Diary Dates

The newsletter of the Friends of Archives,

Saturday 15 October 2016 Tuesday 1 November 2016 ARCHIVES

Shropshire History Day Tracing the history of your house SHROPSHIRE gateway to the and Telford 10.30am Shirehall, , SY2 6ND A six week course with Liz Young Cost: Free event 2.00pm - 4.00pm Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ • The history of the Shrewsbury & Newport canals and Cost: £45 to include all six sessions A provincial frost Researching 'A Crow's Nest': The their restoration - Bernie Jones fair and an ill fated Transport History significance of • Bruce Bairnsfather - Fragments from France and the Shropshire connection - Keith Pybus Saturday 19 November 2016 Stuntman during the English Using the Archive resources • Forty years of the Historic Environment Record - Friends Annual Lecture Page 2 Civil War, 1642-1646 Penny Ward and Giles Carey 'William Hazledine, Ironmaster Extraordinary' by Page 4 Page 6 • Shropshire Archives update - Mary McKenzie Andrew Pattison • The Trench Experience project update - Mark Hignett 10.30am Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, • Clun Look Back Heritage HLF project update - Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ Angela Martin Cost: £5, booking advised • Impressions of the past: Medieval seals - Dr Elizabeth New, Aberystwyth University Tuesday 28 February 2017 Latin for local and family historians Monday 29 October 2016 A six week course with Helen Haynes Victoria County History Annual Lecture 2.00pm - 4.00pm Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, 'Capability Brown' by Gareth Williams Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ 2.00pm The Guildhall, Quay, Shrewsbury, Cost: £45 to include all six sessions SY3 8HQ Cost: £5, booking required

Contact Shropshire Archives for more information or Monday 12 to Friday 16 December 2016 tickets to all events. Contact details below. Shropshire Archives closed week

