Diary Dates

Saturday 30 September 2017 Saturday 18 November 2017 The newsletter of the Friends of Archives, Bishop's Castle History Day Friends Annual Lecture - The Road to ARCHIVES

A day celebrating the history of Bishop’s Castle with Enlightenment: Shropshire 1750-1830 SHROPSHIRE gateway to the and talks about local people, places and events, followed During the mid-18th and early the 19th century, social, by guided visits to some of the town’s attractions. cultural and economic development across Western 10.00am - 4.00pm The Community College, Europe has been reflected in what has become Brampton Road, Bishop’s Castle, SY9 5AY known as the Enlightenment. But it manifested itself in different ways in different locations. It has been Newport's 'Miss Saturday 28 October 2017 characterised by the pursuit of improvement; rational Havisham' - Fact or VCH Shropshire - Annual Lecture: thought and attempts at understanding nature; and economic progress for the benefit of society. Fiction ? River Histories: exploring the past on the In this lecture Roger Bruton draws on aspects of his Page 2 Severn and Wye doctoral thesis to highlight how emergence of such Britain’s major rivers have a rich heritage that remains change is identifiable in Shropshire. under-appreciated. This year’s lecture by Dr. Richard , 10.00am Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Hayman explores some of the ways that rivers have , SY1 2AQ Shrewsbury (part 1) played an important part in our history, with special Cost: £5 emphasis on the Wye and Severn. Please book early as places are limited, see leaflet for details Page 6 1.30pm - 5.00pm Central, Shrewsbury Baptist Church, Claremont Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QG A donation of £5 for this event would be gratefully Saturday 17 March 2018 James Mallinson, received. See leaflet for further details and booking information Friends Volunteer Showcase and (1891-1959), Open Day photographer from Monday 4 December to Tuesday 19 An opportunity to find out about the fascinating and Shrewsbury December 2017 varied projects carried out by volunteers at Shropshire Page 8 Shropshire Archives Closed Fortnight Archives. Essential stocktaking, cataloguing and 10.00am - 1.00pm Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, maintenance. Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ Cost £5. Programme to follow

