Discover Your Ancestors

Issue 078

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A warm welcome to the October issue of Discover Your Ancestors Periodical, your monthly digital family and social history magazine.

This month we have something of an educational theme as both Gaynor Haliday and Nell Darby pick up on 150th anniversaries of educational milestones. We joke about the Victorians sending our children up the chimneys, but really we should think of them as the pioneers who stopped all that! Having said that, Nell’s regular law and order feature this month looks a rather grim tale of corporal punishment from the same era…

You can still get hold of our current print issue in WH Smith and online (see discoveryourancestors.co.uk) – and I’m already starting to plan the next one!

In the meantime, do enjoy this issue.

Andrew Chapman, Editor.

Articles

League v Union - The Elementary Education Debates of 1869

After the Schools Enquiry Commission (Taunton Commission) had published its 20-volume report and recommendations for the secondary education of the middle classes in 1868, attention was duly turned to the elementary education of the working classes.

Educating women

Today, Girton College is well known as a constituent college of the University of Cambridge – but did you know that it was originally sited miles away from the East Anglian city, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire? It was here, on 15 October 1869, that an ambitious plan for a college for women was realised, when Benslow House became home to some ambitious Victorian women. This establishment was the brainchild of two women – Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon, who had been involved with the Society for the Employment of Women and who wanted women to be able to attend university, and for girls to go to Oxford and Cambridge to sit the Local Examinations in those places. In 1865, 91 young women entered the Cambridge Local Examination, but the push was continued to enable women to proceed further with their education. Four years later, entrance examinations for the College for Women at Benslow House were held in London, which 16 women passed. The first term at Benslow duly started in October 1869, with Charlotte Manning as college mistress, and five girls as students.

A walk throug the history of Eel Pie Island

Visiting the really successful Discover Your Ancestors Family History Show – London this year allowed me a chance to explore the surrounding area before the show. It was hot that summer day and so I decided that a walk down by the River Thames on the bank opposite Twickenham would be a suitable thing to do. Within a few minutes I became aware that I was now opposite the fascinating Eel Pie Island where once had stood the hotel that had been the home of the Eel Pie Island Jazz Club. In recent history it was where just about everyone who was anyone in the British 1960s rock music field from the Rolling Stones to Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton to Pete Townshend played to audiences before they went on to achieve stardom. In the fifties it had been jazz music that attracted the audiences with the likes of George Melly, Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk. Before that in the twenties and thirties the venue had hosted tea dances in its ballroom.

Disciplined until death

Newspapers today often carry stories about school life – a pupil banned for an inappropriate hairstyle or earring; parents protesting about school decisions and fines. Other examples of school stories focus on discipline, however: a teacher accused of being verbally abusive, or even of seeking to control a recalcitrant child by tying him or her to a chair, or locking them in a room.

News for October 2019

TheGenealogist has released a diverse batch of school and university records to join its ever-growing education collection.

History in the details: Police Uniforms

Keeping law and order on Georgian streets was entrusted to watchmen and constables, who typically wore long caped great coats, breeches, stockings and boots, or shoes and gaiters, with low-crowned slouch hats, carrying a lantern, staff or cudgel and a rattle. In 1800 the Glasgow Police Act established Britain’s first organised police force, its watchmen wearing brown coats with personal numbers painted on their backs. In England in 1805 members of the famous London watch, the Bow Street Horse Patrole, adopted standard blue coats and red waistcoats, followed by similar uniforms for the Foot Patrole in 1822.

Place in focus: Peterborough

The original name of Peterborough was Medeshamstede. The then town’s name changed to Burgh from the late tenth century, and eventually developed into the form Peterborough (but Gildenburgh was also used in the 12th century).

Books for October 2019

This book offers a unique, illustrated insight into the experiences of women worldwide during World War Two and its aftermath. The history of ten tumultuous years is reflected in clothes, fashion, accessories and uniforms. As housewives, fighters, fashion designers or spies, women dressed the part when they took up their wartime roles.

Additional Information

Other Formats

You can buy a printed version of the annual Discover Your Ancestors bookazine directly from the publishers, please see www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk and click on ‘Order print copies’ at the bottom.

Editorial Office

Discover Your Ancestors Publishing,

PO BOX 163,

Shaftesbury,

SP7 7BA

E: editor@discoveryourancestors.co.uk

W: www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk

Discover Your Ancestors – The Family History Show

The Family History Show, York!

Saturday 22nd June 2024
10:00 –16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

Free talks all day, held in a large lecture hall.
Free Experts on hand to help with your queries.
Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Special Offer! Buy tickets for £8.00 (£12.00 on the day)

Buy your tickets early and get two for the price of one!

Find Out More Purchase Tickets

Future Events

Unable to make the next show? We also have shows planned for the following locations:

Discover Your Ancestors Periodical is published by Discover Your Ancestors Publishing, UK. All rights in the material belong to Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without their prior written consent. The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine's contents are correct. All articles are copyright© of Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. Please refer to full Terms and Conditions at www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk. The editors and publishers of this publication give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised.