The Local Historian Volume 9 Number 6 May 1971

By Charles Phythian-Adams

A leading local and regional historian of the late 20th century argues that craft gilds and their records give very valuable evidence for the histories of towns, shedding light upon social and economic patterns and activities, and on the organisation and administration of urban society. The article discusses the records of typical gilds, including: i) ordinances, or the sets of regulations adopted by each craft for its own government: these may include extensive constitutional detail and often give a good indication of the relative prosperity of each craft; ii) minutes or similar records of assemblies, meetings and gild councils, which may be very helpful in identifying changes in social, political or economic circumstances, since they contain information about tackling and solving problems affecting the gild; and iii) accounts, which may well be very difficult to interpret due to variations in dating methods and accounting procedures - they may, however, give extensive information about receipts and expenses, names of craft officers, subscriptions, incomes from rents, and social expenditure.

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By Trevor Daff

Patent records offer a valuable source of information on technological and commercial developments from the early 17th century onwards. This article suggests various ways in which local historians may exploit this potential source, showing how the patent system worked and discussing the type of material which will be found in the Patent Office and the Public Record Office.

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By Alan Davidson

A comprehensive bibliographical listing of published material on recusant history, with some comment on the value of the various sources included.   

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By Barrie Trinder

An account of the origins and subsequent development of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

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By J.D. Marshall

Review of the content and potential value of diaries for the local historian. Marshall suggests that almost all local diaries will have something to offer, but that a systematic approach to their analysis probably works best. It is necessary to research the background to the diary, and in particular to establish biographical details about the writer. Frequently, an apparently trivial item can prove to offer valuable historical comment, especially if the writing of the diary was spontaneous (rather than being 'written for posterity'). The article uses examples to show that the interests of diarists might include public spectacles; violence, sudden death and accidents; and crime and punishment.

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By Walter R. Iley

A study of local recollection and folk memories, as they are exemplified in the 'informal' oral histories of communities. Using examples, Iley shows how some of these tales were notably persistent and were handed down, with alteration, from generation to generation.