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. Part of the Old [Stone] Bridge at Shrewsbury with two arches of the new English Bridge under construction, November 1st 1778. Contact... For further details or to pass on your comments, please contact: Shropshire Archives ref. PR/4/35 Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ • Tel: 0345 6789096 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Price £2.00 (free to Members) because his paternal grandmother worked at Tong The marriage day was fixed, the guests invited and the Castle before she was married. Her family came from reception prepared but alas Sir Baldwyn, at the last minute, Claverley. She left Tong, however, for when changed his mind and married another she got married in 1781 and so ended the link. Feature According to the article all this was happening in We can also look in detail at Miss Parker’s life to see Newport, but we now know this is not the case. The if she fits the bill for ‘Miss Havisham’. Elizabeth was Parker family lived in . We do know that born in 1802 at Hatton Grange, . Before long, Sir Baldwin did marry Elizabeth’s sister, Mary. It is Linda Fletcher the family moved to Sweeney Hall near Oswestry, interesting to note that Mrs Millward did not know her mother’s family home. From here her elder sister, that the ‘another’ was in fact Miss Parker’s sister! Mary, married Sir Baldwin Leighton in 1832. At the 1841 census Elizabeth was still living at Sweeny Hall Does the story perhaps relate to some gossip Newport’s with her parents – now aged 39. She then appears about Elizabeth and a jilting at Oswestry? But would in Chester at the time of the 1851 census, described Elizabeth, the younger sister, be allowed to marry as ‘a lady’. By the time of the 1861 census she had her before Mary? Unlikely, since marriage was rigidly ‘Miss Havisham’ - fact or fiction? own establishment near Whitchurch. She bought controlled by the parents of wealthy families in Chetwynd House, Chetwynd End, Newport circa 1862. the 19th century. Also, why would their father - TN According to ‘Eddowes Journal’ she attended local Parker - entertain Sir Baldwin as a spouse for Mary, if The notion that Newport’s Miss Elizabeth have been associated with Dickens. If they had had any events from 1862-1866. She was now in her sixties. She Sir Baldwin had jilted the younger sister? It makes no Parker was the model for ‘Miss Havisham‘, news of Dickens visiting Newport, they would have lived there until her death in 1884. She was, therefore, sense at all. noted it in their papers or in print, but again there is not a Novaportan, and was definitely not living in the jilted spinster in Great Expectations, nothing. Newport when Great Expectations was written. So, A letter by TN Parker in Shropshire Archives talks written by Charles Dickens in 1859-60, has there is no evidence of Dickens visiting Newport, and about the forthcoming wedding; the “consummation taken hold in Newport, but what is the We need, however, to look at the life of Dickens to we know that Miss Parker did not live in Newport until [of which] we look forward to with the greatest confirm whether evidence shows visits to Newport. after Great Expectations was published (1860-61). satisfaction” (Above left: Shropshire Archives ref. 1696-1812 evidence for this? The 1949 article claimed that 286/33). The local papers are also very happy, recording, Does the 1949 article come up with any other he first, and apparently the only, evidence Dickens stayed on several occasions at the Bear ‘evidence’? The article asserted that Elizabeth was to is identical articles which appeared in the Hotel – now Beaumaris House – during his coach be married to Sir Baldwin Leighton and that: Shrewsbury Chronicle and in the Newport journeys along the Wolverhampton to Chester road Advertiser in December 1949. They suggested that a Newport lady - Miss Parker But the evidence of the deeds of The Bear Inn in -T was the original for Miss Havisham. The evidence was Shropshire Archives show that it closed in 1787 and given by another Newport Lady, Mrs Ann Milward, became a private house. (Shropshire Archives ref and an anonymous journalist. The story was that Miss 1696-1812 286/33-34) TW Picken also recorded that Parker of Chetwynd House, Newport, lived the life of the old Bear Inn’s sign was later taken to an inn over a recluse after being jilted by Sir Baldwin Leighton on the road, which we shall call Bear Inn mark 2, but her wedding day, and that Dickens heard about this even this inn was closed and demolished by 1830. At when he was visiting Newport. that time Dickens was just an 18 year old junior clerk working in a law office in London. His first novel, Is there any local contemporaneous evidence Pickwick Papers, was 8 years away, as were his first for Miss Parker being ‘Miss Havisham’? Our local recorded travels to Shropshire (Shrewsbury). Dr researchers were TW Picken, an antiquarian and Tony Williams, president of The Dickens Fellowship, pharmacist, and TP Marshall, the editor of the Newport has helped with the research for this article, and has Advertiser. Both researched and had articles published searched all the surviving Dickens letters, diary entries on a wide range of local subjects from 1880s to 1910s. and ‘The Dickensian’ journals. He reports that there There is nothing in their articles about Miss Havisham. is no mention of Dickens visiting Newport (or even Perhaps they might not have printed what could Whitchurch or Oswestry where, we shall discover, Miss have been regarded as tittle-tattle about Miss Parker, Parker had lived). but there is also nothing at all in TW Picken’s private research and letters. We know from these papers that You may ask, surely Dickens visited Tong when he Picken was not averse to gathering gossip, but there was writing The Old Curiosity Shop, and travelled up is nothing. We can imagine that Picken and Marshall the main road to Newport at that time? The fact is would have been enormously proud for Newport to that he seems only to have known the name ‘Tong’ Chetwynd House. Shropshire Archives ref. PH/C/11/19

