The Local Historian Volume 9 Number 8 November 1971

By Morris Smith

Working-class entertainment in 19th century Lancashire cotton towns is discussed in the context both of the leisure and cultural opportunities and aspirations of the working-classes, but also in relation to the existing provision of theatres and other facilities. Smith suggests that the latter were orientated towards traditional plays and were essentially serving the middle-classes, but that changing social and economic structures in these towns led to the demand for more popular and accessible entertainment. He argues that song and dance was, in the early 19th century, a feature of public houses and inns, but that music halls and singing saloons arose as the demand grew, especially at a time when younger wage-earners sought evening meeting places.

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By Arthur Gooder

A study of the law which derived from the 13th century Statute of Mortmain, which was designed to prevent the loss of feudal, territorial and tenurial rights which might otherwise result from the alienation of land to monastic houses. The records generated can be of major value to those researching the histories of individual landowning families, as well as to those investigating monastic history.

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By Harold Coward

Account of research undertaken by the author after finding a reference to unum rosetum and similar phrases in documents dated 1309 and concerning his home village of Hutton, Somerset. Assuming that this meant 'a rose-garden' he made extensive searches of other records and determined on the location of the medieval garden. He recounts in considerable detail the results of his research into medieval rose cultivation and the gardens in which roses were grown. However, total disillusionment followed the discovery that the word was in fact usually spelled rossetum and meant 'rushes'. Further research and a reappraisal made it apparent that this had been a rush-bed (albeit a very valuable one) and its location, at a place noted in the 1307 document as Boggepole, confirmed the new identity.

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By Anthony Sutcliffe

Discussion of the visual or pictorial sources available for local history research and the use which might be made of these materials. Sutcliffe considers the physical evidence, where 18th and 19th century townscapes survive with relatively little or no obvious change, and he uses the example of Bath in this context. He reviews the potential of maps and plans, contemporary pictures and engravings, and early photographs. The development of photographic recording is traced and he notes that until the early 20th century most photography used large and cumbersome equipment which militated against outside shots and instead encouraged studio portraits and similar 'personal' images. Many urban illustrations were therefore the work of painters and engravers and few of these focused on prosaic, everyday or mundane scenes, preferring the more picturesque or quaint views of a town. Those who did attempt a more social view of urban life were heavily criticised for inaccuracy, since they often painted or drew from memory - especially in the details of the image. There were photographs of the poor but, for technical reasons, these had to be stage-managed and so are of doubtful reliability.