The Wiltshire Victoria County History is an encyclopaedic history of the county of Wiltshire in England. It forms part of the overall Victoria County History of England founded in 1899 in honour of Queen Victoria. With eighteen volumes published, the Wiltshire VCH is now the most substantial of the Victoria County Histories.
Contents |
Overview
The project is promoted by the Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee, currently in a five-year partnership with the University of the West of England. Work is overseen, and volumes published, by the Institute of Historical Research of the University of London. The principal funders of the work are Wiltshire County Council and the four district councils within its area.
The Wiltshire VCH employs a county editor and an assistant county editor, whose offices are at the Wiltshire County Council headquarters in Trowbridge. Beyond writing the history itself, the staff promote local history by giving talks and presentations to local societies.
The chairman of the Wiltshire VCH Committee said in a news release in December 2003: "While the big red volumes are still at the heart of the Wiltshire Victoria County History, we are keen to take our county history out to as many people as possible, through affordable publications, modern technology, and new ways of working."[1]
Staff
County Editor
Dr Virginia Bainbridge BA (Cantab.) PhD (London) was appointed in 2006. She joined VCH Wiltshire in 2004 after working as assistant editor of VCH Oxfordshire 1999-2004. Her work for the VCH has given her a broad perspective on changing social patterns and local institutions and her research interests focus on the Reformation. She is the author of Gilds in the Medieval Countryside: Religious and Social Change in Cambridgeshire 1350-1558 (Boydell and Brewer 1996) and is currently writing a book on English Nuns 1400-1600.
Retired County Editors
Dr Douglas Crowley BA PhD (University of Sheffield) was assistant editor at VCH Wiltshire from 1968 and was County Editor 1977-2006. His early research on manorial administration prepared him for his work on the VCH, where he developed an expert knowledge of all aspects of local history. As editor he directed research on volumes 11-18 of the series. He was Honorary Editor of the Wiltshire Record Society 1972-76. His publications include an edition of The Wiltshire Tax List of 1332 (Wiltshire Record Society, xlv, 1989). He is currently working on a volume of manorial court rolls for the Wiltshire Record Society.
List of County Editors
- 1947 – 1955: Mr R. B. Pugh MA D.Litt FSA (also General Editor of the Victoria County History from 1949 to 1977)[2]
- G. M. Young (joint editor, to 1953)[2]
- 1956 – 1977: Miss Elizabeth Crittall MA
- 1977 – 2006: Dr Douglas Crowley BA PhD (University of Sheffield) (assistant editor, 1968 – 1977)
- 2006 to date: Dr Virginia Bainbridge BA (Cantab.) PhD (London) (assistant editor, 2004 – 2006)
List of Assistant County Editors
Until 1968, there was only one assistant editor, but after that there were sometimes two.[3]
- Mr K. H. Rogers (to May 1964)[4]
- Mr Colin Shrimpton (October 1964 to 1965))[4][5]
- Miss Janet H. Stevenson (July 1966 to 1997)[5][6]
- Mr D. A. Crowley (September 1968 to 1977)[3]
- Dr Jane Freeman (1978 to 1998)[6]
- Dr Carrie Smith (from January 1999)[6]
- Dr Virginia Bainbridge (2004 to 2006)
- Dr James Lee BA PhD (UWE) (2006 to 2007)[7]
- Dr Alex Craven (from 2007)[8]
Volumes published
General volumes
- Volume I, Part 1 (1957): Archaeological gazetteer; prehistoric, Pagan Saxon, and early medieval remains.
- Volume I, Part 2 (1973): Settlement and agriculture during the prehistoric, Roman, and Pagan Saxon periods.
- Volume II (1955): Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire, the Wiltshire Domesday, the Wiltshire Geld Rolls, fiefs in the Exon Domesday.
- Volume III (1956): Ecclesiastical history, Roman Catholicism and Protestant Nonconformity, religious houses.
- Volume IV (1959): Economic history, agriculture, industries, roads, canals, railways, taxation, population, sport, spas, freemasonry, royal forests, Cranborne chase.
- Volume V (1957): Medieval government, feudal Wiltshire, parliamentary representation, county government, public health, education.
Topographical volumes
- Volume VI (1962): Wilton, Old Salisbury, New Salisbury, and Underditch hundred (Stratford-sub-Castle, Wilsford, Woodford)
- Volume VII (1953): Bradford hundred (Bradford on Avon, Broughton Gifford, Great Chalfield, Monkton Farleigh, Wingfield); Melksham hundred (Erlestoke, Hilperton, Melksham, Poulshot, Trowbridge, Whaddon); and Potterne and Cannings hundred (Bromham, Bishop's Cannings, Highway, West Lavington, Potterne, and Rowde).
