As a society which supports the ERO and aims to promote Essex history, many of our members are actively involved in pursuing research interests of their own on a wide variety of topics which use Record Office resources. For example, some members of the committee also follow their own projects which range from family history, finding out the history of their house and the community surrounding it, to an investigation of the parish constables which policed communities before the county police force was set up, and which worked alongside it until the later part of the 19th century.

To get the fascinating flavour of how a detailed research project can start and be carried out, please follow the link to the Thomas Salt project. You will be able to see how our committee member Dr. Jane Pearson came upon something which attracted her, and full details of the various stages that she followed in finding out about her subject.

Chapman & Andre Maps

Maps play a crucial part in research for the local historian and genealogist.  One of the best early maps for Essex is the Chapman & Andre series of 1777.  The scale of two inches to one mile gives fascinating detail.  A selection of reprints is now available through the Friends, at £5 per map plus postage and packing.  Please note however that stocks are limited and we do not have any that cover the areas of Braintree or Hatfield Peverel.   For further information please contact the Hon. Secretary, Mrs Nicola Thomas, on 01621 891592.

Please note that we do not have any of Map No.8 Braintree or No.13 Hatfield Peverel.

One of the core roles of the FHE is to support Essex history. The largest grant we have given recently was to the Victoria County History in 2005. The VCH is part of a nationwide project to write a history of every parish.

Read about the Essex Victoria County History at
www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/essex

19th century 20th century Thomas Salt project

If you follow the link to the 19th and 20th century you can see brief notes of some interesting individuals that our member Mrs Pat Lewis has started to follow up in the ERO. Could you be interested in doing something like that?'

© 2011