Get involved – what the Herefordshire volunteers did
Community Archaeologist Chris Atkinson shows volunteers how to dig a test pit.
An important aspect of England’s Past for Everyone is to involve local communities and other interested parties in the research process.
Volunteer project details
Between January 2006 and September 2007 some thirty volunteers worked in six groups researching the history of Ledbury since 1558. In September 2007 the volunteers began work on medieval Ledbury. One group explored medieval documents and transcribed and translated a 13th century rental for the town. Another group looked at aerial photographs and maps as a source of information. During 2008 a number of archaeological projects took place. Altogether about sixty people have been involved over the past three years. Although the groups all worked on discrete projects, the information gathered has all contributed to the writing of the history of the town.
All of these projects are now concluded. No new volunteers are needed for the Ledbury project, although the Victoria County History Trust for Herefordshire is beginning work on the neighbouring parish of Eastnor during autumn 2009.
The volunteer projects were:
Aerial Photography and maps: This group has been marking the the sites listed on the Herefordshire Sites and Monuments Record onto large-scale Ordnance Survey maps and studying aerial photographs of the Ledbury area to identify archaeological features and to interpret the landscape. We are grateful for help from the archaeological section of the Woolhope Club and from Herefordshire Archaeology .
Archaeology: In January 2008 this group worked with Chris Atkinson of Herefordshire Archaeology to survey a number of sites in Frith Wood, on the outskirts of Ledbury. They examined a deserted farmstead, a medieval wood-bank and holloway and a charcoal burning platform. The results of this survey have been included in a booklet including contributions from Herefordshire Archaelogy, the Forestry Commission, the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust and Ledbury Naturalists on the geology, natural and human history of Frith Wood. We are grateful to the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for a grant to undertake this project. This booklet is available in Ledbury from the TIC, Heritage Centre and Butcher Row Row Museum and from the EPE office During October 2008 the volunteers dug a series of test pits in the core of medieval Ledbury. The digs have uneartheed a wealth of pottery, including some medieval, and lesser amounts of glass and metal. The results of this project will be highlighted at Herefordshire Archaeology’s 12 Annual Symposium on 17 October 2009 at The Courtyard, Hereford.
Building Recording: A small group has recorded all the buildings with date stones and made a photographic record of the shop fronts in the main streets. Volunteers are now combining these images with documentary research to chart the history of the core streets of Ledbury. The results will gradually be put onto the ‘Explore Herefordshire’s Past’ pages of this website.
Burgage Plots: In June 2008 a group began a detailed measurement of the building plots in the High Street, Homend, Bye Street and New Street. The resulting information is being studied by Dr Nigel Baker of Herefordshire Archaeology. This should shed light on the early lay-out of the town.
Census: This group has transcribed the census enumerators’ books for the borough of Ledbury from 1841 to 1901. The information has been entered onto a computer database, which allows us to understand the population and occupational structures of Ledbury. Articles arising from analysing the data will appear on the ‘Explore Herefordshire’s Past’ pages of this website
Medieval Documents: An enthusiastic group spent the autumn learning to read medieval handwriting and to understand the sorts of documents that survive from the Middle Ages. They have now complted transcribing and translating a rental of the Bishop of Hereford’s manor of Ledbury dating from 1288. This will soon be on the Explore Herefordshire’s Past site.
Oral History: The focus of the Oral History group began with Ledbury during World War 2. Some twenty people have been interviewed and the the interviews have been transcribed and summarised. The recordings have been deposited with the county archives service
Parish Registers: A small group examined the parish registers, which survive from 1556, up until the time of the 1841 census. As well as gathering information on the rate of baptisms and burials a lot of incidental information is obtained on occupations and place names and on individuals and families
Wills and inventories The data in the wills and inventories are being collected in a standard format (people, relationships, places, etc) and transcripts made. They can then be analysed to provide much information on families, trades and occupations and standards of living. The transcripts are available on Explore Herefordshire’s Past: wills
Street Names: This group has researched the origins of the street names in Ledbury from the late eighteenth century to the present. A booklet has been published.
Individual Research: A number of individuals have pursued their own research, for example transcribing a seventeenth -century diary, researching the history of glove-making in Ledbury, and the carrying trade in the locality. Another has researched the history of building the Barrett Browning Institute. Other subjects currently being researched include the history of Ledbury’s pubs, the use of the parish buildings in Church Lane over the centuries, and the production and marketing of cider in the district.
Training skills: The various research projects require different skills. Much of the training is given by the Volunteer Group Leader, Dr Janet Cooper, or by Team Leader, Dr Sylvia Pinches, at the regular meetings of the groups. Outside experts are regularly invited to speak to the groups. Some of the skills covered or to be covered include:
- Palaeography: Early Modern and Medieval Handwriting
- Photography and handling digital images
- IT skills, including using databases and maintaining websites
- Use of historical maps
- Building measurement and recording
- Oral History: interviewing, recording, transcribing
- Interpreting aerial photography
- Archaeological field-walking techniques
All volunteers received an introduction into the rigorous and methodical standards required by EPE and an introduction to historical sources. The Senior Archivist at the County Records Office has twice provided a ‘behind the scenes’ tour for new volunteers.
