Spring 2019

Our countywide Activity Plan for The Hold: A Suffolk Archives Service for the 21st Century began in August 2018. Made possible through the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, it will offer many new archive inspired events and activities over the next four years and beyond.

Further details in future leaflets and at www.thehold.org.uk

Please visit www.suffolkarchives.co.uk for more information about our events, opening hours, contact details and services.

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Free Events

I Didn’t Know Suffolk Record Office Collected That In these half hour sessions you will have the opportunity to look at and discuss interesting and unusual archives from the Suffolk Record Office collections with a member of staff.

"To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come" - Looking at Letters Patent with Emma Sealy Tuesday 22 January 11.00am

Paper Bags and Puffins: WS Cowell Ltd with Suzanne Franks Thursday 14 March 11.00am Ipswich

Fun at work? Whatever Next! Some lighter moments from the business records at Ipswich Record Office with Anne Murray Friday 5 April 11.00am Ipswich

Drop in Family History Sessions @ Library Wednesday 3 April 10:00 am - 4:00pm Halesworth Library Do you have questions about your family history research? Do you want some advice on how to start and what resources are available from Suffolk Record Office? Drop in (10-12) or book a half hour slot (1-4) at Halesworth Library.

Queen Victoria at 200 May to July Lowestoft 2019 celebrates the 200th anniversary since Queen Victoria was born. Visit our free display showcasing her and all things Victorian at Lowestoft Record Office.

Time Out

John Louth Clemence Ivan Bunn, Suffolk Record Office Tuesday 8 January 2.00pm Lowestoft

3 Clemence was Morton Peto’s principal architect in Lowestoft and long after Peto left the area he remained in the town, designing many of it’s buildings and also contributing much to the social and civic life of the town until his death in 1911.

Oliver Cromwell, Lowestoft and the Curfew Bell Ivan Bunn, Suffolk Record Office Tuesday 7 May 2.00pm Lowestoft On 14 March 1643 Oliver Cromwell came to Lowestoft with his soldiers and arrested many leading townsfolk. This talk will look at the background to the event, what happened and its repercussions.

Talks and Walks £7.50

“To relieve need and distress”: The Story of East Anglian Almshouses Sarah Doig Saturday 26 January 10.00am Bury Almshouses have a long and rich history, stretching back to our medieval monasteries. Sarah Doig will chart the evolution of the almshouse, exploring the life of these institutions from the perspective of both donor and beneficiary. She will also take a look at the differing styles of architecture as well as dipping into the various rules and regulations the inhabitants had to adhere to if they were to keep their highly-prized place in the almshouse!

Women in Trade and Business Gill Blanchard Saturday 2 February 10.00am Bury Discover the kind of trades and business women were involved in with professional genealogist, house historian and author Gill Blanchard. Learn which sources to use to find out more about women’s working lives and where to locate records locally, nationally and online. Find out about legal and practical impediments facing women in the workplace and how these changed over time.

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The Search for Thomas Alert Louise Kennedy, Suffolk Record Office Thursday 7 February 2.30pm Lowestoft A chance encounter with a parish register entry, back in 1996, has resulted in a twenty two year research journey for archivist Louise Kennedy. Join Louise as she delves in to the story of Thomas Alert, a little African slave boy who had been brought half way across the world in 1846 and given into the care of the local vicar in Lowestoft. Discover his story that spanned the world and includes key figures in the Anti-Slavery campaign including the Gurney family and William E. Gladstone.

The Railway Comes to Suffolk Clive Paine Saturday 16 February 10.00am Bury The first length of railway line in Suffolk was the nine miles between Brandon and Shippea Hill on the Norwich to Ely line, opened in 1845. However the most important line was between Ipswich and , promoted by the Cobbold family of Ipswich, which opened in 1846 and provided the first Suffolk to London link. Cobbold’s Eastern Union Railway Company next extended its network to Bury St. Edmunds in 1846 and via to Norwich in 1848-9. This talk concentrates mainly on the Ipswich to Bury line and examines the aims of the Company; the problems and progress of the venture and the expected and actual impact of the railway.

