Browsed by
Author: ashelley

Of Gloucester & York

Of Gloucester & York

The County towns of Gloucestershire and Yorkshire while unique in themselves have much in common with each other in forming our English nation. It is interesting to discover the several historic parallels between these two ancient cities. Their capital importance within the history of England is sometimes overlooked by modern society. Historically they were only second to London and Westminster. An indication of the importance of York is given to its Archbishop, whose position is ranked directly after the Archbishop…

Read More Read More

Peggs vs Lamb Law Report

Peggs vs Lamb Law Report

Law Report: Trusts to benefit whole borough: Peggs and others v Lamb and others – Chancery Division (Mr Justice Morritt), 12 March 1993. Paul Magrath, Barrister 20 April 1993. The freemen of the ancient borough of Huntingdon did not have a statutory right to share equally between them all the income of the land, proceeds of sale and investments currently held by the trustees of the Huntingdon Commons Charity and Lammas Rights Charity. The original and charitably valid purpose of…

Read More Read More

Shelley Successions at Sudbury

Shelley Successions at Sudbury

For centuries the Shelley’s were ‘freemen’ trading in Sudbury, clearly succeeding directly from Richard Shelley who is recorded in 1632. The family operated in the woollen weaving business employing apprentices and yeomen weavers. Eventually they moved into blacksmithing and established a flourishing operation at the east of the town in the area known as Wigan End. In the 1860s Charles Thomas Shelley was head of the family, with premises at nos 9, 10 and Il East Street (Wigan End) with…

Read More Read More

Reverend Canon John Shelley Nurser PhD

Reverend Canon John Shelley Nurser PhD

Born May 1929 at Northampton, this virtuous cleric has been committed in his love of humanity and for its freedom. His academic achievements have been recognised internationally with considerable laurels. These accomplishments include recipient of the ‘Templeton Freedom Award’ in 1994 and in 2007, the ‘Albert Outler Prize’ from the American Society of Church Historians. He was a Commonwealth Fellow at the Harvard Division School 1956-57. Educated Peterhouse Cambridge 1947-50 and 1953-56 (Lieutenant Royal Navy 1950-53) Master of Arts and…

Read More Read More

Gloucester’s Civic Administration

Gloucester’s Civic Administration

NOTES extracted from VCH Among Gloucester’s courts, the hundred court met every Monday, swore in constables, freemen, and officers of the trade companies, and tried civil actions involving citizens. From the mid 16th century, however, the court was in decline. More active was the piepowder court held at the Tolsey by the sheriffs on market days. That was the main court of pleas in the city, hearing a good deal of litigation and with a number of attorneys in attendance. The frankpledge jury…

Read More Read More

Gloucester Hams GLAF Visit

Gloucester Hams GLAF Visit

Proposed Site Visit by GLAF                                                         Location: Gloucester Vale and the Water Meadow ‘Hams’ Western boundary of Gloucester City Purpose: To review the popularity and amenity conditions of this historically important river valley landscape, with consideration to maintaining and enhancing/encouraging its rural attraction. The site in mind is located from Lower Westgate Street and by the Westgate bridge over the Severn moving along footpaths toward the Docklands and area of Llanthony Priory relics. These meadows have an important role, both as…

Read More Read More

YMCA BRITISH BOYS FOR BRITISH FARMS

YMCA BRITISH BOYS FOR BRITISH FARMS

Training Scheme 1932 – 1968 Sir George Williams, founder of the YMCA in London in 1844, was the youngest of eight brothers who were brought up by their parents on Ashway Farm, Dulverton in Somerset. George Williams was born on 21 October 1821. By the outbreak of the First World War the YMCA was well known in Britain and in many places overseas through its clubs, hostels and for its educational work. The YMCA is now represented around the world…

Read More Read More

Lammas Lands (half-yearly land)

Lammas Lands (half-yearly land)

In various parts of the countryside you may come upon the historical term Lammas-land. Usually meadow lands, they are a form of common land where right-holders are entitled to pasture their beasts following the harvest of hay. The period for grazing (or open period) runs from Lammas Day (12 August) until Lady Day on 25 March or in some cases, until 6 April. This custom dates back to the Anglo-Saxon hlaf-mas or ‘loaf-mas’ that ran from 1st August until 1st…

Read More Read More

House of Lords

House of Lords

The House of Lords (House of Peers) is the upper house of Parliament situated in the Palace of Westminster. Membership of the Peers (as equals) is made up of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal. Lords Spiritual are led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York who are primate of all England. The occupants of the five ‘great sees’ include London, Durham and Winchester as Lords of Parliament. Of the remaining 35 English diocesan bishops, the 21 most senior (by length…

Read More Read More

Heart of Oak

Heart of Oak

The English Oak The oak tree is seen to symbolise Englishness in much the same way as the British Bulldog is muscular, strong and friendly. Quercus robur, the common pedunculate oak is our native tree. Anciently, the druids worshiped in oak groves and many traditions, from marriage ceremonies to the burning of the ‘yule log’ at Christmas, have their connections with this symbolic tree. Not only do ‘mighty oaks spring from tiny acorns’ these trees provide a myriad of life…

Read More Read More