2 Salopian Recorder . Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 . Number 89 . Salopian Recorder 3 “The arrival at Loton Park of Sir Hall, Oswestry, not at Chetwynd which she went attired in her wedding B.L. and his bride on Wednesday House. Also, if the Parker family had gown because it was rumoured that Sir excited unbounded joy. Bells were organised a wedding reception Baldwyn would be there. He was not. rung, cannons fired, a large ox and for Mary, would the wedding cake several sheep were distributed of the jilted sister Elizabeth have Perhaps she did indeed go to a at Alberbury and Cardiston been kept? Remember that Mary ball in Newport. This would have (Shrewsbury Chronicle 09.03.1832). and Elizabeth were both living still to be in the 1860s or 1870s. Would at Sweeney Hall. Could Elizabeth she go as a sixty-something year Was there anything more somehow have secreted the cake old intent on inveigling the elderly sinister going on, however? It is from her parents, and moved the Sir Baldwin? By the early 1860s he unfortunate that the record which cake over a thirty year period to had been married to her sister for could have finally proved the case Chester, Whitchurch, and finally to over thirty years. Why would either one way or the other (the banns, Newport? This is incredible. of these elderly people bother? In if there were any of Elizabeth and respect of the wedding gown – the Sir Baldwin at St Oswald Oswestry), Mrs Millward was 90 at the time same argument applies as for the From the do not now exist. (Note for of the article being written (1949). cake story. Why would anyone wear researchers. I found it useful to be She was born c. 1859. She would, and move it around the country Chair able to download a pdf of a list of therefore, not have been old from Chester, to Whitchurch to all Shropshire registers. Important enough to remember Miss Parker Newport over a 30 year period? Jill Ming to note that B = ‘Births’ and Bn = moving in to Chetwynd House If she had done this, everyone in Above and right: Combere Abbey. Lyn Leach ‘Banns’) in the early 1860s. She probably Shropshire would have known assumed that Miss Parker had lived about it, not just Mrs Millward! very year we arrange summer We had a glorious day for our there all her life. She just didn’t visits to give our members an visit to Combermere Abbey in know the truth. Adding weight to the unverified Eopportunity to meet up and July. Our guide Myra Logan led Advertiser story are, unfortunately, discover places and properties of us on a tour of the house and Is there anything of Mrs Ann Warner’s book Newport, historical interest in and around regaled us with many fascinating Millward's story that may be true? Shropshire Past and Present (1983) the county. These generally include facts about the former Cistercian Certainly Miss Parker seems to have and Rob Prentice’s A History of a guided tour and, of course, Monastery and its evolution from been eccentric. She was wealthy Newport (1986). Unfortunately, afternoon tea. Our first two visits a Tudor timber-framed building and lived in one of the biggest both repeated the newspaper in June and July were also blessed to the Gothic exterior visible houses in Newport. She was an 1949 story without going back to with fine weather. today. The fortunate discovery of elderly spinster, who chose to live primary sources. an oil painting of the house and life according to her own rules. Mrs In June, the Friends combined garden prior to its ‘Gothicisation’ Millward remembered that Miss My research on this topic began their AGM with a visit to Lilleshall illustrated the many changes that Parker: when our president Miss Tavia National Sports Centre near had occurred during the last three Maclean, now sadly no longer with Newport. Vice-Chair Sue Cleaves centuries both to the building and Mrs Millward and her ghost Spent almost her entire life in the us, told me about the evidence of chaired the AGM and once the the landscape, including merging writer talk of the Chetwynd House upper rooms of Chetwynd House... [she] the Bear Inn not being an inn after necessary business was concluded, two former lakes to form one large as being as mysterious as Miss had all her meals brought to a small 1787, and that she could find no local historian David Adams gave a body of water – the Comber Mere. Havisham’s Satis House: table hinged to the wall on the landing evidence of Dickens visiting. So I history of Lilleshall Abbey and Hall. Myra introduced us to the families upstairs and she would come out of her resolved to try to get to the bottom His specialism is industrial history who have shaped the house and, The ground floor was not room to fetch them If tradesmen called of the story. My conviction is that following a life in cartography, most recently, completed a major furnished, except one room which she would speak to them from the top of there is no evidence either for mining engineering and geology. restoration project. never saw the light of day, and it the staircase. Dickens visiting Newport or for Miss David’s talk was appreciated by Above x 2: The Friends visit was here that Miss Parker kept her Parker being the model for Miss everyone who warmed to his We are looking forward to Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Jill Ming wedding cake on top of which Odd perhaps, but nothing more. Havisham. I have now, however, to enthusiasm. Notably, he explained hosting the Bishop’s Castle History were candles which were kept convince various websites - chiefly that the long drive was once a Day in conjunction with the Shropshire Victoria County History burning constantly… Mrs Millward had another piece Shropshire tourism - to amend this canal! A drink and cake were Bishop’s Castle & Area Heritage group. There are still two vacancies of ‘evidence’: unsubstantiated tale which has got followed by a tour around part Forum on 30 September. on our committee awaiting your The tale of the cake and the totally out of hand! n of the garden or an invitation to consideration. You can contact me candles seems ridiculous. Firstly, [she] attended one public function only wander around on our own. The We are delighted to welcome for a no-obligation chat to find out any reception of Elizabeth’s after her great disappointment and fine weather showed the grounds Penny Ward as a co-opted member more on 01694 722261 or email would have been at Sweeney that was a county ball in Newport to to their best advantage. of our committee representing the [email protected]. n

