A Midsummer Mystery
https://youtu.be/zk1jM9ceEqE?feature=shared
In this video I explore a peculiar summer solstice alignment between a church in Cirencester and a church in Great Rissington.
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Local History Display
The Sherborne Archives will have some significant display material up at the Northleach Local History exhibition, which is in the Old Prison this coming weekend. Details above. I can confirm that the material they have on display is fascinating. It would be great to support the Archives. Please go along
Sherborne accounts, 1710 -1713
I have continued to work closely with AI to develop the deciphering of the 1710-1713 notebook. Recap: The notebook was written by John Dutton. He took over from his father, Ralph Dutton, after Ralph Dutton got into trouble financially. Ralph Dutton was banished to Ireland, a pension of £400
Mad Bess and Sherborne Welfare
My continuing deciphering of the 1711-1713 estate notebook written by John Dutton, later Sir John Dutton, has provided me some fascinating insight. One aspect is how the welfare of the poor and needy was managed in this period in history and in Sherborne in particular. It sounds like a
Lengthsmen, Haywards and Constables. Sherborne village roles in the early 18th Century
As I continue to decipher the 1711 Sherborne accounts notebook, I have come across some interesting references to some fairly ancient formal community positions. The roles of a village lengthsman and a hayward are traditional English community positions dating back to the medieval and feudal eras, though the lengthsman role