The interest in the history of one’s place
of residence is growing fast, both in its
own right and as part of the great
increase in family history, for many people
researching their family history are now
keen to look at the local context within
which their direct ancestors once lived.
Much of the work currently being done
on village histories is undertaken by
individual researchers, for their own
satisfaction. But they often share their
findings with others, especially through
websites. But increasingly small village
groups are being formed to look together
at different topics, to meet together and
encourage each other, to arrange small
exhibitions of their findings, to publish
books and booklets (which occasions
have attracted the attention of national
historians, for national history is in part
made up of all the many local histories),
to give talks to other villagers and
generally to involve the community
in the project.
And there are many advantages of
forming such a group. For one thing, a group will have wider and deeper insights
to bring to the evidence being collected. Discussing the material found often
throws more light on the interpretation given to the sources.
For another thing, one member of the group may be free to visit record offices or
museums and other sites at a time when other members are not so free. More
ground can be covered (often in a literal sense) by a group sharing the work than
by individual researchers.
But there is another reason for encouraging local history groups. The more people
become interested in the past of their own community, the more they come to
share its values and to promote its conservation – not preservation as in a
museum but controlled and directed change and development. Villages with active
local history groups almost always have other voluntary groups working for the
betterment of their inhabitants – more than those where such a group does not
exist. And although it is not the only way, local history is one of the best ways to
start forming such groups.
The Local History pages on website then is intended to encourage new groups to
commence work by showing them some of the findings of existing groups; it is
intended to help existing and new groups to engage in their work more effectively,
taking into account the findings in other villages and in the wider history of the
county and the country.
Village groups which find themselves wishing to know more about this may consult
the book:
Group Projects in Local History which lists ten possible projects village groups can
start with, ranging from the medieval period to modern oral history and suggests
sources to look at and how to work as a group, as well as how to write up the findings.
Rutland Local History & Record Society
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Village History in Rutland