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The newsletter of the Friends of News Extra... Shropshire Archives is edited by Andrew Pattison and designed by Nat Stevenson, Shropshire Archives’ Image Services. Do you have any stories to tell about There are three issues per year, paid for by the Friends. The Shropshire’s history or have any news contents are provided by friends and well-wishers. If you about Shropshire Archives? If you have, would like to join the contributors, please contact the editor at the editor is waiting to hear from you [email protected] now. The contact details are below and DISCLAIMER: We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of printing. photographs are always welcome. We cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Contact... For further details or to pass on your comments, please contact: Uffington Ferry, c.1905. Shropshire Archives ref: PH/U/1/46 Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ • Tel: 0345 6789096 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Price £2.00 (free to Members) his spectacle in detail writing: ‘A breast plate of wood, who had been passing round the hat, ‘threw away her with a groove to fit the rope, and his own equilibrium, money in an agony of grief, and ran to him in hopes of were to be his security, while sliding down upon his affording some relief’. A mock-heroic, yet sympathetic body, with his arms and legs extended. He could not poem, written by an unnamed ‘J.A.’, presumably be more than six or seven seconds in this airy journey, an eyewitness and published in the Gentleman’s in which he fired a pistol and blew a trumpet. The Magazine in February 1739, reads: velocity with which he flew, raised a fire by friction, and a bold stream of smoke followed him’ (p. 245- ‘Nothing could aught avail but limbs of brass, 6). He performed the act for three successive days, When ground was iron, and the Severn glass’ descending twice. He even once marched up the rope, which took him an hour during which he ‘exhibited Cadman’s death was likened to Greek and Roman many surprising achievements’, which included sitting mythology in verses that record vivid details of his with his arms folded, lying across the rope on his back final flight. The Evening Post (7 February 1739) and then his belly, blowing the trumpet, swinging reported that Cadman was killed ‘by the cutting off of round, hanging by his chin, hand, heels, and toes. the rope where it came through the steeple, it being fasten’d to the frames of the bells.’ This dramatic death In Shrewsbury, as part of the town’s celebrations reinforced his reputation and ended the golden age of of the Great Frost, Cadman attached a rope from the flying. Subsequently Cadman was buried at St Mary’s spire of the church across to the Gay Meadow on the Church, Shrewsbury, on 4 February 1739. A plaque in other side of the river. As on previous occasions, he his memory can be found by the main door of the entertained the crowd with a variety of rope stunts. A church and he is commemorated by a ten-line epitaph handbill dated 24 January 1739 heralded his flight on which reads: 2 February from St Mary’s steeple over the Severn to the meadow opposite (SA P257/U/3/1). However, the ‘Let this small Monument record the name rope broke causing him to plummet suddenly to his Of CADMAN, and to future times proclaim death. Owen and Blakeway’s, A History of Shrewsbury, Feature Volume 2 (1825) says that ‘just before he set out on How by’n attempt to fly from this high spire ‘A prospect of the town of his mad career, he found the rope a little too tight, Across the Sabrine stream he did acquire Shrewsbury as it appear’d in the and gave the signal to slacken it: but that the persons A provincial frost fair and Great Frost 1739’. Image supplied employed, misconceiving his meaning, drew it tighter. His fatal end. ‘Twas not for want of skill James P Bowen by , Shropshire It snapped in two as he was passing over St. Mary’s Or courage to perform the task he fell: an ill-fated stuntman Museums, ref: SHYMS FA/1995/001 Friars, and he fell amid the thousands of spectators’ No, no, a faulty Cord being drawn too tight (p. 410). As the ground was frozen it was recalled Harried his Soul on high to take her flight that his body, ‘after reaching the earth, rebounded Which bid the Body here beneath good Night Whilst the frost fairs held on the River shown frozen hard in the ice. Included in the scene upwards several feet’. It was observed that his wife, Feb.ry 2nd 1739 aged 28.’ n Thames, London, in the years 1608, 1683- is a heavy looking printing press, demonstrating the thickness of the ice. 4, 1789 and 1814 are well recorded in The commemorative plaque in memory of Robert Cadman by the main door of St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury. Shropshire Archives ref: PH/S/13/S/11/17 both documentary evidence and artistic Robert Cadman (1711/2–1740) representations, little is known about A popular form of entertainment at fairs and markets was flying men, the 1730s witnessing comparable events in provincial town and something of a craze for rope dancing, sliding and urban settings throughout England. walking. In 1739 Robert Cadman or Kidman, a native of Shropshire and well-known steeplejack and his engraving by an unknown artist shows a ‘ropeslider’ (the famed ‘Icarus of the rope’) and his panoramic view of Shrewsbury in the winter wife were in Shrewsbury to restore the damaged Tof 1739 during the Great Frost when a fair was weathercock of St Mary’s Church. William Hutton (1723- held on the frozen . Various activities are 1815), in his History of Derby published in 1791, wrote shown taking place, including people ice skating, a that Cadman was a ‘small figure of a man… composed horse and rider, and groups of people congregating of spirit and gristle’, who had entertained the crowds and playing games. Others appear to be carrying at Derby in October 1732 by sliding from the steeple of wood, presumably for fuel given the harsh winter All Saints Church to the bottom of St Michael’s Church, conditions. Several boats and Severn ‘trows’ are also a horizontal distance of eight yards. Hutton described

