Category Archives: All Posts

The ‘eccentric female explorer’

Posted on 24 November 2020 by cbolsterNRO

 “Only ignorant fools think that because one likes sugar, one cannot like salt” Marianne North, Recollections of a Happy Life. For much of the population in 2020, travel restrictions have been a common source of discontent, despite the understandable unavoidability … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Generous Gift Compromised by Events? The will of Alice Spratt, widow, of Eccles against the Sea

Posted on 16 November 2020 by cbolsterNRO

The will of Alice Spratt [1] dated January 11th 1558/1559 [2] clearly shows counter-Reformation tendencies despite the fact that Catholic Queen Mary had died in the previous November and her younger sister Elizabeth now sat on the throne. Alice bequeaths … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

John Fenn – A Dereham Man: The Diaries of Sir John Fenn, 1786-1794

Posted on 9 November 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Taken from documents held at the Norfolk Record Office, NRO, MC 525/1 Sir John Fenn was a man most notably known for his publication of the Paston Letters.  But his eight engagement diaries, spanning 1786 to 1794 tell us so … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Examining Marriage Licence Bonds

Posted on 2 November 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Marriage licence bonds for the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, 1704-1886, and for the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral, 1705-1860, have recently been indexed by a group of dedicated Norfolk Record Office volunteers. In a few cases, the … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

Posted on 27 October 2020 by nhudsonnro

On October 27th, heritage organisations across the world will join in celebration of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. Founded by UNESCO in 2005, World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAVH) is an international day with the aim of celebrating audiovisual heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Snapshots from the Archive | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: a British musical prodigy

Posted on 24 October 2020 by nhudsonnro

Revered as one of Britain’s greatest black composers, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is most remembered for his choral masterpiece Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast.  Through the Unlocking Our Sound Heritage audio preservation project, a recording of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast performed at the 28th Aldeburgh … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Snapshots from the Archive | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Allan Glaisyer Minns: The First Black Mayor of a British Town

Posted on 20 October 2020 by cbolsterNRO

October is Black History month: how many people know that the first ever black mayor of any British town was in Norfolk? Allan Glaisyer Minns was one of ten children of John and Ophelia Minns (nee Bunch) of Inagua in … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Unusual Burial Request of Stephen Kendall, singleman of Hempstead cum Eccles, Norfolk

Posted on 16 October 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Introduction The wills of 16th and 17th century testators can provide researchers with some remarkable insights into the lives of ordinary people by telling us their actual thoughts and beliefs, albeit in a stylised form, as opposed to what written … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment