You probably won’t know that on 26th October 1623, 95 people died when a floor collapsed in Hunsdon House whilst a sermon was being given at a service of Vespers. It’s a small piece of history that has escaped being passed down along with the big stories about the Tudor Royal Family.[1]
We’re sure there are lots of stories like this; interesting facts about the village and its past that people have uncovered – facts that other people would find fascinating if only there were an easy way for them to learn about them.
Maybe you know a bit about the village or a local family tree and are willing to share. If so, please join us for a conversation about Opening the Archives; getting the stories out in the open for a wider audience (maybe even helping others in their search for their ancestry.)
We’ll share some of the fruit of our ongoing research into the history of the church and village, but we really hope this could be a dialogue where other voices are able to speak. Maybe this could be the beginning of an ongoing conversation in which people are encouraged to investigate more and ultimately to see their own findings blessing others.
Bring your tales of secret tunnels and big-cat sightings – the local legends that fascinate and intrigue. Come with your theories about why certain things happened and be prepared to debate them with others who see things differently. Come with your carefully researched and footnoted academic paper – information based on primary sources is extremely valuable.[2] Come to teach and to learn – about the Middle Ages, the Victorian restoration, the airfield and the wartime community.
We will put the church heating on, but we do advise that you wear warm clothing. We’ll also serve hot drinks and pastries, so please book a place to help us cater effectively.
[1] For clarity, I should note that it wasn’t our Hunsdon House. It was Hunsdon House in Blackfriars in London. This had previously been the London residence of Baron Hunsdon (so had been connected with our village), but at the time of the tragic incident, the property was being used as the official residence of the French Ambassador.
[2] We are particularly keen that anything we publish can be supported by evidence – we’re not in the business of passing on misinformation!
