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Fragments of Two Centuries Glimpses of Country Life when George III. was King By: Alfred Kingston |
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FRAGMENTS OF TWO CENTURIES.
GLIMPSES OF COUNTRY LIFE WHEN GEORGE III. WAS KING. ILLUSTRATED. WITH AN APPENDIX SHOWING THE RISE AND FALL
OF THE RURAL POPULATION IN 45 PARISHES IN THE
ROYSTON DISTRICT, IN HERTS., CAMBS., AND
ESSEX, FROM 1801 TO 1891. BY ALFRED KINGSTON. ROYSTON: WARREN BROTHERS. 1893.
PREFACE. Though the town of Royston is frequently mentioned in the following
pages, it was no part of my task to deal with the general historical
associations of the place, with its interesting background of Court
life under James I. These belong strictly to local history, and the
references to the town and neighbourhood of Royston simply arise from
the accidental association with the district of the materials which
have come most readily to my hand in glancing back at the life of rural
England in the time of the Georges. Indeed, it may be claimed, I
think, that although, by reason of being drawn chiefly from local
sources, these "Fragments" have received a local habitation and a name,
yet they refer to a state of things which was common to all the
neighbouring counties, and for the most part, may be taken to stand for
the whole of rural England at the time. For the rest, these glimpses
of our old country life are now submitted to the indulgent
consideration of the reader, who will, I hope, take a lenient view of
any shortcomings in the manner of presenting them. There remains for me only the pleasing duty of acknowledging many
instances of courteous assistance received, without which it would have
been impossible to have carried out my task. To the proprietors of the
Cambridge Chronicle and the Hertsfordshire Mercury for access to
the files of those old established papers; to the authorities of the
Cambridge University Library; to the Rev. J. G. Hale, rector of
Therfield, and the Rev. F. L. Fisher, vicar of Barkway, for access to
their interesting old parish papers; to Mr. H. J. Thurnall for access
to interesting MS. reminiscences by the late Mr. Henry Thurnall; to the
Rev. J. Harrison, vicar of Royston; to Mr. Thos. Shell and Mr. James
Smith, for access to Royston parish papers to all of these and to
others my warmest thanks are due. All the many persons who have kindly
furnished me with personal recollections it would be impossible here to
name, but mention must be made of Mr. Henry Fordham, Mr. Hale Wortham,
Mr. Frederick N. Fordham, and especially of the late Mr. James
Richardson and Mr. James Jacklin, whose interesting chats over bygone
times are now very pleasant recollections. A.K.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE Introduction. "The Good Old Times" . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER II. Getting on Wheels. Old Coaches, Roads and Highwaymen. The
Romance of the Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CHAPTER III. Social and Public Life. Wrestling and Cock Fighting. An
Eighteenth Century Debating Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CHAPTER IV. The Parochial Parliament and the Old Poor Law . . . . . . . 32
CHAPTER V. Dogberry "On Duty" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
CHAPTER VI. The Dark Night of the Eighteenth Century. The Shadow of
Napoleon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CHAPTER VII. Domestic Life and the Tax Gatherer. The Doctor and the
Body Snatcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
CHAPTER VIII. Old Pains and Penalties. From the Stocks to the Gallows . . 83
CHAPTER IX. Old Manners and Customs. Soldiers, Elections and
Voters. "Statties," Magic and Spells . . . . . . . . . . . 92 CHAPTER X. Trade, Agriculture and Market Ordinaries . . . . . . . . . . 103
CHAPTER XI. Royston in 1800 25. Its Surroundings, its Streets,
and its People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
CHAPTER XII. Public Worship and Education. Morals and Music ... Continue reading book >>
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