2 Salopian Recorder . Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Summer/Autumn 2016 . Number 86 . Salopian Recorder 3 Highley, I included three images from the Archives dates from 1772 and provides a wide range of material Feature Collection: an early 18th century print of Porthill ferry on transport matters, including for example items (Watton’s Cuttings, SA 8184/1); a photograph c.1905 of on Shrewsbury’s ferries (e.g. 10 December 1795). the Uffington ferryman and his family posing on the Eddowes’s Salopian Journal (1794-1891) is also a rich Researching ferry boat (reproduced on the front cover, PH/U/1/46); source; an example is a report on the low level of the and an 1892 photograph of a team of seven horses Severn and its impact on navigation (27 August 1800). hauling a heavy timber wagon across the ford at The Wellington Journal was first published in 1854; the Neil Clarke Hampton Loade (SA 2626/6). Archives have copies from 1901 to its demise in 1964. At Transport History the beginning of the last century, the paper reported For the trilogy Railways/Waterways/Roads of East on the protracted closure of the ferries at Jackfield Shropshire Through Time (Amberley Publishing, 2015- and Coalport and their replacement by bridges (e.g. 3 16), I needed a large number of images from a variety July 1909 and 9 September 1922). The Shropshire Star While researching over many years aspects the years 1768 to 1889 and are particularly informative of sources, and among those I included from the (1964 to date) has covered the development of Telford of Shropshire's transport history, I've made about the need to replace the damaged medieval Archives Collection were: New Town and its new road network, particularly bridge, the design for the new bridge and the the building of the M54 motorway, which was finally much use of the county's archive service arrangements for crossing the river while the bridge Two photographs of Newport station, one showing completed in 1983; and the paper’s ‘Pictures from in its successive manifestations, whether in was being built. The 1792 plan for the Shrewsbury a Shrewsbury-Stafford train entering the station c.1910, the Past’ feature has over the years included many Shirehall or on Castle Gates. Of particular Canal, surveyed by George Young of Worcester, shows the other the station frontage with a horse-drawn photographs of railway, waterway and road transport the route from Donnington Wood to the county omnibus awaiting passengers (PH/N/8/12/8); subjects. value in my most recent works (listed town, with a book of reference listing the landowners below) have been the deposited plans and through whose land the proposed canal would pass. A 1790s engraving of a boat on the Donnington I would like to express my thanks to Sarah Davis documents relating to roads, bridges, canals The 1833 plan and books of reference for a new line of Wood Canal passing Lilleshall Abbey (PH/L/10/1/8) and and other members of the Archives staff for their help road in the ‘Shrewsbury and Wellington Districts of the an early 20th century photograph of Ditherington with my various requests. Copies of the four books and railways; the photograph and print Watling Street Road’ relate to Telford’s improvements Maltings showing the Shrewsbury Canal (PH/ have been deposited in the Archives. collection; and newspapers. to the Holyhead Road, which were completed two S/13/M/1/9); years after his death. Railway proposals from the late Deposited plans 1820s (all with deposited plans) culminated in that Copies of coloured prints by Samuel Ireland in Neil’s book Crossing rom the late 18th century onwards, it was usual for of 1846 for the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway, Thomas Harral’s Picturesque Views of the Severn the River: Fords and plans for proposed works within the county that engineered by Robert Stephenson and William Baker, (1824), one of repairs to Buildwas Bridge and the other Ferries on the Shropshire Frequired Parliamentary legislation (together with which was finally opened in 1849. of Bridgnorth Bridge (US 66). Severn, is published by accompanying documents) to be first deposited with the Railway and Canal the Clerk of the Peace. Examples of deposited plans I Photographs and prints Newspapers Historical Society and consulted were those relating to Buildwas Bridge (DP In Crossing the River: Fords and Ferries on the The Archives contain original and microfilm costs £10 30), the Shrewsbury Canal (DP 289), the Holyhead Road Shropshire Severn (Railway & Canal Historical Society, copies of local newspapers, and four of these were (DP 264), and the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway 2015), which is an historical survey of all known fords of particular value in my researches. The earliest (DP 340). The papers relating to Buildwas Bridge cover and ferries on the river between Melverley and Shropshire newspaper, the Shrewsbury Chronicle,

Hampton Loade ford and ferry, 1892. Shropshire Archives ref: MI2626/6

4 Salopian Recorder . Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Summer/Autumn 2016 . Number 86 . Salopian Recorder 5 Feature 'A Crow's

