sign in sign up
<<
Home , British History Online, Victoria County History

NEWS SPRING / SUMMER 2011 England’s Past for Everyone

Greetings from the Director of the Institute of Historical Research

The autumn round of county council funding cuts has not been kind to the VCH, and many of our flagship county research teams are now facing their In this issue most challenging times. Austerity, however, is sometimes the handmaiden to industry. As the Spring newsletter demonstrates there is no let up in page one the energy and creativity which VCH county staff, appeal committees, from the Director volunteers and enthusiasts up and down the country are bringing to existing and new projects. Here at VCH Central Office, the reorganised editorial IHR @ 90 team are working superbly well under Elizabeth Williamson’s guidance. They are on schedule with the next handful of red books, the improved website is up and running, and we have a new summer school in local page two history planned for July. The IHR itself is in rude health as it celebrates its flying the VCH flag 90th birthday year with a series of events and fundraising initiatives (see county farewells below for more). Do join in if you can.

Miles Taylor – March 2011 page three meet the administrator IHR @ 90 Locality and Region Seminar In 2011 the Institute of Historical Research turns 90. We are the oldest such Institute in the world. Since 1921 we have been running a unique page four open access library, seminars and conferences, innovative research learning and research resources projects, and, through our fellowship and training programmes, support- online ing generations of younger scholars from around the globe.

To mark the Institute’s birthday we are hosting a year-long celebration page five of other notable milestones of 1921. In that year the first PhDs in history were awarded in the UK; Marie Stopes opened her first birth control Phillimore: publishers clinic; Asa Briggs, one of the UK’s most distinguished historians, was born, as was the Duke of Edinburgh. Please see the IHR website for more details of these events: www.history.ac.uk. pages six and seven volunteers: enthusiasm, ferrets and ‘spectacular’ results

page eight events

page nine Anglo-American news get in touch The temporary buildings on Malet Street where the IHR was intially housed until it moved into the Senate House building in 1938

VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page one VCH NEWS VCH NEWS

Flying the VCH flag Locality and Region Those in the business world are Alongside this, the VCH central and we regularly Meet the administrator Seminar – Summer 2011 apparently seeing out the doldrums team is developing the VCH brand welcome new volunteers. of the recession by focussing on with a new website (read more about As important as voluntary Venue: building up their brands ready for it on p. 4), a revamped newsletter, research is the huge effort that goes Ecclestiastical History Room an upturn in economic fortunes. At new leaflets, a soon-to-be-improved into fundraising by our county the VCH we continue steadfastly to mailing list and more inclusive VCH appeals and trusts, including the trust Time: research and write to high standards meetings. Also new are our online launched in at the Tuesday, 5.15pm to maintain our reputation as the training materials, intended to help party to celebrate the publication of greatest publishing project in English volunteers write VCH parish and Gloucestershire XII. Despite loss of 3 May – John Beckett local history. X has been urban histories, and this summer the funding and, sadly, the consequent (University of Nottingham) published already this academic IHR’s first Local History Summer loss of permanent jobs for staff This paper will be based on new year and three more – XI, School (see p. 8) at which several in four counties (Gloucestershire, research into the early years of the XVI and XVIII of our most knowledgeable county , Essex and Somerset) VCH – will appear this summer. These contributors will be teaching. work continues there thanks to publications fulfil our obligations to Like those brand-conscious the support of the fundraising 17 May – Carlos Lopez Galviz our partners in the counties and to businesses we are trying to make sure committees. Fortunately two counties (IHR, University of ) the University of London and satisfy that the VCH name and reputation have been spared in the current round A London micro-history a public, especially in the counties, become ever better known and more of cuts: in funding has eager to use new VCH volumes. attractive to those able to support been renewed and in Wiltshire the In the next few years a new series us with funds and volunteer effort. existing agreement continues. For the 31 May– Alistair Hawkyard of paperbacks will be published. The exciting aspect about the VCH up-to-date news about all counties (IHR, University of London) Inigo Jones and the Parliament Phillimore have agreed to continue at the moment is that so many are please go to the county micro-sites on Coral Pepper with Lady Banham at the Royal Show the EPE series and we already have becoming involved in the project, www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk. House received several proposals for new carrying on the good work of EPE. 2002 to 2011 – where has the continue, time to be accounted titles. You can learn more about the Volunteer historians are working time gone? I was recruited by for and project leaders, on kind of paperback we would like to in Cornwall, Cumbria, , occasions, to be comforted. VCH Cornwall when the first This seminar welcomes all be proposed on our website (see p.4). Essex, Hampshire, , Words will not convey Elizabeth Williamson bid for Heritage Lottery funding those who are interested in the Read more about Phillimore on p.5. , and our excitement that day on a [email protected] seemed just a ‘twinkle in the relationship between local and field at Marazion, opposite eye’. We were chosen to pilot national history and who wish to St Michael’s Mount, when a County farewells what were to become our two share ideas, viewpoints and work time being for love rather than money. always followed up our fieldwork with England’s Past for Everyone cardboard box was opened and VCH colleagues and supporters are in progress. It seeks to make an Mary has led the way in making her interesting new information stimulated we held the first VCH publication very sad to see that spending cuts of projects. At first I was somewhat county micro-site special; it is full of by what we had seen. John had a original contribution to local and various kinds have meant redundancy intimidated to be surrounded by in Cornwall for over 100 interesting material about her work, magnificent send off at the launch of regional history by drawing upon for several long-serving colleagues, the County; professors, doctors, years. Since then we have had about VCH Somerset and about the his Gloucestershire XII volume in the the long-established national whose skill and experience have historians, librarians, archivists, published another paperback and history of county. We are very grateful architecturally uplifting surroundings resources of the VCH and co- been invaluable. We send our very our second Red Book, and on the to Chris, Mary and Herbert for their of Bromesberrow Place on 28 all of whom seemed to have their best wishes to Dr Simon Draper of operating with participants from loyalty to the VCH and commitment September 2010. own vocabulary. However, when new website we are flagging up VCH Gloucestershire who has found universities, record offices, local to completing the volumes they have We also send good wishes to the EPE London team started two more – it is to be hoped they new employment with the University history societies and heritage started. Dr Sue Parkinson who left the VCH arriving I realised we were all will be achieved in less than 100 of the West of England, and to Dr organisations, as well as with Dr John Jurica, who joined at the end of February. Sue put a huge new and grabbed the challenge years. Robert Peberdy who is to leave VCH those engaged in independent VCH Gloucestershire in the 1970s, amount of effort into stimulating All this, and on my Oxfordshire shortly. with gusto. has just retired and those in VCH interest in the VCH in the East research. If you would like to join Despite redundancy from There was so much watch, what more can an central office and his colleagues at the of , making new friends and our mailing list, please contact: permanent jobs Dr Chris Thornton work to be done in a short time. Administrator ask? County Record Office, where he had influencing local opinion. Her work [email protected]. and Dr Herbert Eiden have just Volunteers to be recruited and worked for so many years, will miss will culminate in an exhibiton and started VCH Essex work on contract Coral Pepper – March 2011 him very much. His contributions accompanying talks at the Treasure supervised, images to be sourced, as consultant editors rather than were ingeniously researched and House in Beverley in the autumn. To schools projects to be planned permanent staff. Mary Siraut, who elegantly written – a model to us keep abreast of events there please see and executed, training days to takes early retirement at the end of all. As architectural editor, I made www.victoriacountyhistory/counties/ be organised, fundraising to March, will continue VCH work in the many rewarding explorations of the yorkshireeastriding. Somerset County Record Office, at the county’s buildings with John, who

VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page two VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page three VCHVCH NEWSNEWS VCH NEWS

