BALH -Newsletter

Please click on BALH  for their latest newsletter.

Cheshire Pubs and Pub Signs 26th November

This month's speaker was local historian Tony Bostock. Tony gave a well attended meeting a two part talk. The first part was a social history of drinking, with taverns, ale houses, beer houses, inns and public houses, in England from Roman times to the present. In the second half, Tony gave us a whistle stop tour of the more ancient and famous Cheshire pubs and their histories, whetting our whistles for future excursions.

Tony has his own website http://www.tonybostock.com/   

Crewe - The Railway Colony, 22 October

David Cooke's talk described the establishment and development of the 'new' town of Crewe in rural Cheshire by the Grand Junction Railway Company in the early and mid 19th C. David, who was born in the Colony, gave a fascinating overview of the Company's control and paternalism, their town planning, their architecture and services all much advanced for the times, and the class system where workers knew their place and home.  David also outlined the sad demise of the Colony as the Railways ceased to be a major employer and as much of this early Victorian settlement was demolished to make way for late 20th C developments. 

The Changing Face of the District

The Changing Face of the District - an idea for a project.

The main stay of the Society's activities is the series of talks by invited speakers. Although these are always well received, it would be great if members could also do some research and share some local history. The recent study on Tilstone Fearnall school was a success.

We propose that that we look at the changing face of our neighbourhood. It is surprising how many changes have occurred over the past few decades. New by-passes, housing developments, and schools have arrived. Pubs, post offices, chapels, and businesses have disappeared.  Even the street furniture has changed.

We feel it is important to capture these changes, both by recording what is here now and by capturing people's memories. Future historians will struggle if they have no records.

Can we start this project in an informal way by asking members to choose some topics and to gather information. The use of modern technology, eg  our weblog and the 'cloud', allows us to store and share documents and photographs. We have added an extra page to this weblog to record our findings.

We will launch this initiative at the October meeting, we will follow the progress of this project throughout the year and have a presentation at the AGM in May.

Crewe - the Railway Colony, David Cooke Thursday 22 October

Our next talk is 'Crewe - the Railway Colony' by David Cooke. This talk is about the early development of the "new town" of Crewe once the Railway Company had decided to make the area its HQ for engineering etc. in about 1840. David Cooke, originally from the Potteries, is a local Historian and member of Crewe and Nantwich U3A Local History Group where he regularly gives presentations on subjects of Local History and he also conducts tours of places of interest in the Potteries and surrounding area. As usual, the talk will be at 7:30 in Tiverton Village Hall and non-members are very welcome.

Florence Nightingale and our new season

We were pleased to welcome so many members after the long 'summer' break when the Society held its first meeting of this season on 24th September.

Our opening talk was 'Florence Nightingale' from Professor Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead from the University of Chester's Faculty of Health and Social Care.

Elizabeth presented a very understanding view of this well known Victorian lady. She explained how Florence, who came from a privileged and well-connected family, was one of a small group of women determined to progress in what in those times was an even more male dominated world.  Fortunately Florence had a father who ensured she had a good education and who supported her independence allowing her to gain experience and be in a position to make her illustrious contribution in the Crimean war. Leading a small group of nurses, and with limited resources, Florence developed the facilities and organisation to care for the wounded soldiers. On returning to England, Florence applied her knowledge and insight into establishing nursing as a profession.

The Faculty of Health and Social Care runs a Historical Society for those with an interest in medicine, nursing, midwifery and social work. They run talks, open to the public, and they have a museum. Please click on Museum and talks for more details. If members are interested we should be able to organise a group visit to the museum in Chester.

This year's programme

We are pleased to say we have now finalised our programme for the coming season.

Go to the Programme 2015/2016 tab above to see what Bob Welch has arranged.

We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday September 24th when Professor Elizabeth Whitehead will be telling us about Florence Nightingale.

Heritage Days in September

Heritage Open Days are an opportunity to visits historic buildings not always open to the public. This year's events will be held on 10 - 13th September.

Details of all Heritage Open Day events can be found on their website http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/. If you want to see what's happening around Chester see Chester and Cheshire open days

Of particular local interest is the restored Lengthsman's Hut at Tilstone lock. This will be open the Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 - 16:00 each day. For more details and parking click on poster.