Dr Jonathan Worton Nest': The significance of Wem during the , 1642-1646

Survey of the manor of Wem, 1631. Shropshire Archives ref: 972/7/1/49

The author of the present article was February 1645 they captured Shrewsbury, the regional the town's role in the civil wars, as indeed for other However, a closer reading of (the limited and often pleased to speak at the recent Wem Royalist headquarters. Wem, like the similar fortified facets of its history. It was Garbet who perpetuated a propagandist) contemporary sources suggests that garrison towns Stafford and Nantwich, was important local folk rhyme dating from the wars, memorialising Lord Capel from the outset of the campaign had History Day on the subject of the town's to the national Parliamentarian cause as a regional events that were just within a long-living memory, attempted a bold strategy of manoeuvre. By traversing involvement in the English Civil War. The strongpoint on a shifting frontline in contested recounting how: 'The women of Wem and a few the difficult fen and mere country of northwest lecture concentrated on a short period in territory. musketeers beat the Lord Capel and all his '. Shropshire and feinting into neighbouring , by The musketeers were the regular Parliamentarian 17th October the Royalist army had wrong-footed the time, from 13-18 October 1643, when Wem The aim of this short article is to encourage further mobile Parliamentary forces, leaving Wem exposed to was the focus of a regionally significant inquiry into Wem at the time of the mid-seventeenth- 'The women of Wem and a few musketeers attack. Major operational problems compounded by military campaign fought by King Charles century civil wars. Indeed, the research project now bad luck seem more compelling reasons to account for underway by Victoria County History Shropshire to beat the Lord Capel and all his Cavaliers'. Capel's failure to take Wem than Royalist ineptitude in I's forces and those of his Parliamentarian explore Wem's past may well bring to light discoveries the face of a heroic defence by bellicose townswomen opponents. The outcome was a clear from this extraordinary and traumatic period. soldiers who defended the town on 17-18 October and a band of Parliamentarian soldiers. Capel’s army Parliamentary victory. The Royalist army 1643 against assaults by Royalists under the overall had become overextended and the men fatigued The reasons remain obscure why in early autumn command of Arthur, Lord Capel; a Hertfordshire by lengthy forced marches, and they had a shortage was defeated in attempting to take 1643 a coalition of Parliamentary forces, led by peer and, as one of Charles's lieutenant generals, the of artillery (a cannon and a siege mortar were soon Parliamentarian-held Wem and retreated in Colonel Thomas Mytton, then the leading Shropshire King's regional commander-in-chief then in charge knocked out). The death or wounding of several senior disorder to its base at Shrewsbury. Parliamentarian, Sir Thomas Myddelton, Parliament's of Shropshire. Garbet fixed this impression of a Royalist officers, which disheartened their men, may general for north , and Sir William Brereton, humiliating Royalist defeat by adding that Wem was also have been a factor in their defeat. commander-in-chief in Cheshire, targeted Wem for then garrisoned by no more than '40 soldiers and an he battle for the town on 17-18 October was a military foothold in Shropshire. Wem is shown on undisciplined rabble of men and women'. Enshrined It seems that in fact the Parliamentary garrison the most notable episode in Wem's remarkable an estate map dating to 1631 as a straggling place, by the much later publication of his History of Wem, of Wem numbered at least 300 regular soldiers as Tinvolvement in the war. However, the significance without an easily defensible perimeter and lacking Garbet's account, while based on folk-memory well as an 80-strong militia company of townsmen, of Wem in not only the county struggle, but also medieval defences that could be refortified. The perceptions that were not wholly fictitious, has ever and that the firepower of several well-positioned at the regional and national level of the conflict, River Roden and its water meadows did, however, since tended to obscure more likely interpretations cannon blunted the Royalist assaults. There is no deserves fuller recognition. When Parliamentary forces provide a southerly natural defensive barrier. The of the course of military events. The failure of Lord reason, however, to doubt that some of the women occupied this hitherto unexceptional north Shropshire Parliamentarian occupation of Wem was probably a Capel’s army, which, numbering about 3,000 soldiers market town in late August or early September 1643 bold opportunistic operation to place a garrison town was probably of similar size to the opposing regional The Royalist general Prince Rupert, who (contemporary sources are unclear as to the exact within 11 miles of Royalist Shrewsbury. It is also likely Parliamentary forces during the Wem campaign, date) it assumed strategic importance as the first that the Parliamentarian cause enjoyed significant certainly dealt a damaging blow to his reputation held command over the Shropshire region Parliamentarian stronghold in Shropshire, a county support in Wem, as seems to have been the case and military career. After further reverses in during 1644, is said to have contemptuously that since autumn 1642 had been under Royalist elsewhere in north Shropshire. November 1643 when, emboldened by the outcome military and administrative control. Wem remained a of the Wem campaign, the Parliamentarians struck disregarded Parliamentarian-held Wem as a Parliamentary garrison for the remainder of the war. The study of Wem and its locality by the antiquarian briefly into hitherto Royalist northeast Wales, in 'crow's nest that would not afford each of his It was the political headquarters and main military Reverend Samuel Garbet during the first half of the December Capel was relieved of his command and base of the Shropshire Parliamentarians until in eighteenth century is a starting point to investigate recalled to Oxford, the King's headquarters. men a piece of bread';