Learning and research resources online Phillimore: local history publishers By October 1897, William On 21st February 2011, the rebuilt meet the customers, long-standing Phillimore, a Victorian lawyer, had exquisitely designed ‘coffee-table’ website Phillimore authors and local and founded the company that bears his book, it will set the benchmark for went live and in doing so made family historians. name. Fuelled by a deep interest future publications. Phillimore are available a wealth of learning and Ties with the London in antiquarianism, local history equally proud of their commercial research resources. The new website Livery Companies, especially The and genealogy, Phillimore began publishing programme, which supplanted the existing site, retaining Worshipful Company of Stationers of publishing works at a prodigious includes recent titles such as the www.victoriacountyhistory. which two of the team are members, rate. To this day, Phillimore & Co. Newcastle and Gateshead before ac.uk url and drawing the content have opened the door to increasing Ltd successfully continues to publish 1700 edited by Diana Newton and formerly presented across a number the number of projects undertaken works in local and family history, A.J. Pollard and The North of VCH websites into a single, easily in the . Phillimore genealogy and heraldry. Coast by Frank Meeres. These books, navigable structure. look forward to continuing to build The past few years have seen and many others, add to a catalogue The rebuilt site benefits on their good relations with the a fruitful partnership with the Victoria of hundreds of titles covering cities, from the latest Drupal modules Livery, and with Companies such as County History and the England’s towns and villages across the United which make it dynamic in the way the Coopers, the Haberdashers and Past for Everyone project – a project Kingdom, not to mention a large its content is presented, such as the Weavers who are all involved in which has seen the production of a number of general titles such as through the use of pop-up ‘light upcoming projects. series of 16 full colour, impressively Researching the History of a Country box’ image galleries. It is also A screenshot taken from the ‘Writing a Parish History’ section of the training manual. Since 2008, Phillimore researched and well-produced House by Richard Goodenough easy to maintain and update. This This entry comes from the section and provides background and have published several notable books. Phillimore looks forward to and The Phillimore Atlas and Index increased and advanced functionality selected reading on the treatment of woodlands in a parish entry series of books, including the Civil continuing the series of EPE books, of Parish Registers by Cecil R. has also allowed the expansion of Engineering Heritage and Motorway Humphery-Smith. VCH research resources which are which are soon to be in production Zone, a collection of resources for Achievement series. Both sets of Phillimore & Co. Ltd plan available to all users of the site. • contribute material to the VCH and promise to be just as successful teaching local history at Key Stages books have proved highly successful to continue to grow as a company The largest of these Explore web resource and rewarding as the first. 1–3, information about the MA in and demonstrate the diverse range and enrich their list of titles. They research resources is the guide to Phillimore, although a small Historical Research offered by the of material covered within the will continue to publish books writing for the VCH which can be • research and write an England’s company, like to make their presence Institute of Historical Research client publishing programme. When of the highest quality in the local accessed through the ‘Learning’ Past for Everyone paperback known at local history events and details of the Victoria County it comes to ‘client publishing’, history market and begin to explore section of the national site, www. throughout the year. We annually History’s Locality and Region Phillimore are particularly excited the digital arena of e-books. They victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/local- The last of these sections provides attend the Who Do You Think You Seminar which convenes fortnightly about their forthcoming history look forward to continuing their history/writing-vch. This section of comprehensive guidance on how Are? Live exhibition in London’s during academic term time. of Arundel Castle. A full-colour, good relationships with authors, the website provides an online guide to get a manuscript published as Olympia. It is a chance for the public The rebuilt VCH website has professionally photographed and contributors and other organisations, to all aspects of VCH research and part of the EPE paperback series. to meet the team, and for the team to also made available to the general as well as developing new and lasting the methods of disseminating that Although the lottery-funded public, for the first time, the list of all affiliations which will guarantee the research. Training consultant Susan project has ended, the paperback parishes covered by the organisation Phillimore tradition of exemplary Hughes was commissioned to rework series will continue and the VCH (some 3,500) since the publication of local history publishing for many the guidance produced by Professor is actively seeking submissions the first volume in 1900. This index years to come. John Beckett into an easily navigable from authors and organisations who have a manuscript or research of parishes can be found at www. training manual which provides The Phillimore catalogue is available project which they feel is suited victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/counties/ guidance on how to: at: www.phillimore.co.uk. to publication as part of the EPE parish-index and can be searched by parish name or filtered by county. • research and write a parish history, series. Information on the process If a search returns a parish which with sections dedicated to Manors of submitting a proposal is included the VCH has covered, full details and Estates, Economic History and within the online guidance at www. of which volume the parish was Members of the Phillimore team from Social History victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/local- published in are listed, along with a left to right: Andrew Illes (Business history/writing-vch/writing-epe- Manager), Sarah Pavey (Production link to where the text of the volume • research and write an Urban paperback. Editor), Sophie Nickelson (Editorial can be viewed, free of charge, at History, drawing on the latest VCH In addition to the guidance Assistant), Noel Osborne (Chairman). www.british- approaches to treating large towns on how to write for the VCH, the Not photographed here: Simon Fletcher history.ac.uk. and cities learning section of the website (Commissioning Editor), Heather also houses the Schools Learning Robbins (Editorial Assistant), Alison Matthew Bristow Bowen (Contract Support Assistant) VCH Research Manager

VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page four VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page five VCHVCH NEWSNEWS VCH NEWS

