Newsletter No.77 Summer 2008
A Lucky Find Unlocks 1832 Pavenham Map
Just occasionally, if you wait long enough, a chance find can prove to be the missing link to an existing document in one of our collections. Back in July 1964, Doctor John Linnell, brother of the Pavenham historian Charles D Linnell (died 1963), deposited with us an attractive watercolour map of the parish, as surveyed by Charles Oakden of Waresley, Hunts, in 1832 [Ref: X251/5, above]. The map shows numbered plots for properties, fields and woodland, but is of limited use in the absence of a field book. Amazingly, though, we saw the missing reference book in a dealer’s list a couple of months ago and information in it unlocks the map completely. The first part of Charles Oakden’s field book, compiled in June 1832, [Ref: Z1333/1/1, above right] lists all 218 plot numbers in numerical order, giving field names and identifying public houses and businesses such as blacksmiths. The state of cultivation of each plot is also given (arable, grass or woodland), together with the acreage. At the end of this section there are total acreages for arable, grass and woodland. The second part of the survey gives similar information, but arranged by proprietor, and in some cases the tenure of the land (freehold or copyhold) is noted. So, after a wait of more than 40 years the Pavenham map and field book are reunited!
Slavery Part 3; The Abolition of Slavery & its Impact; the evidence at Beds & Luton Archives & Records Service by James Collett-White|
Willington in the 'Good Old Days'?
Willington today is a small village to the east of Bedford. With a good series of medieval Court Rolls, we’ve a rare window to look on its community in the past. Peering through in late 1451, what a sight! Emma Skynner, licensed as a brewer there, has just been before the Manor Court. Found guilty of running a common brothel, the bailiff is ordered to eject her from the Manor.
Emma and John Skynner had only arrived in Willington earlier that year. Within his short time of residence, John was twice reported to the Court for fighting. On the second occasion he was assaulted with a stick, and came off worse, blood being drawn. Anti-social behaviour is clearly part of the human condition and transcends time!
(Thanks to Dorothy Jamieson, who is using these fascinating records for her Masters Degree at the Centre For English Local History at Leicester University, for telling us of these entries)
Find out more about the history of Willington on the Community Archives| pages!
Charter Mark Assessment 2008 & the future of the Arhcives Service from 2009
The Archives Service is a long-term holder (since 1993) of the Charter Mark Award for providing excellent service to its users. We were assessed again this March (the second year of a three-year rolling programme) and have just learned that we have passed with an improved score – the assessor particularly praised our strong service ethos and our work with other agencies. However, some of his remarks do give pause for thought: ‘Accommodation, particularly [archive] storage, remains a problem, and resulted in the lowest score in the six factors in their recent TNA [National Archives] self-assessment – detracting from what is otherwise a high-performing archives and record management service with a national reputation. Care [must also] be taken, that some strong aspects of this Charter Mark application are retained under the new unitary arrangements, e.g. the web site, which accounts for 25% of the current County Council web site pages.’
At this stage we don’t exactly know what will happen to the Archives Service when Beds County Council is abolished in spring 2009 and two new unitary councils are created. The most likely scenario, in line with national recommendations, is that we will remain as a specialist county-wide service, responsible to (and funded by) the three unitary councils – Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough. But the most important thing is that we continue to develop the service under the new arrangements, in particular gaining more on-site storage for archives (which is so urgently needed), continuing to develop our massive website presence, expanding our programme of outreach activities to benefit as many people as possible, and mastering the challenge of preservation of digital archives – all so we can do our best for you, our users.
Westoning Garden City?!
A report of the Ampthill Rural District Council meeting in the Bedfordshire Times 4 March 1927 recorded an unusual planning proposal from Mr William Benjamin Ropkins, J.P., who resided at The Gables, Westoning, and was Governing Director of the Gaius Estates and Building Society.
His letter to the Council read: ‘I wish to call attention to the following facts: Sampshill, in the parish of Westoning...is a hill which rises ¾ inch in each 6 inches, and is obviously a very difficult hill to walk up; for wheeled traffic it has a bad name, and it is terrible for horse flesh and a bugbear to all the agriculturalists in the neighbourhood...There is no alternative but to remove the hill bodily and substitute for it an easier gradient. I have recently purchased on behalf of my Company the whole of the area of Sampshill, where I have commenced laying out the whole of it as Westoning Garden City, on modern up to date lines. Plans have been prepared which show the whole lay-out, including provision of an excellent station. It is not right that my Company should bear the whole of the outlay which will be incurred in the formation of this site. I shall therefore be glad if you will, with your Council, please give the whole subject your careful consideration, and let me have your decision at the earliest date possible, as this is of the utmost importance for carrying out of my plans in their entirety.’
The Chairman: ‘I think you had better refer that letter to the Highways Committee.’
Mr R.N.Attwood; ‘He saw the hill was there before he bought the estate didn’t he?’ (laughter).
The Minutes of the Ampthill RDC Highways Committee [Ref.RDAM2/21] drily record: ‘Recommended that the Clerk be directed to reply that while the Council appreciate Mr Ropkins desire to improve the neighbourhood they are unable to contribute anything from Public Funds towards the suggested works.’
Rain Stops Play!
Tournament 1471 at Bromham Mill was one of the events of the recent Bank Holiday that suffered from the bad weather. On Sunday the County Archivist Kevin Ward and our conservator Pamela Birch manned the Archive Service’s stand, but even having the driest and most sheltered place on the site didn’t pull in the crowds. As the forecast was no better for Monday it was decided to pack away our games and activities but to leave the displays up in the Mill.
The good news is that the displays and activities will not be wasted as we will use them again at events later in the year, weather permitting! The next scheduled outing is at Woodworks at Marston Vale on the 6-7th September|, do come along and see us!
Interested in promoting Local History in Bedfordshire?
For 15 years Bedfordshire Local History Association has successfully supported the many local history societies and groups within the county. It produces a quarterly newsletter, which goes to all individual members and member societies. It organises practical workshops, themed exhibitions and supports an annual conference. The Association is now planning to become more dynamic in its communication and exchange of information, and wants to upgrade its website. We’re looking for people interested in history who’d like to help us. If you’ve a little time to give to this voluntary work, you could help the Association to promote much more widely the range of local history activities in Bedfordshire and encourage more people to get involved, learn from and, above all, enjoy their local history. If you’d like to discuss this opportunity, please contact Martin Lawrence, by email in the first instance, via janetrthornton@btopenworld.com|