Wooden Sailing Boats in Art. With particular reference to those made in the Boat Yards of Suffolk and Essex. Magdalen Evans Saturday 16 February 10.30am Ipswich Join art historian Magdalen Evans for a lively account of traditional boat-building in Suffolk, particularly from the yard which still survives in Lowestoft, and the story of the re-building of the Stour lighter, the John Constable which now plies the river again between Sudbury and the coast. Illustrations of places such as Pin Mill and Woodbridge will demonstrate the vision but also the economic

5 realities behind the survival of these places. Modern artists and film -makers have used Essex and Suffolk boatyards for inspiration and Maggie, a keen but non-competitive smack sailor, will attempt to bring this subject up to the present day.

The Story of Borley Rectory - “The Most Haunted House in England?” Ivan Bunn, Suffolk Record Office Wednesday 27 February 7.00pm Lowestoft On this day eighty years ago Borley Rectory near Sudbury was destroyed by a “mysterious” fire. Dubbed “The Most Haunted House in England” this was the culmination of decades of ghostly and unexplained happenings there. In this talk Ivan Bunn will look at the history of the rectory, the strange events said to have taken place there and the personalities involved. Tea and coffee is included in the price and will be served partway through.

Benjamin Britten and the Composer’s Place Dr Christopher Hilton Saturday 2 March 10.30am Ipswich Benjamin Britten was born in Lowestoft in 1913 and died some thirty miles south in Aldeburgh 63 years later, living for most of his life in his native county. Christopher Hilton, Head of Archive and Library at Britten Pears, will talk about what Suffolk meant to Britten, how it affected his work, and the sources for local studies that are found in his archive.

Introduction to Property History Heidi Hughes, Suffolk Record Office Friday 8 March 10.30am Ipswich This talk will introduce visitors to how they can use Suffolk Record Office collections in their property history research. You will have an opportunity to view a selection of archives including sales particulars, maps, architects plans, photographs, estate records and street directories.

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Fancy a Pint? Bruce Martin, Suffolk Record Office Friday 22 March 10.30am Ipswich In this session record office staff will help you to find out more about the history of past and present pubs and alehouses. You will have the opportunity to look at original archives including street directories, maps, sale particulars, architects plans and photographs.

The Rise and Decline of the Victorian Reading Room in East Anglia Sarah Doig Saturday 23 March 10.00am Bury In this fascinating talk, Sarah Doig tells the story of the rapid rise of village reading rooms in the mid-nineteenth century, born out of a desire by the rich landowners and churchmen to provide an alternative to the public houses for the labouring class. She will outline the life of the reading room from the perspective of the user and of the managers. And we will hear of the reasons for the equally speedy decline of the reading room in the twentieth century.

Behind the Scenes of Who Do You Think You Are? Gill Blanchard Saturday 30 March 10.00am Bury The inside story on what it is like working for the show producers. Find out how the show is prepared, the research process and how the celebrities learn about their ancestors. With specific reference to Gill’s research for and appearances on the Mary Berry and Jonnie Peacock episodes.

Whatever Happened to Hardwick House? Clive Paine Saturday 6 April 10.00am Bury Hardwick House, to the south of Bury, where the West Suffolk Hospital stands, was the home of the Cullum family from c1615 until 1921, when George Gery Milner Gibson Cullum, the last owner dies. The estate was entailed, but there were no male heirs,

7 so the property reverted to the Crown. The estate was sold in lots at a series of auctions, until only the house was left. Using the Cullum family archives, newspaper reports and a wonderful series of photographs, it is possible to have a virtual walk around the house, see its collections of books, china, furniture, sculptures and paintings, just before the final act of destruction.

Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service Martin Sanford Friday 12 April 2.00pm Ipswich Martin Sanford will describe the work of SBIS; the service aims to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information relating to the wildlife of Suffolk. Records are collated from a wide variety of sources both professional and amateur, then verified, validated and made available as mapping layers for planners and decision makers. The information also contributes to the National Biodiversity Network’s Atlas website and is used for education, academic studies and a wide variety of other uses.

The Maharajah Duleep Singh, Queen Victoria and Suffolk Clive Paine Saturday 4 May 10.00am Bury The Maharajah was brought to England in 1853, aged 15, following the British annexing of the Punjab. He became a favourite of Queen Victoria and her Children. He purchased Elveden Estate in 1863 and rebuilt the Hall in an Indian Style in 1871. He ended his life in exile and disgrace in Paris, yet Queen Victoria remained a loyal friend even sending a representative to his funeral at Elveden in 1893. This talk traces the relationship between Queen Victoria and Maharajah using photographs, illustrations, letters and local and national archives.

