CLAVERING RECORDER’S REPORT 2007

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION: The Recorder has continued to input items to the Clavering RUTH database which is proving invaluable to sorting out the local history collection. By the end of 2007, there were 668 entries, covering wills, census, parish registers and photographs, deeds, charities and maps. I spoke about the database to the Chesterford history society at their agm. Various items were added to the Clavering Local History Collection, often from internet enquiries.

CLAVERING CASTLE: the Clavering Landscape History Group completed the Lottery-funded surveys of Clavering Castle and began work on the outcomes of the project, a CD, interpretation panels and a final exhibition. They also held two conservation work tasks on the castle site, clearing vegetation, organised a dowsing day for the community and went into Clavering School to help them study manorial history, as well as taking groups round the castle and giving talks.

LECTURES: a seven-week evening class took place under the umbrella of the Clavering Local Centre, run by the Recorder, and attended by about 40 people. The subject was various aspects of church history, and the course included a tour round Uttlesford churches with Rosanne Kirkpatrick, and round Cambridge churches with Tony Kirby.

RESEARCH: the Recorder completed the second and final typescript of two volumes of written transcription carried out by Robert Wood on the 14th century compoti of Thurrocks & Pounces which are kept in the ERO. He will now be able to use the script to publish a book, and the local collection has meanwhile acquired a complete translation of the Latin documents which are rare survivals of medieval accounts for a private estate.

The Recorder also did some more research on the life of Miss ffytche, a prominent resident from 1915 onwards and benefactor of the church - the altar cross is in her memory.

As ever there were numerous internet enquiries some of which led to new information, for instance uncovering a connection between Clavering and the abolition of slave trade (a 19th century congregational minister’s wife was daughter of Equiano, the freed slave and campaigner). I am also transcribing wartime parish magazines in preparation for a book. Some new material was added to the history section of the village website.

Jacqueline Cooper