Saffron Walden Town Library Society

Programme

March - June 2012

Thursday 15 March 8.00 pm

Reading the Gentleman’s Magazine, then and now’ by Gillian Williamson.

Saffron Walden Town Library has an almost complete set of the Gentleman’s Magazine, a best-selling monthly miscellany periodical launched in 1731 and only finally folding in 1907. This talk will examine how and why readers took it up so enthusiastically in the 18th century and look at its value as a source today.

Gillian Williamson co-edited Littlebury: a Parish History (2005), since when she has obtained an MA in Historical Research from the University of London. She is currently in the second year of study for a PhD at Birkbeck College, University of London, researching the Gentleman’s Magazine, gender and class in the 18th century.

Wednesday 18th April 8.00 pm

Ambrose Thomas, Marquis D’Oisey – Man of Mystery by Julian Litten

The self-styled Maquis D’Oisey was a controversial figure and an interior designer who lived and worked in north-west Essex.

Julian Litten, is the author of The English Way of Death (1991) and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Wednesday 16 May 7.30 pm

Annual General Meeting, followed by A Dip into Cheffin’s Archives, a talk by Paul Gooderam, former senior partner at Cheffins. Paul, started working for the company in 1960 when the Cheffins had only a single office in Saffron Walden. He will talk about the history of the company, which was founded in 1845 and is now a successful regional auctioners and land agents, as well as some of the local houses they have sold.

(Please note the earlier start time of 7.30 pm for the AGM. Non-members are welcome to attend but may not take part in the business of the AGM.)

Wednesday June 13th 8.00 pm

The Lost Roman Town of Great Chesterford, an illustrated talk by Maria Medlycott

Great Chesterford was once the second largest Roman town in Essex, but now lies invisible under fields on the Essex/Cambridgeshire border. This talk presents the results of a programme of work to bring together the evidence of some 250 years of excavation, survey and chance discoveries by antiquarians and local archaeologists.

Maria Medlycott works for the Essex County Council Historic Environment Branch, and has a particular interest in the Roman and medieval periods. Recently Maria has been responsible for the ‘pulling together’ accounts of the historic archaeological excavations of the Roman town and editing them for publication in a major new report.

Wednesday 18th July

Annual visit to the Plume Library, Maldon (details to be circulated later in the year)

Non-members are welcome to attend all Society events. Disabled access.