6 Salopian Recorder . Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Summer/Autumn 2016 . Number 86 . Salopian Recorder 7 of Wem joined in the defence of their town; if not of braggarts, who subsisted only by out of allegiance to the Parliamentary cause, then to scavenging supplies and stealing from the locality. The prevent themselves and their families falling victim hindsight of history shows that the Prince's scornful to the plundering and violence that could result remark (if true) disguised the fact that after Lord when an attacking force succeeded in storming and Capel's failed assault in October 1643 the Royalists, overrunning a fortified place. including Rupert himself, never again launched a determined attack against Wem. Their failure to do so, According to Garbet, the earthwork fortifications and the resilience of the Parliamentarians holding out first thrown up in autumn 1643 to enclose Wem at Wem, when often isolated in enemy territory, were incorporated 'a rampart or wall of earth' constructed the decisive factors that turned the course of the war from the upcast of a defensive outer ditch, that in Shropshire in Parliament's favour. n 'appears to have been four yards wide and of proportionable depth', strengthened by wooden palisades and with at least one timber-built watch References tower. While Wem's defences increased in depth and sophistication as the war progressed, today they 1. This article is derived from the author's recent study of Shropshire during the remain little understood and would merit further English Civil Wars - J. Worton, To Settle the Crown: Waging Civil War in Shropshire, From the research by desk-based study and fieldwork. 1642-1648 (Solihull: Helion & Company Limited, 2016). In researching the PhD upon which the book is based, he found that Shropshire Archives was an Chair The Royalist general Prince Rupert, who held especially rich source of material. Jill Ming command over the Shropshire region during 2. S. Garbet, The History of Wem (Wem, 1818), p. 220. The Friends of Shropshire Archives on their visit to Old Hill Fort. 1644, is said to have contemptuously disregarded Ibid. Parliamentarian-held Wem as a 'crow's nest that would not afford each of his men a piece of bread'; the Ibid., pp. 217-18. really look forward to our summer outings – they Given the unreliability of our summer weather, we 'crows', to ardent Royalists, being this upstart garrison Ibid., p. 221. are always interesting, we enjoy good company, were perhaps a little reckless in organising an outdoor and invariably learn a great deal. In May we visited event in early July. However our visit to Old Oswestry Acton Round Hall near Bridgnorth where we Hill Fort was fortunately graced with sunshine and received an enthusiastic welcome from the owners, breezes rather than rain. Our guide was Heather ITom and Louisa Kennedy. Tom introduced us to the Hidden whose extensive knowledge of the Iron Age many delights of their property which has some fort was matched by her enthusiastic commentary as intriguing and unusual collections. The house was she led us up the ramparts and around the top of the Tavia built in 1714 in the Queen Anne style and is a Grade fort, pointing out features in the landscape as well. We I listed building. Even in May, its beautiful gardens then headed for the Guildhall in Oswestry where we Maclean This item just missed the last Her skill, both with the VA Group and when she seemed full of flowers. A further attraction was the were welcomed by Sara Downs, archivist of Oswestry An appreciation issue of the Recorder. We became Co-ordinator of the Society, was to bring delightful church nearby, with stunning views across Town Archives, and Mark Hignett of Oswestry Town Linda Fletcher apologise therefore that it is a together the abilities of individual members who then the valley. Museum who each showed us round their respective little out of date. felt able to contribute. These researches led to many areas. Mark also supplied us with very welcome mugs History Society publications. The latest is a new edition We held our Annual General Meeting on 26 June of tea while he told us about the museum’s fascinating Newport History Society is mourning the death of of the Society’s ‘Heritage Trail’ which she helped to at the start of the Wem History Day organised jointly collections and the research he and his team have its President Tavia Maclean. revise last year. with the Shropshire Victoria County History. Our done into the history of some of the artefacts and the long-serving Secretary Sue Cleaves retired, but was people associated with them. Oswestry is indeed very Tavia joined the History Society by chance after Another example of her lively mind was when, immediately elected as Vice-Chair – a post which has fortunate in having such facilities and we are grateful going to a series of talks on Vernacular Architecture in during discussions about creating and storing digital been vacant for the last year. Committee member to Sara and Mark for their time in sharing them with us. about 1980. Having joined the Society, she became a images, Tavia brilliantly came up with the SNAP Project Sheila Black was elected Secretary, Pat Kiernan was founder member of the Vernacular Architecture (VA) name: Shropshire Newport Archive Photographs. re-elected as Treasurer, I was re-elected as Chair and Finally, we have recently donated £2,000 towards a Group which was set up to research the origins of the committee member Sue Tarr stood down. We are project to repair, digitize, transcribe and catalogue the town’s buildings. She became the leader of this group, More than 35 years on and up to a few weeks ago delighted to welcome Alison Healey as a new member First Minute Book of the Borough of Much Wenlock and they researched and produced detailed reports on she was still encouraging people to help with research of the committee; she was duly elected at the AGM. which dates from 1495. This is a good example of how over 30 historic buildings in the town. This in turn led from her sickbed. In spite of the fact that she could Many of you may know Alison from when she worked we use some of the funds we raise to help Shropshire to the ‘recognised’ history of the town being rewritten. not see, she could still use the telephone to discuss at Shropshire Archives and it is good to have someone Archives to conserve important documents like this, For example, the ‘Great Fire of Newport’ was always her thoughts on local history with family, friends and with her archive and research experience on the while digitization makes them available and accessible supposed to have raged near the church, but the members of the Society. n team. My thanks to everyone on the committee for to researchers everywhere. n Group has proved that the fire destroyed an area of their continued support of the Friends of Shropshire the town where the High Street is at its widest. Archives.