- Volume VIII (1965): Warminster hundred (Bishopstrow, Corsley, Dinton, Fisherton de la Mere, Norton Bavant, Pertwood, Sutton Veny, Teffont Magna, Upton Scudamore, Warminster); Westbury hundred (Westbury); and Whorwellsdown hundred (Steeple Ashton, North Bradley, East Coulston, Edington, Keevil).
- Volume IX (1970): Kingsbridge hundred (Chiseldon, Clyffe Pypard, Draycot Foliat, Hilmarton, Liddington, Lydiard Tregoze, Lyneham, Swindon, Tockenham, Wanborough, Wootton Bassett)
- Volume X (1975): Swanborough hundred (Alton Barnes, Beechingstoke, All Cannings, Charlton, Great Cheverell, Little Cheverell, Chirton, Etchilhampton, Huish, Market Lavington, Manningford Abbots, Manningford Bruce, Marden, North Newnton, Rushall, Stanton St Bernard, Stert, Upavon, Urchfont, Wilcot, Wilsford, Woodborough), and Devizes.
- Volume XI (1980): Downton hundred (Bishopstone, Downton, including Barford, Bodenham, Charlton, Hamptworth, Nunton, Standlynch, Wick, Witherington, Fonthill Bishop, East Knoyle, including Hindon); Elstub and Everleigh hundred (Collingbourne Ducis, Enford, Everleigh, Fittleton, Ham, Little Hinton, Netheravon, Overton, Patney, Rollestone, Stockton, Westwood, Wroughton).
- Volume XII (1983): Ramsbury hundred (Bishopstone, Ramsbury, including Axford, Baydon); Selkley hundred (Aldbourne, Avebury, Broad Hinton, East Kennett, Mildenhall, Ogbourne St Andrew, Ogbourne St George, Preshute, Winterbourne Bassett, Winterbourne Monkton); and Marlborough.
- Volume XIII (1987): Chalke hundred (Alvediston, Berwick St John, Bower Chalke, Broad Chalke, Ebbesborne Wake, Fifield Bavant, Semley, Tollard Royal); Dunworth hundred (Ansty, Berwick St Leonard, Chicklade, Chilmark, Donhead St Andrew, Donhead St Mary, Fonthill Gifford, Sedgehill, Swallowcliffe, Teffont Evias, Tisbury).
- Volume XIV (1991): Malmesbury hundred (Bremilham, Brinkworth, Brokenborough, Charlton, Crudwell, Dauntsey, Draycot Cerne, Foxley, Garsdon, Hankerton, Hullavington, Lea and Cleverton, Malmesbury, including Corston, Rodbourne, Norton, Oaksey, Seagry, Great Somerford, Little Somerford, Stanton St Quintin, Sutton Benger, Westport).
- Volume XV (1995): Amesbury hundred (Allington, Amesbury, Boscombe, Bulford, Cholderton, Durnford, Durrington, Figheldean; Ludgershall, including Biddesden; Milston, Newton Tony, North Tidworth); Branch and Dole hundred (Berwick St James, Little Langford, Steeple Langford, including Bathampton, Hanging Langford, Maddington, South Newton, Orcheston St Mary, Sherrington, Shrewton, Stapleford, Tilshead, Winterbourne Stoke, Great Wishford, and Wylye).
- Volume XVI (1999): Kinwardstone hundred (Great Bedwyn, Little Bedwyn, Burbage, Buttermere, Chilton Foliat, Chute, Chute Forest, Collingbourne Kingston, Easton, Froxfield, Milton Lilbourne, Pewsey, Savernake, Tidcombe, including Fosbury, Hippenscombe, Wootton Rivers).
- Volume XVII (2002): Calne hundred (Berwick Bassett, Blackland; Calne, including Derry Hill, Quemerford, Sandy Lane, Stock, Stockley, Studley, Whetham, and Whitley, Bowood, Calstone Wellington, Cherhill, Compton Bassett, Heddington, Yatesbury).