From 10-13 September, thousands of volunteers across the country invite you to experience local history, architecture and culture. The listings are now live but do keep checking as thousands more will be added in the run up to the festival weekend (as well as any amendments and cancellations). What will you discover?
And remember, everything is FREE to explore!
- See more at: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory#sthash.6VLLpWvo.dpuf

From 10-13 September, thousands of volunteers across the country invite you to experience local history, architecture and culture. The listings are now live but do keep checking as thousands more will be added in the run up to the festival weekend (as well as any amendments and cancellations). What will you discover?
And remember, everything is FREE to explore!
- See more at: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory#sthash.6VLLpWvo.dpuf

From 10-13 September, thousands of volunteers across the country invite you to experience local history, architecture and culture. The listings are now live but do keep checking as thousands more will be added in the run up to the festival weekend (as well as any amendments and cancellations). What will you discover?
And remember, everything is FREE to explore!
- See more at: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory#sthash.6VLLpWvo.dpuf

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies Autumn Programme

Please click on Autumn Programme  to hear about the Cheshire Archives and Local Studies talks and events.

Visit to Tabley House 26th July

An excellent visit with an excellent turnout. Some 30 members and friends of the TB&DHS enjoyed a guided tour of Tabley House. The house which is 'the finest Palladian house' in Cheshire was the home of the Leicester family and includes one of the first collections of English art. Our guide was particularly knowledgeable and helpful. 

Lunch in the cafe afterwards was also particularly good.

Many thanks to Di (and Neville) for organising the trip and sorting out the expenses.

If anyone has any photos, I can add them to this post.

Cheshire Local History Association

Our Society is a member of this Association which will be holding its next quarterly meeting on 7th July.

See Agenda and January quarterly minutes

Exhibition and Event at Nantwich Library

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies would like to draw your attention to an upcoming exhibition of newly digitised photographs funded by Cheshire East Reflects and a talk at Nantwich Library by Linda Clarke. Please see the poster for your information and display.

AGM 28 May

A very brief overview of the AGM:

Neville Carr welcomed some 30 members.
Last year's AGM minutes were approved.
Neville reviewed last year's events (for details of these look through this weblog) but noted although our meetings were well attended, there was a need for new members. The committee in particular needed new blood.
Bob Welch noted that although membership numbers were down, our finances were healthy with some £1160 in the bank.
The following committee was elected.
Chair            Neville Carr
Secretary      Paul Bujac 
Treasurer      Anita Langford
Programme Secretary     Bob Welch
The committee is still working on next year's programme. Details will be published on this weblog. Several ideas for visits and research projects were suggested from the members present.
Di Carr gave details of the Tabley House visit - see post on this weblog

The meeting closed with a 'magic lantern quiz show' from Bob Welch. Bob showed a selection of old postcards of the district. See Bob's photos .

Formal minutes will be available later.

Tabley House Visit Friday 26 June

Some 30+ members have signed up to this visit. Would people please meet up in the car park at 10:15 for a guided tour of the Gallery 10:30 - 11:30. Members are then free to explore the gardens and chapel before lunch at 12:30.

We need to tell Tabley of our lunch menu choices in advance. Most members made their choices and told Di Carr at the AGM. If you didn't, please choose from below and let Di (dianarcarr@btinternet.com) know by Friday 19 June.

Di will collect the money for lunch and for the guided tour (£5 a head) on arrival at Tabley. Please bring the correct money or, at the very least, plenty of change.

Menu
Soup and sandwich £3
Sandwiches £3.45
Afternoon tea £11.95
Cakes £2.95
Tea/coffee £2.25
Scone, jam, cream £2.25

For more details of the House see http://www.tableyhouse.co.uk/

Clare Pye and Tabley House 23rd April

In anticipation of our visit to Tabley House on Friday 26th June, Clare Pye gave us an excellent introduction to the history of the house and its owners, and a taster for its treasures. Clare, who is Chairman of the Trustees, is an entertaining speaker. She knows her subject, she is enthusiastic and she always includes that human touch when talking about the families who lives were so tied up with the House.

Jack the Ripper 26th March

The Secretary was unfortunately away for this talk so this post simply records that Tony Davies gave a talk on 'Jack the Ripper'.

More details to follow

BALH Newsletter March 2015

Our Society is a member of the Britsh Association for Local History.
Please click on Newsletter to see their latest publication.