4 Salopian Recorder . Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 . Number 89 . Salopian Recorder 5 The architect of the 1769 bridge was John Gwynn, twelve horses to haul it into place.2 I can find no ‘election’ car collided on the English Bridge with a milk English Bridge, a self taught man from Shrewsbury. A Mr Buddle, of reason why dolphins were included in the design, but float.4 There were many more reports of cars hitting London, was contracted to build the new bridge, from I have been given the following suggestions: - to act the bridge and causing damage, mostly of a similar Shrewsbury - Part 1 sandstone. Having built only two arches, as guardians of the bridge, to stop boats damaging nature. he was discharged from building both the English the arches, and for mooring boats. The modern use of hile working on James Bridge and the bridge at Atcham, which John Gwynn the word dolphin is a free standing structure of posts, In 1910 Shropshire County Council contributed to Feature Mallinson’s photographs designed at the same time, so Gwynn took over the driven into the river/sea bed for mooring boats to. the rebuilding of two canal bridges in Shrewsbury, but Wat the Archives, I became completion of both bridges. There is a picture in Also, dolphins were widely regarded in mythology as the councillors wanted it recorded that this was not to aware of a large collection of the archives of the new bridge partly built, with two an aid and a sign of good fortune to sailors. be set as a precedent for the rebuilding of the English Anthony L Price photographs of the dismantling arches under construction. The ‘new’ bridge was Bridge.5 In 1922, several newspapers reported that the and rebuilding of the English completed in 1774. The centre arch was required to There were proposals to widen the bridge, which Town council was considering building a new bridge Bridge, over the in Shrewsbury, and be high enough to allow shipping to pass beneath. were put before the Town Council as early as 1905. It as an alternative to widening the existing one. thought the subject could make an interesting article. This caused the road to be steep each side, rising to was suggested that the County Council might help the centre, which was to cause problems later on with with the £10,000 cost.3 It is interesting to note that There have been many anecdotes about the bridge, William Poole Scoltock, in his book ‘Memorandum traffic. part of the report suggested that there could be ranging from the tragedy of a child wrapped in a Book of Local Events’ – ‘English Bridge’ - gives the accidents on the old bridge, although there were shawl with a stone tied to it, and thrown from the following dates: Problems of traffic were added to when Telford none reported. The Shrewsbury Chronicle then bridge in 1826, to a Mr Cureton who, in 1903, reported used the bridge as part of his London-Holyhead Road started reporting accidents on the bridge, including that there was a large otter living under the bridge, • ‘9th June 1767 - Began with the view of widening the old stone bridge.’ in the 1820s. The problem was highlighted in the early boys frightening a horse and trap, which ran down and suggested that it be removed as no trout had 1920s when it was reported that two buses found it Wyle Cop, colliding on the bridge with a farmer and been caught in the last month! On the Welsh Bridge, • ‘1768 - plan altered’ difficult to pass. The standard width of a bus was 7’ his horse. Mr. G. H. Shuker of Pride Hill, Shrewsbury, on the Mardol side, at the junction with Victoria • ’29th June 1769 - First stone laid of the New (2.1m) and the carriageway was 15’ 6” (4.72m) between was driving his motor car over the English Bridge, Avenue, on the corner parapet of the bridge there English Bridge’. kerbs. It was recorded that, in August 1925, 3,923 motor Shrewsbury, when the wheels skidded, causing the are the words "Commit No Nuisance" carved into the vehicles crossed the bridge.1 The steepness can also car to ‘come in violent contact with the palisading stone. This is an archaic injunction not to urinate in He also remarked that there had been several still be seen in John Gwynn’s other local bridge at of the bridge’. The one I like best was concerning public! This suggests that there were no restrictions previous suggested projects to widen the bridge. Atcham, which is now bypassed, but still in use as a the Newport by-election. It was reported that the on the English Bridge! pedestrian walkway. Gwynn’s bridge in Shrewsbury Unionists had 150 motor cars and the Liberals had had several decorative features, with four dolphins between 70 and 80. The police had warned the Dismantling of the John Gwynn bridge commenced English Bridge, Shrewsbury, c on the centre cutwaters, Neptune’s face on the centre political parties regarding speeding on the bridge on 21 August 1925, and is the subject of an article that 1920's. Shropshire Archives ref. keystone and shells on the other arches. The large when collecting voters and supporters, but it was will appear in the next issue of the Recorder. n PH/S/13/E/1/17 centre arch keystone weighed over 10 tons. It took reported that there was only one accident, when an

References

1. Lecture to the Royal Sanitary Institute by AW Ward, 1929 2. Short History of the English Bridge by AW Ward, 1941 3. Shrewsbury Chronicle, 17/2/1905 4. Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 15/5/1908 5. Shrewsbury Chronicle, 29.7.1910

The entry for Thomas Newton in the Overseers' account book for Shawbury parish, 1774-1793. Shropshire Archives ref: P241/L/4/5