Hampshire volunteers: enthusiasm, ferrets and ‘spectacular results’ illustrated by the work on this parish. Tunworth, Up Nately, Upton Grey and local history is fascinating. I Volunteer research work focused on and Weston Patrick. Short items get great delight in finding facts that The Hampshire project is a first in volunteer, although not essential. the Introduction, Economic History have recently been published on have not been previously known to two ways: first to replace existing There are many reasons why Volunteer focus: Jennie Butler and Social History sections. The the VCH Explore site, including some of the many knowledgeable red books and first to try to use volunteers joined the Hampshire parish was selected because of the a comprehensive analysis of the members on the team and am a bit of Jennie has published the Education volunteers supported by professional project: to develop skills, to put research previously undertaken on 1851 Basingstoke census by Bob a ferret – won't let a line of enquiry section of Upton Grey online. their work in a wider context, to the estate papers of Corpus Christi Applin and a lively account of the go’. Another member says, ‘we historians to write red book articles. Jennie discovered an interest in College, Oxford, by Stan Waight, Massagainian riots of 1881–3 in particularly appreciate the advantage Work is ongoing for two red books: a discover more about their house, the history of education. It can be parish volume based on Old Basing, parish, town, or as an incentive to studied as a compact, stand alone who took this further as a volunteer. Basingstoke by Bob Clarke (who of team work led by Jean Morrin Steventon and rural parishes to the publish research they had conducted subject with each school having a Most of Mapledurwell was part of has recently published a book on the and her ability to point out where east and south of Basingstoke and an over a long period of time. Many are beginning and an end. She started the Corpus Christi copyhold estate. riots). Basingstoke details are normal or urban history of Basingstoke. especially interested in the economic on Upton Grey school by visiting Stan is now researching neighbouring unusual and to explain the historical/ The project is a voyage and social history upon which core HRO and TNA, reading managers’ Up Nately and, assisted by Edward Volunteers’ views social/economic context. We also of discovery for the 30 volunteers volunteer work is based. The census, log books, Inspectors’ reports, county Roberts, he has written the Buildings value contacts through her with correspondence, trade directories, who started work in January 2008 trade directories, maps together with section. Educational sources in Hampshire visiting experts and with those who newspapers etc. She is now working under their leader, Dr Jean Morrin probate records and Parliamentary Steventon will be the next are willing to help with queries that on Basingstoke schools (38+ of Record Office and The National Papers online are studied. After parish to be published on the web. arise’. (University of Winchester), who them) and has posted the history of Archives are a particular focus. It Individuals and groups are now In the words of Richard works 1–2 days per week on the tuition, the census is entered into the British School and the first Board is fascinating and challenging work project. Jean had never before worked Excel spreadsheets by the volunteers School on the VCH Explore website. working on Basingstoke, Dummer, to which volunteers devote a great Tanner, ‘we are learning, but only for the VCH nor run a volunteer at home. Herriard, Old Basing, Steventon, deal of time but from which they time will tell if we enthusiastic project so initial progress was amateurs can produce books worthy transcribe. The interpretation of wills Volunteer focus: Barbara Large gain enjoyment and satisfaction. slow. The original team came from of the Victoria County History The wills group and inventories is a key element. The parish clerk of Mapledurwell villages around Basingstoke and project’. John Beckett set us a target Once they have been transcribed Barbara, a fairly recent recruit, is found the experience and knowledge from members of the Basingstoke of 2015 to produce the first new red A wills group meets at Chute House for a parish they are analysed for studying Basingstoke Poor Law gained absolutely wonderful. She Archaeological and Historical book. We need more help with the in Basingstoke every fortnight farming and other occupations and Union and its Workhouse, which was wrote,‘initially we were fumbling Society who had previous publishing medieval sections and are seeking with new members joining and for evidence of the social structure of built in 1836 for one of the biggest along trying to find our way as we experience. Volunteers research in funds to pay for that. We have been learning on the job. It is led by Jean local society, religion, charities and Unions in the area, comprising 39 were the first village to be done but at Hampshire Record Office where fortunate to meet at Chute House, the Morrin and the members are now care for the poor. mainly rural parishes, with a total the end the results were spectacular’. Jean is available once a fortnight Basingstoke outpost of the University proficient at reading 16th-century Group walks through population in 1835 of about 15,500. Another volunteer enjoys the for consultation. Some joined after of Winchester, with its facilities for probate documents as a group. the parish have been particularly Very few records remain about the insight into life during Victorian hearing of the project through word Union or its Workhouse and the projection and computer access, Copies of wills and inventories rewarding and useful from a and Edwardian times gained from of mouth, local history societies, building was demolished in the but unfortunately this will close in dating from 1500–1850 are supplied topographical viewpoint. They allow transcribing the census, as the same advertisements and the national mid-20th century and built over, July 2011 and we need to find a new by Hampshire Record Office; and comparisons between different people can be followed through the VCH website. Many had already which is why a history has never base. If you are able to support the transcriptions typed up by volunteers parishes, but also have a social decades, while new occupations undertaken local history research and been attempted. However, there is Hampshire project please do get after the meeting. Some volunteers, element (such as combining a walk appear and villages grow and all would agree that specific local an almost complete set of Minute in touch with Jean Morrin: jean. having learnt the necessary skills, with a pub lunch) which has helped decline. She added ‘I hated history knowledge is invaluable to the VCH Books in the Hampshire Record [email protected] take copies of other wills home to to band volunteers into a cohesive at school (achieved 13% annually Office, which give a very good, until I could give it up), but social This piece was written by the VCH group. detailed timeline of what happened. Hampshire volunteers There is also some correspondence Publishing parish histories with the Poor Law Commission and subsequent authorities in the TNA The VCH website is proving at Kew, a few other miscellaneous invaluable for interim publication. documents and, of course, census We were very pleased to see our first information. Even though registers parish, Mapledurwell, published and accounts are missing, it is possible, from a detailed study of on the VCH website (www. what remains, to piece together a victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/counties/ viable history, and to extract some hampshire/work-in-progress) as a names of paupers, officers and work in progress to coincide with our guardians, together with interesting official launch in Basingstoke. The statistics relating to poverty in the way Hampshire work is organised is Volunteers working on transcriptions Volunteers area. Volunteers visiting Tunworth church

VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page six VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page seven VCH NEWS VCH NEWS

Events 80th Anglo-American Conference 2011 IHR Local History Summer School This year, the Institute of Historical The conference takes place 29 Marc Fitch Research will be holding its June – 1 July and has a very flagship event, the Anglo-American full and interesting programme. The next Marc Fitch lecture We are pleased to announce contribute significantly to the Conference, on the subject of Health The following sessions may be will be on 12 July 2011 in the the inaugural summer school in teaching of the summer school, in History. The history of medicine of particular interest to VCH IHR on the move... Chancellor’s Hall of Senate House. research methods will take place along with colleagues from the and of human society in sickness and researchers: health is an ever widening window The speaker will be Professor from Monday 11 – Wednesday VCH counties, experts from The IHR will be relocating Jeremy Black whose subject will 13 July 2011. The subject of the University of London and through which the present can view • 29 June – Medical statistics and the past. The study of the ways in from July 2011 for two years. be 18th-century London: the the summer school will be local speakers from selected external sources which societies over time and at • 29 June - Healthy Air As part of the Senate House pulse of a world city. With this history, and the programme will institutions and repositories. war and in peace have defined and • 30 June – Continuity and change refurbishment we will be cover a wide range of different The full programme and further year’s focus on London we hope to treated their ‘sick’, the changing in late 19th and 20th-century moving from the North Block attract a large audience from those approaches to the history of details will be published on an content and status of medical British hospitals and asylums to the already refurbished South who are not our traditional Fitch localities in town and country. IHR dedicated events website expertise and ethics, and those Block. VCH staff will be located lecture goers. Sessions will include: What is through a link on the VCH site. episodic moments when the globe For more information about the in the mezzanine floor and it local history?, Palaeography and The fee will be approximately has been transformed by epidemic, conference please go to www.history. will be business as usual once Essex to celebrate their Diplomatic, Interpreting Records, £180 and the County History panic and panacea is now an integral ac.uk/aac2011. we’ve unpacked all our red part of mainstream history. diamond jubilee in October Computers for Local History, Trust has kindly offered to give books! Family and Neighbourhood, small bursaries to support VCH For the VCH in Essex, 2011 Parish and Urban Histories, and volunteers who wish to attend. The Anatomy Lesson by Rembrandt (1632) will be an extraordinary year. We many others. Staff from both celebrate our diamond jubilee, the Centre for Metropolitan publish Volume XI – and lose our History and the VCH will county council grant, also after 60 years. Notwithstanding the Future editions latter accident, the VCH Essex If you would like to contribute Appeal Fund trust has now moved to future editions we would be into control and will celebrate the happy to hear from you. We are diamond jubilee at the County also able to advertise your event Record Office in Chelmsford from local talks to book launches on Saturday, 8 October. and everything in between. Understandably, the day’s events Please contact the Publications will also feature the start of a Manager: jessica.davies@sas. major fundraising effort. The ac.uk in the first instance. programme has yet to be settled but, when this is done, details will appear on the VCH website www. victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk. To end this brief note with news which may give hope to other VCHs in similar problems, nearly Get in touch... £6,000 of donations have been As part of the updating and improvement of our contacts database we need to confirm current contact received since the news of the loss For more information about the Local History Summer School, please details for all counties as well as the details, e.g. email, of anyone else who would like to be kept in touch of the county council grant was contact the IHR’s training officer, Simon Trafford, on 020 7862 8763 or with VCH News. We would be very grateful if you could let Carlos Galviz ([email protected]) have released in early February. [email protected]. these at your earliest convenience.

Newsletter edited by Jessica Davies

VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page eight VCH News – Spring/Summer 2011 www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk page nine