8 Salopian Recorder . Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Summer/Autumn 2016 . Number 86 . Salopian Recorder 9 Feature An insatiable enthusiasm for archives

ara Downs has been at the Archives is of historical interest and should join the for 15 years. She first started as a archival store and what can be destroyed. Andrew Pattison Saturday ‘girl’, covering for others Quite a challenging and responsible task! by producing records over the She really enjoys having a greater level of lunch break. This was while she independence working at Oswestry Archives Swas doing her first degree (part of which was and having the full range of responsibilities in Archaeology at Birmingham University). associated with a small archive. As well News Since then she has been, in turn, archives as the responsibilities already mentioned, assistant, senior archives assistant and she has to organise any conservation or Madeley Mayfield Housing, for those affected by the District Centre re-development scheme, 1968. has now been appointed as an archivist. reprographics needed (these are done in Crown Copyright, ref. 6235/262/140/8/37 Mary McKenzie Along the way she has also found time Shrewsbury). She has also to organise public to do a Masters Degree at Aberystwyth access to the archives as required, deal with University in Archive Administration, and an Freedom of Information requests, copyright New opening hours support for VCH activity. A group of Sara this role. An interview with Advanced Diploma in Local History at Oxford and confidentiality issues, and arrange The changes to the opening hours over 20 volunteers is now engaged her can be found elsewhere is this University. During her time at the Archives displays for the Heritage Open Days in from June are now well established, in VCH related research. issue. she has done pretty much everything. She September. One big task for the coming year and readers are appreciating the has been an Education Assistant, she has will be to oversee the process of obtaining additional access to the search Much Wenlock Borough We have also appointed Laura done cataloguing (for example the William accreditation for the Oswestry Archives from room in the afternoons. We have Minute books Matthews to support the paid Penny Brookes collection from Much The National Archives. only had a couple of Saturday Much Wenlock Town Council has research service. Laura will be Wenlock), and she has also done research openings since the changes, so secured Heritage Lottery funding working on a casual basis, and is for clients. She was even the editor of the Research and study it is difficult to see how well used for us to work on the conservation, also helping out with the public Recorder for a time! Back in Shrewsbury, her main tasks are the time is. We will review the digitization and transcription of the service during the summer. Other working on the public desk, helping to Saturdays after a six month period 2 earliest minute books for Much staff members have also had ‘A lovely quiet place’ supervise volunteers, organising work towards the end of 2016. If you wish Wenlock, which date from 1495- altered contracts, and I appreciate Currently she works 4 days a week, 2½ experience and student placements, to see Saturday opening continue, 1810. Work on the conservation everyone’s flexibility in this at Shropshire Archives and 1½ at Oswestry, monitoring the Heritage Heroes website and please do make use of this facility. of the volumes has just started. uncertain period. where she has been employed as the answering general email enquiries. She is Mary Beard, Professor of Classics Archivist by Oswestry Town Council since also one of three staff employed on a casual Madeley History Project at Cambridge