VISITORS to the July meeting of the Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group were thoroughly entertained by the guest speaker’s lively and engaging delivery of selected highlights from the diaries of Parson James Woodforde, who held the living of Weston Longville, Norfolk, from 1774 until his death in January 1803.

 

Making a welcome return to Leiston, Sheila Harrison read History at Somerville College Oxford, before pursuing a career as a Lecturer in Further and Higher Education, as well as tutoring for the Open University.  Now a resident of Suffolk, she has since researched the histories of Leiston Abbey and Butley Priory, as well as compiling a trilogy of talks based upon the diarised memoirs of Parson Woodforde.

The audience was fascinated to learn that a transcription of James Woodforde’s original journals, completed and maintained by members of the Parson Woodforde Society, stretches to seventeen volumes. The original diaries are held at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and have also been published in an abridged edition, still currently available.  The content of the diaries is particularly noteworthy for the richness of the language used, including vivid descriptions of the food with which Parson Woodforde entertained guests, and the extreme weather conditions that his household and parishioners regularly endured.  The enthusiasm of the audience for the subject matter was also evident in a quick-fire question and answer session, during which many people expressed keen interest in learning more about James Woodforde’s intimate recollections.

 After a pause in August, the Group’s next meeting will take place at Leiston United Reformed Church at 7.30pm on Monday 18th September, when the Group’s Chairman, Di Mann, will present ‘My Ancestor was Hanged at Bury St, Edmunds’.   Her talk has been created using the extensive archive of documents discovered relating to her first cousin four times removed, John Mann, who was executed in 1825 for assaulting and robbing John Raynham of Hadleigh, Suffolk. Ironically, John Mann’s father was Constable of Kersey, and Di is pictured below holding the Kersey constable’s truncheon.

Visitors are reminded that the entrance to the church is along the left-hand side as you face the building. Parking is available in the adjacent Co-op/Solar car park, but you must register your vehicle at the tills in the supermarket or possibly face a £100 fine.  Anyone with an interest in family or local history is welcome; admission is £1 for members, £3 for non-members, and includes tea/coffee.

Further Programme:  October 16th “Barnados Foster Children in Suffolk 1890-1950” – Peter Davidson – at 7.30pm Leiston United Church;  November 20th “History of the Leiston Quakers” – Ruth Hawthorne & Seija Tattersall – at 2.30pm at Aldeburgh Community Centre.

Family historians are reminded that the Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group’s research centre in the Leiston Council Offices is open to all, free of charge, on the first and third Saturday morning of each month.  The facilities can also be booked on Wednesdays by appointment (contact Maggie Strutt on 01728 602298 or maggiestrutt@btinternet.com).  There is a wealth of local material in the archives, much of it not available online, and the research centre also provides computers with Internet access, Wi-Fi connectivity, a printer and a scanner. Experienced family history researchers are also on hand to provide assistance if required.  The Group looks forward to helping you with your family history research and looks forward to welcoming new members into the fold!