Church Eaton Local History Club

Meeting: 28^th April 2009. 8 p.m. at the Village Institute

• Present:     John Edwards, John Hitchens,  Michael Evans, Karen Reeves, Granville Reeves.

•  Apologies: Joan Watkins, Carol Edwards.

• There were two distinct aspects to this meeting:

  • A review of documents retrieved from "British History on Line",

  • A discussion on the topics to be covered in the new book / DVD about the village.

  "British History on Line",

• Using the overhead projector we read through three pages of historical records relating to Church Eaton (Eyton, Eitone, etc.) These date from Saxon times, via the Norman Conquest up to the 19th century. Much of the information is very interesting, but also difficult to understand. What became clear was that this village has been the subject of much legal activity over its ownership for the best part of 1000 years.

• A look at data for the adjoining manor of Wood Eaton also showed an amazing variety of ownership and it was intriguing to see how the interaction of various families and fortunes shaped this area which we now see as just another bit of the main village.

• It is obvious that when John Buckler wrote his book the main difficulty was obtaining the information. With the current technology the problem is deciding what to leave out. Even a group like us, with an interest in this subject,  found it heavy going, so great simplification is needed for the casual reader.

The second task was to come up with topics that could be used as chapter headings for a book about Church Eaton. these could then be delegated to groups or individuals for research or  documentation. After a certain amount of brainstorming topics for consideration included:

• Church Eaton in History - A condensed version of the first part of this meeting, perhaps mentioning only the pre conquest people, Robert de Stafford and his cronies, Agnes de Stockton, Adam de Brinton, the Abbess of Polesworth, the Morris/ Morris-Eytons, the Ashtons of Little Onn, Lord Bradford.
• The Development of the Village - Building of the work done at the last meeting.
• Farms and Farming techniques - some of the stories told to us by Tommy Lockett at earlier sessions.
• A Walk round the Village - perhaps an exercise for an early pamphlet.
• The Village Church - could be quite a major subject as it spans most of the life of the village.
• Gravestones and monuments - digital pictures and transcriptions needed before they become too eroded. Ralph has an outline map.
• Some Stories about Church Eaton - Joan Eaton; building the church; St Edith's Well; .John Low and the Morris Dancers.
• Houses old and new - Institute farmhouse, rebuilt by Graham Craddock as Hanwell Cottage when Walter Bolton was not allowed to demolish it; later bought by Mrs Huxley, then disputes over the drive etc,
• The Parish and the Manors - Church Eaton included: Wood Eaton, Orslow, Little Onn, Shushions, High Onn and Marston.
• Some Village Characters. - Mrs Brown who ran the Post office into her 90s and had a colourful career, including being a suspected German paratrooper when she was collecting bees. Joe Sleath, Tommy Lockett, John Evans, Bill Kibble (the Trusser) who was Mrs Babb's father, The couple on Alleys lane who tried to be self sufficient.
• The Village School - Lots of information in the school record books as well as John Bucklers books.
• Services – water, transport, electricity, telephones, heating and lighting..
• Notable Buildings - The Institute, Smithy Cottage, the post office, the shop etc.
• The Pubs and Brewing - The Royal Oak, The Swan, The Dolphin, The Malt Shovel, the New Inn ( possibly where John Clarke lives) The Malthouse (Beaton's cottage)
• Wildlife - Flora and fauna of the area.
• The Canal - Information available about the building of the Shroppie, including various mills on feeder streams.
• The Airfield - Ron Balding's talk gave lots of details.
• Church Eaton Charities - Check with Steve Rutherford.

Next meeting May 26th.

Meeting: 24^th March 2009. 8 p.m. at the Village Institute

• Present: John Edwards, Trevor Houghton, Chris Boston, John Hitchens, Joan Watkins, Michael Evans, Karen Reeves, Granville Reeves.

•  Apologies: Nick Ashby, Jacqui Thacker, Bob Thacker, Carol Edwards.
   

• This meeting was mainly devoted to a review of the buildings in the village and participants filled in coloured maps to identify the estimated dates of building.

• This data will be transferred to overlay maps with the objective of producing a computer simulation of village growth. Further work is needed on buildings that have been removed or modified.

• Trevor reported that the local authority had few records of building in the village.

• Michael Evans reported on the state and location of Church records.

• Joan Watkins took one of the Institute Minute books to transcribe for later computer access. It was noted that there are many such village records that would benefit researchers if they could be transcribed, but it was acknowledged that there was a vast amount of work required to achieve this.

• Discussion took place about this web site and access details.

Initial Meeting: 27^th January 2009. 8 p.m. at the Village Institute

(Decisions in italics)

·          Present: John Edwards, Trevor Houghton, Chris Boston, Jacqui Thacker, Bob Thacker, Joan Watkins, Carol Edwards, Michael Evans, John Hitchens.

·          Apologies: Karen Reeves, Granville Reeves, Hilary Styles, John Styles, Nick Ashby.

         Discussion Points: 

·          Sufficient interest?
Yes, with 14 present or sending apologies plus others known to be interested there are enough people to make it viable. 

·          Format – Lectures, Working Club, Data Repository, etc.
All have a place, but a working group would be more interesting and satisfying. The term Lecture was a bit formal and asking experts to join us for discussion may be more productive and encourage those who may not wish to deliver formal talks.  

·          Need for officers, or just meetings convened by working groups?
No formal structure needed yet. 

·          Area to be covered, (Village only, Village + 5 km, Hundred, County.)
Village plus about 3 miles, avoiding centres covered by other groups unless they are related. Should go to parish boundaries if set distance exceeded. No strict rules. 

·          Period to be covered: (100 years, 1000 years, living memory, geological).
Background information over past 1000 years and some geological content, but probably most data available over last 100 years. Must include modern situations for future researchers. 

·          Context: (Local only, regional, national, related to major factors – kings, wars)
As above background required, but not emphasised. 

·          Documentation: (Books, Computer Documents, CDs, Film.)
All needed, but web site may be a good storage medium. 

·          Output: (Papers, Village guide, Lectures, Schools talks, DVD, Web Site)
All possible. Data collection to produce easily digestible village publication or disc, rather than serious attempt to create rigorous documents. Select interesting snippets from available sources. 

·          Meeting frequency and location(s).
Monthly meeting should keep projects going without too much pressure. Institute Ok, but smaller groups may meet elsewhere or on site. 

·          Finances: (Meeting room, Materials, Research costs, Speakers, Equipment)
Nominal regular contribution to cover costs with larger sums by agreement if necessary.

·          AOB
E-mail addresses advised by messages to john@churcheaton.org.uk  

·          Next Meeting?
Fourth Tuesday in month if free. Carol to confirm by e-mail

All of the projects on the list are interesting, but clearly too much work to tackle in the short term.

A project is needed which can be done in ad-hoc manner, as time becomes available.

A start is to be made on items 3, 4, 5 plus 17 to get an idea of the current situation.

Village to be split up and people asked to document house details.

This could be used for computer generation of village growth and alteration.

• Trevor to ascertain dates of building of Oaklands, Parkers Close, Oak Close, Ashley Croft, Smithy Croft, Swan Court and St Editha’s Court.

·        Chris is prepared to take photographs.

• John to create map, which can be used to divide up working areas, and create web site.
• Michael to find out where churchyard and PCC records are kept. And find out what Church Eaton search facilities are available at Staffordshire record Office (SRO)  and William Salt Library (WSL)
• Joan available to do some transcription work for document destined for SRO. John to provide documents.
• Carol to deal with communications between club members.

Notes to be issued.