CLAVERING RECORDER’S REPORT 2003-4

After a lull in the local history scene in Clavering for about a decade, there have been interesting developments in 2003-4. In the summer we set up the Clavering Local Centre under the umbrella of the Cambridge Board of Continuing Education at Madingley – any village can set up such a centre and Madingley will supply the tutors and learning materials. Our first course in the autumn was a one-term beginners' course in landscape history entitled 'Discovering your local landscape'. This was over-subscribed with 32 participants and a waiting list, and was much enjoyed. It included a field trip to Clavering Castle, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, under the guidance of Christopher Taylor, the noted landscape historian.

Quite coincidentally, Adrian Gascoyne of Essex County Council Heritage & Conservation group had approached us to suggest we start a conservation and study project on the castle. This has now been set up as 'Project Castle under the umbrella of the newly-formed Clavering Landscape History Group. We held a public meeting, and 50 people expressed interest. A committee has been formed and will apply to the Local Heritage Initiative for funds to investigate the site.

Other local history work is ongoing: the Recorder is putting on computer a transcription by Robert Wood of the Thurrocks estate 14th century accounts. Also computerizing the Nonconformist parish records, of which the burial records will be sent to the Family History Societies national burial index project. Plans are in hand to update the churchyard recording. Several history articles have been written for the parish magazine.

There are innumerable queries from family historians, often in Australia, answered freely, a two-way benefit since the researchers often given us information in return: an Australian lady gave new material about the church memorial commemorating Mary Wales, wife of Captain Cook's astronomer. Another Australian is computerizing the parish registers.

Publications include an article on the graffiti in Clavering church in the Saffron Walden Historical Journal by Bari Hooper. The third in my series of historical walking guides, entitled History Walks in Clavering was published in the spring. A large amount of historical material has been contributed by the Recorder to the new Clavering website: www.claveringonline.org.uk

In the village itself, there has the annual round of Easter art show, Bank Holiday fete,Bonfire Night party and innumerable jumble sales, fetes, dances, concerts, plays, etc. The parish magazine is sent to the ERO and contains all these details, so they are not repeated here. Wicken Bonhunt now shares the same vicar with Clavering, Langley and Arkesden. The Clavering Christian Centre has been completely refurbished in the former URC building, as an ecumenical church and community hall. Fund-raising is continuing to refurbish the parish church, to include toilet and kitchen facilities in the old vestry. A village website has been set up.Broadband Internet access is to be implemented soon.A new scheme of social housing has been agreed and will commence building in 2004 on a site next to the shop. The primary school is making good use of its extension opened a year or two ago. The village's most famous son, TV chef Jamie Oliver, has bought a derelict medieval farmhouse in Clavering, which is undergoing total renovation, a welcome preservation of a historic building.

Jacqueline Cooper - Clavering Local History Recorder