Ribchester History Society

The Photo Competition entries were displayed in the Field Day marquee. A big thank you to everyone who took part.

In Food for Weavers, Ann Ward gave a talk and demonstration of the food typically eaten by the hand loom weavers of eighteenth century Ribchester, with plenty of samples for us to try.

The dishes included Lancashire oatcakes, oatcakes with bacon or pork scratchings incorporated, cheese dishes, steamed suet puddings, a truly traditional mutton hotpot, boiled bacon hock and pease pudding, and many others.

Paul Henshaw brewed some nettle beer for the occasion.

Prof Geoff Timmins graduated at Sheffield University, obtained his doctorate at the University of Lancaster and is now Professor of History at the University of Central Lancashire.

In his talk on Hand-loom Weaving he demonstrated with numerous examples the typical features of a Lancashire weaver's cottage, and showed how they differed from those in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

Lt Col Jackman gave a talk on the Roman Army and Hadrian's Wall, in which he attempted to answer the questions, Why were the Romans so successful? Why were they here? and, Why did they build the Wall?

Member Ann Jepson presented a talk on Reading Family Wills. They can be a mine of useful information.

Since 1858 wills have been recorded in an index called the National Probate Calendar. A copy is held at the Lancashire Record Office and in many other record offices. It is very easy to use. It is arranged by date of probate, which was usually a few months after death. Registered copies of some Lancashire wills proved after 1858 are also held at the Record Office.

Before 1858, most surviving wills for Ribchester folk were proved in the Archdeaconry of Richmond and are indexed by the Record Society. These indexes and most of the wills referred to in them are held at the Lancashire Record Office. Occasionally Ribchester wills are proved in the Archdeaconry of Chester. Someone having property in more than one archdeaconry might have their will proved in the Prerogative Court of York.

Dr Alan Crosby presented Sex, Wigs and Drink a talk based on the diary of Edmund Harrold, an eighteenth century Manchester wig-maker.