in a local women’s prison and a partnership project with SEND learners).

I love teaching and learning, and it was this that brought me to University of York in May 2021. My current role allows me to teach medieval palaeography – which I love! – as well as a range of other subjects to fit with the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. I also support the University's Digital Creativity programme, using archival sources as inspiration for innovative digital public outputs created by students.

Outside of my day to day work I’m a member of the Canterbury and York Society, a mentor and assessor on the Archives and Records Association (ARA) Continuing Professional Development Scheme, and a peer reviewer for the Archives and Records Journal. I’m also Treasurer for the Archives for Learning and Education Section of ARA, and was on the Steering Group that commissioned ARA’s recent ‘Accessible Learning Toolkit.’

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As this issue of LHN goes to press, we are close to the 31 January deadline for our 20sStreets competition. Working with The National Archives to remember our shared past, 20sStreets is a project about enjoying local history. We are looking forward to reading the entries and celebrating the exciting work that has been done for this event.

Groups and individual local historians have used the 1921 Census for England and Wales to unearth some fascinating stories from 100 years ago, sharing widely varied interests. Some contributions relate to families, communities or individuals; some are centred on work or a pastime; there’s everything from distress, scandals and mysteries to special occasions.

Look out for further announcements of the results and opportunities to hear more about the very special local history research that has been carried out for this competition.

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Jane Howells

New Year Greetings for 2023 to BALH members and friends

BALH Annual General Meeting

The Association’s AGM will be held on Thursday 18 May 2023 (not 25 May as previously reported). Minutes of the 2022 AGM, and the Agenda for this year can be found in the Supplement. This event will be online via Zoom. Awards recipients will be announced after the meeting, followed by a lecture. Further details will be available on the website and e-newsletter as they are confirmed.

Become involved with BALH

Are you an enthusiastic and active local historian? Any reader who is interested in joining BALH as volunteer member of our Board of Trustees, or participant on one of the advisory committees are urged to get in touch. Please see page 6 for information.

Local History Photographer of the Year 2023

The 2022 photography competition will be announced at the AGM and will run over the summer months.

Apologies

There is a correction to the name of one of the authors of Masters and Matrons of the Llanfyllin Union Workhouse reviewed on page 27 of Local History News 145. It should read Frances Ward, and the email address is frances.ward1514@btinternet.com

Farewell

As this is the final issue of LHN that I am editing, I would like to take some space here to thank the many people who have contributed over the years. I didn’t start on a specific date, because I gradually took over various parts of the job as others moved on. And the role itself has evolved. When I began, there were a number of regular writers who supplied different parts of the content (for example the ‘News from ...’ sections) so editing was more of a coordinating function; there was less writing and more copy-editing required. There has always been a close relationship with the Reviews Editor; Peter Christie from Barnstaple was the first, with several others in between him and Heather Falvey, including Evelyn Lord, Sarah Rose and Stephen Roberts. And what would Local History News be without Alan Crosby’s endpieces? It still amazes me how he thinks them up - eight a year, for how long? I’ve lost count of how many readers have said they always start with those pages. Working with Ian West who draws the quarterly cartoon had been fun, and he himself has written articles from time to time, being a closet historian too.

The BALH Publishing committee under various chairs, recently Nigel Tringham and now John Chandler, has always been very supportive. They have supplied copy, and contacts, and agreed to changes like increasing the number of pages, subtly altering the font, and tweaking the cover design (the latter helped when it ceased to include the mailing label).

Another great pleasure has been the contact with so many local historians, archivists, librarians, award recipients, and others around the country who have contributed to the rich content of LHN. Often this has been unsolicited, but others have responded willingly to requests for articles, notes, images and more. Some I am still in touch with years after the original purpose of communication. It is a privilege to exchange thoughts, and to know that LHN is both considered an important outlet for sharing local history news, and appreciated by its readers.

Maybe I will now be able to get back to my ‘list’ (ref LHN 145 page 4)!

I am delighted to welcome Andrew Chapman who has been appointed the new editor of Local History News. He will introduce himself in the next issue.

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