Vivienne Derricott No Rest for the Wicked 26 February

Unfortunately we were away for this talk but Di Carr writes 
"Dressed in costume of  a 17th century lady Vivienne Derricott spoke about the lot of women in 17th century England, describing the pattern of life from the dangers of birth, through childhood, to betrothal and marriage. A picture of the typical life and duties of  a wife and mother was portrayed and left us in no doubt that as today a woman's work is never done!"

WW2 enquiry from the University of Huddersfield

Jean Fortune has also passed on this request sent on behalf of Dr Janette Martin

 

I would be grateful if you could circulate this request to your members thanks very much Janette ‘Mixing it’ project Did a member of your family fight alongside the British in the Second World War or arrive as a war worker, prisoner of war or refugee? A research project at the University of Huddersfield is recording the histories of the different national groups which spent time in the North of England during World War II as part of a project investigating the diversity of Britain’s war time population. We are hoping to interview ex-service personnel, war workers and refugees but, as most are very elderly, we are also interested in speaking with their descendants. Besides recording memories and family stories the project team is looking for photographs, diaries and memorabilia. Information gathered by this project will feed into an exhibition at the Imperial War Museum North which opens in September 2015. If you can help we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Janette Martin, j.martin@hud.ac.uk, Tel. 01484 472452 or write to: Dr Janette Martin, ‘Mixing It’ project, History Department, School of Music, Humanities and Media, Queensgate, University of Huddersfield, HD1 3DH.

Local History Association Events

Jean Fortune, the Hon Sec of the Cheshire Local History Association, has asked me to publicise two events.

The first is a Spring Day School organised by the Lancashire Local History Federation on Medieval Law on 28 February in Wigan. Follow link for more details.

The second is the BALH Local History Day on 6 June in Birmingham. The topic is the History of Common Land. Again follow link for more details.

No Rest for the Wicked Thursday 26th February

Our next talk will be given by Vivienne Derricutt.

This talk covers all aspects of the life, loves and hardships of women in the 17th Century. The Talk starts with birth and all the trials and tribulations which women endured in order to bring new life into the world, through infancy, childhood, adolescence, the marriage market, beauty, fashion and concludes with the expectations placed on a 17th century wife. As part of this talk there will be examples of period dress which can be examined. Vivienne will be  dressed as a gentlewoman of the period. Vivienne is involved with the Chester Civil War Tours and speaks on a variety of local subjects.

Usual time 7:30 at Tiverton Village Hall. All welcome.

John Ellis and the Cheshire Regiment in the Great War 22nd January

Our local military historian, John Ellis, gave us a moving insight into life and death at the front in the First World War. John shared letters from soldiers from the Cheshire Regiment. Although the recent 100 year anniversaries have opened our eyes again to the horrors of that conflict, John's talk, given with a soldier's dry sense of humour, reminded us that those soldiers were real people not just numbers. 

John has kindly donated the Society a copy of his book 'From the Boyne to Basra'. This is a concise history of the Cheshire Regiment since its foundation in 1689 up to modern times. The early history shows the versatility of the Regiment from service in Ireland and Europe to building and protecting the British Empire from Canada to India. A fascinating insight into British history. Please ask us to borrow the book.

University of Chester event on Contest and Collaboration

The Cheshire Local History Association is supporting an conference on the archeaology and history of the March of Wales on Saturday 11 April.

Follow link to poster.

There is an accompanying website www.chester.ac.uk/contestandcollab

John Ellis and the Cheshire Regiment Thursday 22nd January

Our first speaker for 2015 will be John Ellis. John will be doing readings from archives of Cheshire Regiment plus extracts from letters and diaries of soldiers relating to the progress of WW1. As well as giving an insight into the war it will be humorous and gives a picture of the feelings and opinions of those involved. 

As usual Tiverton Vilage Hall at 7:30pm.  All are welcome.

Magna Carta: a course by Roger Wickson

Helen Kerr has just received details from Keele University of a course tutored by Roger Wickson on Magna Carta: Myth and Reality.

The course will be held at Nantwich Museum from 10am to 12noon for twelve weeks from Monday 16th February to Monday 23rd March and Monday 13th April to Monday 18th May.
The fee for the course is £100.
For further details contact Roger at wickson@audlem2.freeserve.co.uk

Members will remember the fascinating talk Roger gave us a couple of years ago on the Fourth Crusade