6 Salopian Recorder . Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 . Number 89 . Salopian Recorder 7 Mr Mallinson was a professional photographer with was that he usually only claimed for a one-way rail In the ledgers were found many assorted papers James Mallinson (1891- a studio in 13 Frankwell. Some years ago librarian Tony ticket to Wellington. The Ensor Caravan Co. on the A5 which have now been catalogued. These include Carr, together with a colleague, went to his studio continued until the early 1970’s. invoices, a photographer’s pass for the Shrewsbury 1959) - Photographer in Frankwell, at the request of the Solicitor who was Show, delivery notes for photographic materials sent dealing with the winding up of Mallinson’s estate, to Mr Mallinson had an interest in major changes in by rail, and letter heads. n from Shrewsbury collect what remained of his photographic work. The the street scene taking place in Shrewsbury in the house was in a poor state of repair and the two men 1920s and 1930s. He recorded many buildings before were required to take special care in climbing the stairs demolition as well as the redevelopment of the sites. ver the past few years several volunteers have to the attic, from where they retrieved a quantity of There was a link between Mallinson and A W Ward, been cataloguing the Shropshire Archives’ photographic material – liberally plastered in pigeon Borough Surveyor; because of this Mallinson got good J Baker & Sons Ocollection of photographs. Among these droppings! access to the sites. There are several good examples of Ltd, Bootmakers, photos many were stamped on the back with the his work. The rebuilding of the English Bridge, (which No 5, Castle Gates, name ‘Mallinson’ and a photographic negative During 2016 I started to work on a collection of took place over several years), is of particular interest Shrewsbury, May 1933. number (written number). James Mallinson’s family unidentified photos. Many of them were attributed to (this is the subject of another article). Others include Shropshire Archives came from Bradford, Yorkshire. His father Benjamin Mr Mallinson and I was made aware by the Archives’ the building of what is now the Gala Bingo, Castle ref. PH/S/13/C/4/109 was a newsagent at 47 Frankwell, Shrewsbury. James staff of the existence of Mr Mallinson’s ledgers and Foregate as a cinema, the Shelton Water Works and was educated at Shrewsbury Technical School, where records. In these books he had recorded brief details the many business interests of the Morris family. he obtained a certificate in advanced technical of photographs he had taken, for whom, their address drawing. In 1919 he married Lucy Kynaston from and how much he had charged. The ledgers and paper work revealed previously Shrewsbury : Castle . Her occupation in the 1911 census was given as forgotten information. For example, in the 1920’s Gates (inc Meadow a photographer’s assistant. Did she work for James In the 1920s and 1930s Mallinson’s business he was commissioned by the Sentinel works to Place) ::Construcion Mallinson? flourished with commercial commissions, including photograph some of the company’s products and of the Granada some for the local authority, portraits, passport their housing developments at Sentinel Gardens. Cinema, Castle Gates. photographs and photographs for schools and for Sometimes his photos recorded contemporary Shropshire Archives Feature local companies’ brochures. He also produced a set technology – he photographed a lady switching on ref. PH/S/13/C/4/113 of postcards (for sale) of Shrewsbury, which he called the electric light in her new home in Sentinel Gardens ‘The Mallinson Series’. Wildings (postcard publishers) in 1931. Anthony L Price also commissioned him to produce postcards for C.H. Smallwood, them, with photographs of the Shrewsbury area. Since the rediscovery of these ledgers it Mechanical has been possible to put names and dates to Engineers, Battery One amusing item that came from many unidentified photos, although many Station, College the ledgers was a commission for portraits remain to be identified, as matching Hill, Shrewsbury. Ensor caravan makers, who were names in the ledgers to the negatives has Shropshire based in Ketley, to photograph their proved difficult. Archives ref. latest caravan, which was described PH/S/13/C/24/62 as a ‘Portable Bungalow’. The ledgers record that Mallinson visited Charles Ensor regularly on a commercial basis. An interesting note in his expenses

Main image below: Demolition in Bridge Street, Shrewsbury. Shropshire Archives ref. PH/S/13/B/5/20