Assington Workhouse Ray Whitehand Saturday 11 May 10.00am Bury For this talk Ray will be joined by the owners of this important Listed building. Ray will summarise the story of parish workhouses in the county, before moving onto the history of the workhouses in

8 Assington. The second half sees the owners of the property bring the story up to date, with tales of an exceptional lady resident, and of mysticism and voodooism. After presenting their plans for the future, Ray and the owners will then end the session with a question and answer session.

Cedric Morris - Irises and Beyond Caroline Holmes Saturday 1 June 10.00am Bury The artist Cedric Morris (1889-1982) and irises are encapsulated in his paintings of his former home and gardens at Benton End near Hadleigh where, following a devastating fire in Dedham he relocated the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing. A legacy of 100 of his works was donated to Gainsborough’s House Museum in 2017. We will explore his zest for life, plantsmanship and pupils.

Hands on Parish Registers Kerry Meal, Suffolk Record Office Saturday 8 June 11.00am Lowestoft Do you fancy being able to actually touch history? If so why not sign up for our 1 hour session aimed at complete beginners on parish registers. You will get the opportunity to learn about parish registers as well as actually getting the chance to handle original registers from the 1500s onwards. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone thinking about starting their family history so why not come along but be warned, this can be addictive!

Walk the Wall! Ivan Bunn, Suffolk Record Office Sunday 7 July 11.00am Lowestoft Join historian Ivan Bunn on another of his fascinating walks, this time exploring Lowestoft’s North Sea Wall , its environs and history.

9 Five Week Courses £37.50

George Orwell and Southwold: Starting Out as a Writer 1927- 1934 Ann Kronbergs Starts Tuesday 15 January 10.00am Bury In 1927, after serving as a police officer in Burma, Eric Blair returned to his parents’ home in Southwold determined to be a writer. Ann Kronbergs will track his writing apprenticeship, up to and following the publication in 1933 of Down and Out in Paris and London, showing how his relationships with women were central to his work.

The Parish, it's Officials and their Documents Clive Paine Starts Monday 25 February 2.00pm Bury This course covers: Parish government and administration; details the roles of the churchwarden, constable, highway surveyor, and overseer. A chance to examine the records created by each official and how they can be used by local and family historians.

A Grand Tour of the Norfolk landscape Caroline Holmes Starts Tuesday 12 March 10.00am Bury Far from flat the history of five Norfolk landscapes is one of royal peaks and innovative troughs. A Grand Tour of cutting edge designs and horticultural revolutions. Roots back to Harold, Earl of East Anglia and King of England continuing with our present Queen. Shoots that shock such as Damien Hirst.

1. Two monarchs and two queens – Blickling Hall 2. Thomases and Edwards - the Cokes of Norfolk 3. Walpole to Damien Hirst - Houghton Hall 4. Sheringham Hall – Reptons at home and his enchanted fairy tale 5. Royal Sandringham House

10 Ten Week Courses £75

“Portraits of Ladies” from James to Spark: Changes in Fictional Approaches to Women Ulrike Horstmann-Guthrie Starts Thursday 17 January 2.00pm Bury New perspectives on a variety of once well-known works of fiction in the light of literary and social developments of the last few decades: Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881), Virginia Woolf, Orlando (1928), Iris Murdoch, The Bell (1958) and Muriel Spark, A Far Cry From Kensington (1988).

Palaeography

Palaeography Beginners Five Week Course £37.50 Clive Paine Starts Monday 14 January 2.00pm Bury Clive’s revolutionary new method of teaching you how to read ‘old handwriting’ will equip and enable you to read those wills, inventories, letters and parish documents in your research. If you have puzzled over strange letters in documents or wondered what a Quisshion was - then this is the gentle introduction to the subject that will build your confidence and skills.

Beginners Latin Palaeography Taster Session £7.50 Dr Kate Jewell Monday 14 January 10.00am Ipswich Have you ever wanted to read old handwriting? Have you been researching your family history and need to find that missing relative in Latin parish registers? Come and try your hand at reading a Latin court roll with the help of an expert. It is easier than you think! Why not sign up for our beginners palaeography course afterwards?

Beginners Latin Palaeography Five Week Courses Dr Kate Jewell

11 Part 1: Starts Monday 28 January 10.00am Ipswich £52.50 Part 2: Starts Monday 18 March 10.00am Ipswich £52.50 A gentle introduction to reading different classes of document, written in Latin, which were common at manorial level from the 13th century to the early 17th century. No previous experience of palaeography or knowledge of Latin is necessary.

