18.
PLAYING LEAPFROG IN THE HIGH STREET ..
....is certainly something not to be done today, but
this is the title of the cover photograph of 'Ages
in the Making' a limited distribution soft back book
by our member Ruth Phillips and Rosamund Bazett.
The book is a history of two Essex villages of
Great and Little Waltham, a record of actual people
who lived in these villages and their ancestors.
Information is gleaned from local archaeological
investigations, from early documents and in the final
chapter from interviews with the elder members of
the villagers today.
The story is given of one Roger Poole who in the
16th Century purchased a local farm only to have it
seized by the Crown shortly afterwards since it was
part of the Charity lands. He later took the opportun-
ity to regain the farm only to be unpopular with the
village who thought the land was still theirs. This
led to the seizure of 7 of his cows. In 1556 armed
rioters attacked the farm only to disperse with the
arrival of Lord Riche's Constables. The land was later
put in trust for the good of the village. The sequel
to this story is that the book was printed with great
care by C.W.Poole and Sons Ltd of Victoria Road
Chelmsford who are direct descendants of that same
Family.
This excellant book by R.Phillips and R. Bazett
is priced at £1-40 and is available from Clarkes the
Stationers in Chelmsford or from any local postoffice.
If in difficulty please contact Ron Allen (Club Secr.)
who will do his best for Club Members.
Ron Allen.
There are still a few copies left of 'Discovering
Thurrock' a book on the antiquities and history of
Thurrock produced by the Thurrock Local History Society,
being a guide to the area. 80p to the Club Secretary.