Author Archives: victoriadraper24

Great Thorpe Railway Disaster 1874 on its 150th Anniversary

Posted on 19 July 2024 by victoriadraper24

The tenth of September 2024 will mark the 150th anniversary of The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster.  This Victorian railway collision was described by Captain Tyler, Inspecting Officer for Railways, when presiding over the Board of Trade Inquiry, as: “….. the … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers, Snapshots from the Archive | 3 Comments

‘Wilfully Destroying a Geranium’ and other Crimes in 19th Century Great Yarmouth

Posted on 9 July 2024 by victoriadraper24

Great Yarmouth gaol was housed in the twelfth century Tolhouse for several hundred years until its closure in 1875. In 1819 the Borough Council purchased adjacent buildings and converted them into a House of Correction (aka the Bridewell) which was … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers, Snapshots from the Archive | 2 Comments

Parson Woodforde and his diary: a new website 

Posted on 28 May 2024 by victoriadraper24

The famous diarist, the Revd James Woodforde (1740–1803), lived for 27 years at Weston Longville, twelve miles northwest of Norwich. He began his daily diary at the age of nineteen while at Oxford, continued it as a young curate in … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Snapshots from the Archive | 3 Comments

Colonel William Roy and Burgh Castle Fort

Posted on 1 May 2024 by victoriadraper24

This blog will focus on how one of the most important mapmakers in British history has a link to Norfolk. William Roy was a key figure in the development of the Ordnance Survey (OS), Great Britain’s national mapping agency (so-named … Continue reading →

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‘Nothing fresh today – war declared’: A diary of the Second World War

Posted on 26 March 2024 by victoriadraper24

Tue May 8th 1945Great V E day war overin Europe no more fightingfor all the brave men andwomen who havesaved us fromuntold horrorno ore sirens no more fearand ahead no more bombingThank God and mayWe never forget his mercy This … Continue reading →

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Medieval Women and Property

Posted on 8 March 2024 by victoriadraper24

Women’s rights and access to property has changed drastically throughout history. At times women had access to property and at other times women were restricted from owning property. Despite restrictions, there were still loopholes where women could inherit property, usually … Continue reading →

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Tithe Maps and Apportionments

Posted on 19 February 2024 by victoriadraper24

The Norfolk Record Office (NRO) is planning a landscape history project which will include work to make tithe maps and their apportionments more accessible. We want to add maps to the tithe map layer on the Norfolk Historical Map Explorer … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Behind the Scenes | 6 Comments

The Wooing of Elizabeth Browne- Part Two

Posted on 14 February 2024 by victoriadraper24

As a sub-plot, there is within the letters a story of unrequited affection. In the only letter from John Browne, he writes to Sir Henry Gawdy in response to a letter (sadly not in this bundle) informing him that Henry’s … Continue reading →

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