Family & Community Historical Research Society

10.00 Welcome
Michael Kemp, Society Chairman

10:25 Breaking new ground: the allotment movement from local sources.

Dr Jeremy Burchardt is lecturer in Rural History, University of Reading and academic adviser to the FACHRS allotments research project. He is author of the successful book "The Allotment Movement in England, 1793-1873 ".

11:15 Who rented allotments in Warwickshire?

Anne Langley

11:30 The provision of allotments by employers in Derbyshire

Clive Leivers

12:15 Introduction to the project, and  explanation of the objectives.

Clive Leivers Project Coordinator

14:00 Occupations in village communities at Bredon Hill, Worcestershire, 1851 & 1881

Christine Seal

14.15 Farm service in southern England in the mid-19th century

Professor Nigel Goose, Professor of Social and Economic History, and Director of the University of Hertfordshire Centre for Regional and Local History.

14:45 The National Farm Survey 1941-43

Dr Andrew Jackson, University of Exeter. In 1940 when it was decided to launch a campaign for increased production, there was little factual information on what quantities of food farmers were then producing. The first survey of the farms was made to assist the campaign. The extended survey covered 14 per cent of holdings of 5 acres and over, and deals with size holdings, type of farming, tenure, rent, length of occupation, type of fertility of soil, condition of buildings, the managerial efficiency of occupiers. The report was published by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1946.

15:15 The village school: challenges & opportunities within a 19th century Victorian community

Don Dickson. The School Log Book was introduced in 1862 for the purpose of the head-teacher maintaining  a record of daily activities. These primary sources provide a valuable insight into one aspect of life within a community. Don explores how to use a database and pivot tables to analyse the sources to tease out new information about life in a community.