Children’s Half-Term Craft Activities £2.50 per child

Half term craft activities for accompanied children over five years

Colouring In and Making Paper Flowers Friday 22 February 10.30am Ipswich

Colouring In and Making and Decorating an Easter Card Friday 12 April 10.30am Ipswich

Colouring In and Making Paper Animals and People Friday 31 May 10.30am Ipswich

Record Office Visits

Are you a member of a society or group? Have you thought of going behind the scenes at an archive to learn about how records are selected, preserved, stored and shared with the public?

Suffolk Record Office’s popular day time and evening visits include a strongroom tour, a talk on the record office and a selection of archives tailored to your group’s interests.

£60 day time and £65 evening

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Suffolk County Roll of Honour

The Suffolk County War Memorial Roll of Honour, 1914-1918, has been digitised. Full colour digital copies of the pages in this volume recording the names of those from the County of Suffolk who lost their lives in the Great War, with the exception of the Borough of Ipswich, can now be accessed for free at www.suffolkarchives.co.uk (Ipswich was a separate County Bor- ough and recorded the fallen on the Borough War Memorial that was unveiled in Christchurch Park in 1924).

The volume was compiled using information returned as a result of a circular letter sent out in Jan 1923 to Parish and District Councils inviting them to send in the names of the men and women belonging to or having associations with their parish. In July 1924 the organisers felt the list of county names was as complete as it was likely to be, as returns had been received from all but three parishes.

A database has been created to include the names of those on the war memorials for the three missing parishes (Kirkley, Leav- enheath and Wissington) and Ipswich. This is available in a se- ries of PDF copies which are organised by surname and by par- ish and are at www.suffolkarchives.co.uk

The original volume (A2/1/4/2) is displayed at Suffolk County Council Headquarters in Endeavour House, Ipswich.

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The Hold: A Suffolk Archives Service for the 21st Century

Suffolk Record Office is delivering a new county wide Activity Plan as a crucial part of the Heritage Lottery Fund supported project The Hold: a Suffolk Archives Service for the 21st Century. Its aim is to engage more people than ever before with the county’s archival heritage, and to support communities to run their own heritage ac- tivities.

Land and Shore the first Activity Plan project began in August 2018.

Why participate? The project will see participating groups support- ed to explore the stories that matter to their community or area of interest.

Your research journey can start with you looking at our historic maps for inspiration but go on to explore the full range of archival sources available. Your research could take you anywhere: a “lost” event or place, a hidden story, something sporting, something mu- sical, oral history, or contemporary collecting - the sky’s the limit!

You will be supported to go on and share the results of your work to people in your community and further afield. From talks, walks, leaflets and exhibitions, to digital stories, art, writing, music and drama; we want the archives to inspire.

What will happen next? A Community and Learning Officer will look to recruit participants, initially in east Suffolk. A second officer will start in 2019 to cover the west of the county.

So if you have a Sharing Suffolk Stories idea, share it with us at [email protected]

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Why not follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for our latest news?

If you’d like to receive the events programme electronically, email us at [email protected]

You can also find out the latest news about The Hold: a Suffolk Archives Service for the 21st Century project on our website at: www.thehold.org.uk

We do our best to avoid changing or cancelling events but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Where possible we will notify people in advance and post updates on our website and through our social media accounts.

If you cancel your booking it is non-refundable. In the event of Suffolk Record Office cancelling we will offer you the opportunity to book another course or have your payment refunded.

Suffolk Record Office Privacy Notice

Personal data relating to SRO and The Hold events and activities

As part of SCC SRO collects and uses personal data to provide and manage our services. We are committed to protecting your privacy.

More information about how the SRO protects your privacy can be found here https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/about/privacy-notice

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Mailing list

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Booking form

Event title Date

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Please make cheques payable to: Suffolk County Council You may also phone us and pay by credit/debit card

Please complete your contact details below and send to the relevant Record Office.

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Bury Record Office 77 Raingate Street, , IP33 2AR 01284 741212 [email protected]

Ipswich Record Office Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ 01473 263910 [email protected]

Lowestoft Record Office Lowestoft Library, Clapham Road South, 01502 674680 Lowestoft, NR32 1DR [email protected]