Topographical volumes in preparation
- Volume XVIII (approaching publication): part of Highworth, Cricklade, and Staple hundred (Ashton Keynes, Cricklade (St Sampson's and St Mary's), Latton, Leigh,[disambiguation needed] Lydiard Millicent, Marston Meysey, Purton, including Braydon, plus Minety, which was part of Gloucestershire until 1844. The research work has been completed, and in 2008 the volume is being prepared for publication by Dr Alex Craven.[8]
- Volume XIX (in progress): the Longleat estate and the upper Wylye valley, including the parishes of Heytesbury hundred (Boyton, Chitterne (All Saints and St Mary's), Codford (St Mary's and St Peter's), Brixton Deverill, Heytesbury, Horningsham, Imber, Knook, Orcheston St George, Tytherington, and Upton Lovell, plus three parishes of South Damerham hundred, Compton Chamberlayne, Longbridge Deverill, and Monkton Deverill.[9]
Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee
The Committee was established in 1947. It does not control the day-to-day work of the staff (who are employees of the University of the West of England and before that were employed by the University of London), but since the early days of the Wiltshire County History project the committee has been responsible for ensuring that funding is available for staff salaries and other expenses, offices provided, suitable projects undertaken, and partnerships entered into.[10] The members of the Committee represent the main financial contributors to the project (Wiltshire County Council, Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Salisbury District Council, West Wiltshire District Council and the University of the West of England), and also the Central Committee of the Victoria County History, the University of Winchester, the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society and the Wiltshire Local History Forum. The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, as Custos rotulorum, is also an honorary member of the Committee.
Chairmen of the Committee
- Alderman W. R. Robins OBE CC (1947–1959)[11][12]
- Alderman J. L. Calderwood CBE CC (1959–1960)[12]
- Alderman Major S.V. Christie-Miller CBE DL CC (1961–1968)[5][13]
- Sir Henry Langton DSO DSC DL CC (1969–1974)[5][14]
- Group Captain F.A. Willan CBE, DFC, DL CC (1974–1981)[15]
- Mr Nigel J. M. Anderson MC MBE DL CC (1981–1985)[15][16]
- Miss D.J. Matthews CC (1985–1989)
- Mrs V.C.S. Landell-Mills CC (1989–2001)[17]
- Miss Patricia E. G. Courtman KDC (2001–2002)
- Mr Christopher Newbury CC (2002- )[18]
Wiltshire Victoria County History Appeal Trust
The Trust, established in 2004, is a registered charity and is responsible for raising funds for the work of the County History which is beyond its core activities.
References
- ^ PR 1357 Double boost for prestigious history of Wiltshire, 4th December 2003
- ^ a b 'Editorial note', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 12 (1983), p. XV, at british-history.ac.uk accessed 27 November 2008
- ^ a b "Consequently it was possible in 1968 to appoint a second assistant editor in addition to the editor and assistant editor already employed... The post of a second assistant editor was filled in September 1968 by Mr. D. A. Crowley." From 'Editorial note', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 9 (1970), pp. XV
- ^ a b "It has to be recorded here that in May 1964 Mr K. H. Rogers resigned from the assistant editorship, and was replaced in October 1964 by Mr Colin Shrimpton." From 'Editorial note' in A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 8 (1965), p. XIII at british-history.ac.uk 16067 accessed 27 November 2008
- ^ a b c d 'Editorial note', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 9 (1970), pp. XV, at british-history.ac.uk accessed 27 November 2008.
- ^ a b c Also in 1997 Miss Janet Stevenson retired, and in 1998 Dr Jane Freeman resigned, as assistant editors after 32 and 20 years' service respectively... In January 1999 Dr Carrie Smith took up the post of Assistant Editor." From 'Editorial note', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 16: Kinwardstone Hundred (1999), p. XIII at [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23031 british-history.ac.uk accessed 27 November 2008
- ^ Dr James Lee was appointed in 2006. He had worked on several research projects, spanning the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. His research interests focus on urban history and the history of the south west region. His book Preachers and Politics: The Later Stuarts, the Church and Public Political Culture was published in 2007.
- ^ a b Volume XVIII at victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk
- ^ Work in Progress at victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk accessed 27 November 2008
- ^ For the constitution of the Committee, see Editorial Note to A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume VII (1953).
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee 1947-1955 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 3 (1956), p. 13
- ^ a b "Alderman W. R. Robins, the first Chairman of the Committee, died in 1959, shortly after his resignation from the Committee, and his successor, Alderman J. L. Calderwood, in 1960." From Editorial note in A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 6 (1962), p. XIII, accessed 27 November 2008
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee as at 1 March 1965 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 8 (1965), p. XV
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee as at 1 January 1970 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 9 (1970), p. XVII
- ^ a b "Group Captain F. A. Willan, C.B.E., D.F.C., D.L., died in November 1981 shortly after being succeeded as Chairman of the Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee by Mr. N. J. M. Anderson, M.C., D.L., who had earlier succeeded him as Chairman of the County Council." From 'Editorial note', A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 12 (1983), pp. XV
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee as at 1 January 1983 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 12 (1983), p. 16
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee as at 16 September 1998 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 16 (1999), p. 14
- ^ Wiltshire Victoria County History Committee as at 28 February 2002 from A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 17 (2002), pp. 14-15
See also
External links
- Wiltshire at victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk
- Wiltshire Victoria County History at British History Online
|
|||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
