The impact of the Blitz on Essex is revealed in a new book by William Hoodless: Air Raid: A Diary and Stories from the Essex Blitz

On 30 August 1940, his mother, Mary Hoodless, made up her mind to keep a diary of her air-raid experiences. The entries in the Blitz diary throw light on the minutiae of trying to continue everyday life with a sense of normality against the backdrop of fear and uncertainty.
 
The notebook was rediscovered shortly after Christmas 2005 by William, who was inspired to write about the war’s impact in Essex. ‘Air Raid’ takes the moving narrative of the diary and puts it into the context of war as a whole using connected stories and background history. Shortages, fears of invasion and survival, bombing, valour, misery and real community spirit all came together to change lives and outlook forever.

It is unique and personal account of the Blitz written at the time, echoing the experiences of millions. Included are pictures of pages from the original 1940’s diary and is illustrated throughout with both archive and personal photographs.

This book demonstrates the courage, humour and great determination of ordinary Essex people in the face of war.

Arsonists have attacked the derelict mortuary chapel in the North Road Cemetery, Prittlewell, according to the Echo. The chapel and the cemetery which covers 4 acres, was opened in 1881 (1). The cemetery contains several soldiers’ graves from the First World War but is now disused and is treated as a wild-life haven. The cemetery is owned by Southend Council and although the chapel is not listed by English Heritage, it appears on the Council’s list of buildings, structures and monuments of local architectural or historic importance.

Looking at the damage shown in the Echo’s photographs, it is difficult to see how this sad looking building can be restored or put to some other use.

(1) Kelly’s Directory 1894

The Echo reports that archaeologists have uncovered some interesting finds in what is believed to be a Mesolithic camp in a field off Old Nevendon Road, Wickford. It is reported that they have so far found flint tools, including an axe and an adze, and evidence that the tools were manufactured on the site. The excavations are still in progress, but it is hoped the finds will be eventually displayed in the Southend Central Museum.

Meanwhile, Total Essex reports that in Great Notley near Braintree other archaeologists have discovered evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlements on the site of a business park.

The National Archives ‘TNA’ are embarking on a challenging project to digitise, catalogue and provide public access to 258 volumes of correspondence between 22 local Poor Law Unions in England and Wales and the Central Poor Law Commission in London.

This follows the pilot project which indexed images of original documents for the Southwell Union Workhouse in Nottinghamshire.

200 volunteer local and family historians will catalogue more than 100,000 pages of documents dating from the mid-1830s to around 1850 which form part of TNA’s Catalogue number MH 12.

The scanned records will be eventually be made available on The National Archives’ website. Local and family historians will be able to search by name, place, date and event, providing a level of detail not found in any other records from this period. It is hope that funding will be found to extend the project to the 1870s.

“While the 19th century saw a huge growth in Britain’s economy and industrial capacity, not everyone shared the material benefits,” says Dr Paul Carter, Principal Modern Records Specialist at The National Archives. “These are the kind of records that will help researchers, whether a family historian or an academic, answer the question of what life was like for these people.”

The British Library’s latest free exhibition is ‘Taking Liberties: the struggle for Britain’s freedoms and rights’. It uncovers the roots of British democracy over a period of more than 900 years and among the exhibits are 38 iconic documents from British history which paved the way for liberty and democracy including Magna Carta, 1679 Habeas Corpus Act, 1780 Gordon Riots handbill, 1948 UN declaration of Rights and the Good Friday Agreement.

There are also computer interactives which compare your views on liberty and freedom with everyone else’s, lectures and debates, and student workshops.

More information on the exhibition, video, podcasts and online images of many of the documents can be found on the British Library’s website.

Image right: Magna Carta

The National Archives’ latest podcast looks at the history of the parish. Mark Pearsall, The National Archives’ family history specialist, talks on the historical administration of the parish, its officials and their records, as well as showing you how you can use these records to trace your ancestors and find out more about their local community, he looks at what records other than parish registers may survive and how to use them to trace ancestors and perhaps find more personal detail about them and their community.

The podcast can be found on this page.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/podcasts.xml