Archive CD Books:History, Topography & Genealogy Books on CD:Great Britain:England:Wiltshire:History & Topography
Written in 1913. Powerful and evocative descriptions of local customs, practices and characters of villages in the area including;
Basset Down, Wroughton, Hodson, Chiseldon, Badbury and Medbourne, Liddington, Wanborough, Aldbourne and Baydon, Hinton Parva and Bourton, Bishopstone and Idstone, Ashbury and Kingstone Winslow, Knighton and Woolstone, Uffington and Kingstone Lisle. The last six in the list were historically in Berkshire but were transferred to Oxfordshire in 1974. Price: £12.13 £14.25 Including VAT at 17.5%
Wonderful descriptions of life and characters of villages in the South Marston area based on the observations and recollections of the author. It also mentions surrounding villages such as Sevenhampton and Stanton Fitwarren. A particulary interesting chapter covers the workhouse at Stratton St Margaret where the author interviews some of the residents.
The book was written in 1912 so it covers the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Books such as this are invaluable to the family historian. Although perhaps your ancestors did not live in the area the lifestyle of people in villages all over the county would have been very similar indeed. Price: £12.13 £14.25 Including VAT at 17.5%
A delightful guide to the county, with descriptions and history of each of the towns and villages, together with lots of illustrations. An ideal source of good background information for your family history. Price: £9.79 £11.50 Including VAT at 17.5%
The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.
In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties.
An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places. Price: £12.13 £14.25 Including VAT at 17.5%
A compendium set comprising all 15 volumes. Each individual book includes between two and four counties, with the exception of London which is in its own three volume set but is included in the compendium.
Each book is available separately (see individual county topography pages) but this compendium set for the whole of England will save you over 120.00 GBP on the separate CD's Price: £34.00 £39.95 Including VAT at 17.5%
This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.
It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.
Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.
Price: £15.11 £17.75 Including VAT at 17.5%
This book contains reams of historical details about the people, places and lifestyles of those living in Swindon before 1885.
Chapters include cloth workers, the wool trade, workhouses, the smuggling trade, old Churches, Mills, Manors, Houses and popular amusements of our Grandfathers to mention just a few. Unusually there is an entire section devoted to Ghosts, have you heard the one about the ghost that defied the clergy? Another section is about the town's "characters", is your ancestor Jenny Simmonds, Old Tom and his wounds or nanny Kernal? An amusing book that will tell you everything you need to know about Swindon town in the 1800s Price: £12.13 £14.25 Including VAT at 17.5%