University, who is In June we said goodbye to 2010. It is very unusual for such a small basis in addition to their contracted hours to Work on the Madeley section originally from Much Wenlock, Brenna Davies-Sheil our apprentice authority to employ an archivist, but this do paid research for clients. She particularly of the Telford Development is supporting the project as its who moved on to a job in a arose because Quarter Sessions and other enjoys this, especially since doing the Corporation photographs has now patron. A team of volunteers to Shrewsbury hotel. We are delighted Public Records were held in Oswestry, so Advanced Diploma in local history gave her started. It is planned to catalogue support the cataloguing and for Brenna’s success, but do miss these archives, as well as those from the insight into places to look for information. and digitize over 1,000 images of transcription work will be in place her input especially with our social Town Council, are kept in the town. A lot of Many of those seeking help have got ‘stuck’ Madeley and the surrounding area, from autumn 2016. media presence. Fortunately we her time in recent years has been taken up with their family history, and this extra as part of this Heritage Lottery have been able to add Brenna to with the Cemetery project, where the 22,000 expertise helps them to make progress. funded project, which is led by Staff changes our casual staff complement, so burials in the municipal cemetery were Madeley Town Council. Once Recent budget adjustments we hope to see her regularly in recorded on an online database. Although What of the future? As she has recently complete, all the images will be have enabled us to reconfigure our the future. Alex Moxon, our new the main Heritage Lottery Fund project is taken on all the duties detailed above, it is available on the online catalogue. staffing to create an additional half apprentice, started work with us in finished, there is still plenty to do, and she too early to say where her career will go. time archivist post. Sara Downs, September. n is half-way through coding the 8000 images Asked if she would consider doing a PhD, Shropshire Victoria County who currently from the grave photographic survey and she replied that while it would be very History also works as Please send any comments to: ensuring any images are attached to the interesting, she doesn’t feel she has the time Work on the Shropshire Victoria the part time Mary McKenzie, Team Leader, Archives, Shropshire Archives, online database. The cemetery was (and for it at present. But then she started telling County History (VCH) has now Oswestry Town Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ still is) ‘a lovely quiet place to work’ as she me of her interest in the lives of women from restarted with the appointment Archivist, has tel: 0345 6789096 put it, as she was able to enjoy the flora and the past who have never married, and the of Judith Everard as a part time been appointed email: [email protected] fauna in this undeveloped space. Another fact that the Shropshire Archives is such a editor to work on the history of to this post. I am website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk big job at Oswestry is that every year the rich source for research, so I wonder if her Wem. The successful history day in delighted that Council pass on their non-current records insatiable enthusiasm will one day result in Wem, held in June, attracted over we have been to her. She then has to decide what is making her change her mind! n 80 participants and a great deal of able to offer essential to be retained at the Council, what

10 Salopian Recorder . Number 86 . Summer/Autumn 2016 Summer/Autumn 2016 . Number 86 . Salopian Recorder 11