Thanks to Gary Oddie who has sent this information about his new book on seventeenth century tokens in Bedfordshire:
"The upheavals of the seventeenth century had many consequences for the everyday activities of the people of Britain. A shortage of small change resulted in many shopkeepers and tradespeople issuing their own tokens between 1648 and 1672. These provide a tangible record of a group of people who otherwise do not appear in the history books. One hundred such issues can be attributed to the county of Bedfordshire. This new book lists not only many unrecorded varieties but also opens a window on the lives and day to day activities of the token issuers themselves. Extensive use of contemporary records sheds light on the trades, wealth, beliefs and final wishes of the token issuers. The catalogue illustrates every known variety of token twice life-size. The photographs, along with an analysis of some of the design features of the tokens, allow comparison with the issues of other counties. An essential record for students of Bedfordshire seventeenth century tokens and the token series more generally. Of interest to all those studying local, social and family histories of this period."
Bedfordshire Seventeenth Century Tokens, John Gaunt, edited and expanded by Gary Oddie.
Published by Galata, Llanfyllin (Powys), 2011. Quarto, pp. 154, colour illustrations throughout, tables, card covers. Limited print run. £35 + p+p.
Monday, 2 January 2012
New Year honour for local historian
Congratulations to Mrs Vivienne Evans, local historian, lecturer and writer and founder of Dunstable History and Heritage Studies, who has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Dunstable in the 2012 New Year's Honours.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Bedfordshire in ODNB
For historians, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography in its online version is a must-bookmark-site. In addition to many people from Bedfordshire or with connections to the county, it contains articles on groups and themes that provide background for the county's history and people.
Bedford Whigs (c.1748–c.1784) summarises the politicians connected with the 4th Duke of Bedford's political career. By coincidence it covers some of the people and much of the period in BHRS's forthcoming 2011 volume, How Bedfordshire Voted, 1735-1784: the evidence of local documents and poll books, edited by James Collett-White. The Broad-bottom ministry (1744–1746), Leicester House (1743–1760) and the Old corps (court Whigs) (1742–1762) also provide political background for the book.
The forthcoming volume, How Bedfordshire Voted 1735-1784, continues his two earlier volumes for the Society and completes a century of coverage of Bedfordshire elections. Most of the first two volumes, covering 1685 to 1734, contained transcriptions of the county and borough (of Bedford) poll books. In this last, almost 50-year period, there is only one complete poll book surviving (1774). The majority of the book contains letters and extracts from newspapers and Bedford borough documents which throw light on the political dealing that went on behind the scenes to obtain voters' support.
After reading it, all I can say is thank heavens for the secret ballot! The book is due out at the end of 2011 or early 2012. Buy it, read it, and see what you think about eighteenth-century political dealing.
How Bedfordshire Voted 1735-1784: the evidence of local documents and poll books, edited by James Collett-White. Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, volume 90. To be published by Boydell & Brewer.
Bedford Whigs (c.1748–c.1784) summarises the politicians connected with the 4th Duke of Bedford's political career. By coincidence it covers some of the people and much of the period in BHRS's forthcoming 2011 volume, How Bedfordshire Voted, 1735-1784: the evidence of local documents and poll books, edited by James Collett-White. The Broad-bottom ministry (1744–1746), Leicester House (1743–1760) and the Old corps (court Whigs) (1742–1762) also provide political background for the book.
The forthcoming volume, How Bedfordshire Voted 1735-1784, continues his two earlier volumes for the Society and completes a century of coverage of Bedfordshire elections. Most of the first two volumes, covering 1685 to 1734, contained transcriptions of the county and borough (of Bedford) poll books. In this last, almost 50-year period, there is only one complete poll book surviving (1774). The majority of the book contains letters and extracts from newspapers and Bedford borough documents which throw light on the political dealing that went on behind the scenes to obtain voters' support.
After reading it, all I can say is thank heavens for the secret ballot! The book is due out at the end of 2011 or early 2012. Buy it, read it, and see what you think about eighteenth-century political dealing.
How Bedfordshire Voted 1735-1784: the evidence of local documents and poll books, edited by James Collett-White. Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, volume 90. To be published by Boydell & Brewer.
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