8 Salopian Recorder . Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 . Number 89 . Salopian Recorder 9 Feature Family History News New website All the completed cataloguing and Thanks very much to transcription is now available on the online - a Stitch in all of you who have catalogue, together with the digitised Bill Britnell registered on the new images. A celebration event took place in Time! Mary McKenzie site. We now have almost in September where the 300 registered users. The conserved minute books were on display. online advance ordering is going well. We are It was very satisfying to be able to show hen we moved to Shropshire for the still developing the online payments element the people of Much Wenlock what we had sake of work in the early 1970s I was only of the site but this should be available achieved. This project was funded by the Wvaguely aware that my father’s side of the soon. We are also working with Orangeleaf Heritage Lottery Fund and led by Much family, which hailed from Oxfordshire, had ancestral Systems who created the site to develop Wenlock Town Council. connections with Shropshire. As an archaeologist, the ordering and production systems. This my interests have tended to focus on the more includes creating a locations database for all Farewell to Katherine and welcome ancient past than upon my own family’s history, but our collection linked to barcodes which, in to Andie since retirement I have been delighted to discover future, will dramatically improve our ability In August Librarian Katherine Allcock family connections with many of the villages that to make items available. This is a longer left Shropshire Archives as her family are have become familiar from bicycle rides along the term goal which has been achieved at other relocating to near Plymouth. Katherine has county’s country lanes — places such as Church archive services, most notably at The Keep, worked at Shropshire Archives for 10 years Pulverbatch, , Pontesbury, Meole, Baschurch, in East Sussex. We will keep you informed as and during that time she has proved to be a Wrockwardine, Munslow, Yeaton and Cound. One domestic servant in various households in Shropshire this work develops. very valuable member of the team both in of the key ‘historical documents’ that has helped in and in due course married Richard Wale, coachman managing the public service team with Sarah tracing the history of this side of the family has been and domestic servant, also born in Shropshire. In an Much Wenlock Davis, and dealing with the processing and an Edwardian sampler which had been in my mother’s age of increasing labour mobility, Emma and Richard’s Minute Books cataloguing of the library and printed books. possession for many years, with the neatly stitched descendants moved further afield in pursuit of gainful project We wish Katherine and her family all the very inscription ‘Emma Oakley, Her Work, Aged 11 Years, employment. Work on the best for the future. Church Pulverbatch School 1830’, (above right) together conservation and with a doll-sized chemise with her initials (below). As well as being able to identify family connections, digitisation of the earliest We have appointed Andie Lloyd in what has also intrigued me is the biography of the two Much Wenlock Katherine’s place. Andie has worked at the I assume the school was the one in Rectory sampler and chemise themselves — tracing their Borough minute books, British Library both dealing with researchers Cottage, established by the rector George Gilpin in progress across since the 1830s. As far as dating from 1495-1810 and cataloguing collections. Andie grew the glebe before 1818, mentioned in Victoria County I can see they seem to have visited Staffordshire, is now complete. The up in Shrewsbury and has now moved History Vol. VIII. School-exercise pieces of this kind Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, Kent, books were rebound back with her family. We look forward to evidently played an important role in the education Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and County Durham as at Staffordshire Record welcoming her to the team. n of girls up to the middle of the nineteenth century. they were passed from one generation to the next. Office by Senior Conservator Richard Like many similar Edwardian children’s samplers On my mother’s death several years ago they were Nichols and we are delighted with the result. it bears a religious text as well as the letters of the handed down to me and have by chance returned to Good progress has also been made on the Left inset: Richard Nichols, Senior Conservator at alphabet in upper and lower case and the numbers Shropshire. translation and transcription of the pages Staffordshire Record Office rebinding the Wenlock from one to twelve, flowers and several bowls of fruit. themselves. This work has been done by a Borough Minute Books. Such workpieces were clearly seen as a teaching aid After this long journey the sampler and chemise dedicated group of volunteers who have for reinforcing reading and writing skills, religious have inevitably suffered a fair degree of wear and done a great job despite the challenging Right: conserved pages from the Wenlock Borough knowledge and aesthetics as much as for purely tear. We therefore decided to have them expertly handwriting in both Latin and English. Minute Book. Shropshire Archives ref. WB/C//1/1 needleworking dexterity. cleaned and stabilized, which was undertaken for us In the circumstances, by the accredited textile Please send any comments to: the quotation ‘Those conservator Michelle Mary McKenzie, Acting Museums and Archives Manager, that seek me early Harper. With any luck Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ shall find me’ from Proverbs these tangible mementos of tel: 0345 6789096 8.17, is extremely apt, since with the my family history will last for at least email: [email protected] help of census returns and parish another century. But where will their website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk registers is has been possible to next journey take them? n identify Emma as my great-great- grandmother, born in Longden in 1819. She appears to have become a

10 Salopian Recorder . Number 89 . Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 . Number 89 . Salopian Recorder 11