Journal No 51 (March 2014)

The 40 page quarterly magazine is now available to members of the High Country History Group. Two new series commence in our second 50 of Journals: palaeography, and extracts from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now Essex Society for Archaeology and History  Items include

- Coopersale House, Theydon Garnon - an enigma

- Transportation reprived (of Samuel James of Theydon Garnon, 1797)

- Boxing Match at Ongar

- Greensted Church and James Barlow, an historical record of his life

- Mad Dog

- Palaeography

-- (i) Introduction

-- (ii) Vagrants' Certificate from Stanford Rivers, 1598

-- Place Names Quiz

- Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society

-- Greenstead Church, by Henry Laver F.S.A.

- A View of Stanford Rivers 1866. A visit to Issac Taylor

- Obituary. Sir Richard Smijth, Rector of Stapleford Tawney with Theydon Mount, 1837

- Farming in Stapleford Tawney 1902

High Country History Group: Journal No 50 (December 2013)

Celebrating with a silver balloon with '50' on its front cover, the High Country History Group has reached a significant landmark in the production of the quarterly Journal for members.  As usual it contains a wide range of items relating to the local history of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney, Theydon Mount and beyond.  Contents this time include:

- An Appeal for Information: about a Mr Mugleston who took the tenancy of Littlebury Farm in Stanford Rivers in the 1870s

- Attack on a Constable

- 101 Uses of a Church Porch: Stanford Rivers South Porch use for "habitacion" in 1600

- Ongar Through The Centuries. 40 Little Known Facts: a booklet just published by the Ongar Millennium History Society

- Greensted and the Course of St Edmund's Translation: taken from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (New Series, Volume 10, 1907)

- The Diary of Anna Reeve of Stondon Massey, 1888

- Hill Hall and Copt Hall: taken from Memorials of Old Essex (published 1908)

- In Memoriam. Lewis Newcomen Prance: taken from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society ('New Series', Volume 13, 1913)

- Harriet Archer-Houblon: born 1812, Coopersale House, Theydon Garnon

- Coopersale: taken from Kelly's Directory 1933

A Student's Guide to Colchester

'A Student Guide to Colchester' is the title of our next meeting to be held on Thursday 24 September.  Our Secretary, Andrew Smith, is currently doing a Certificate in Local History at the University of Essex and has completed two modules on the history of Colchester, a very interesting town with a rich Roman past.  Andrew's presentation will be about the archaeological discoveries of the twentieth and twenty-first century which have helped in the understanding and to tell the history of the town.  His highly illustrated talk will take those present on an armchair (well, seated) tour of the town through the ages. It is a history of both Roman Britain and recent archaeology.  Andrew is not a Colcestrian, hence the title.  All welcome. Toot Hill Village Hall, Thursday 24 September beginning at 8.00pm.

High Country History Group: Journal No. 49 (September 2013)

The quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group has just been sent to members.  Contents this time include:

- Greensted Mystery (Part 2): Revd Benjamin Pratt

- Book Review: The 1953 Essex Flood Disaster by Patricia Reynoldson-Smith

- The Royal Forest of Essex

VI. The Forest of Writtle

VII. Medieval Documentary Sources

VIII. The Industry of The Forest

IX. The Decline of the Forest System

X. The Forest to the Present Day

XI. The Rabbit and the Medieval Economy

- Churchwarden's Presentments 1750 to 1826 for Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount

- From The Papers

- West Window, St Michael's Church, Theydon Mount

- The Home Guard Pocket Book 1942

High Country History Group: Journal No. 48 (June 2013)

The Members' Quarterly Journal remembers Dr Rob Brooks, our Chairman, with the first part of his study course on the Royal Forest of Essex (pages 14 - 31).  The contents include:

- Report of the Annual General Meeting

- Tribute to Rob Brooks (1945-2013)

- From The Papers

- Stanford Rivers Incorporated Workhouse & the New Poor Laws

- Greensted Mystery: "The cover of the Journal shows an oil painting of the Reverend Benjamin Pratt, A.M., Founder of the Living of Greensted". But who was he?

- The Royal Forest of Essex

-- Introduction

-- I.  Anglo-Saxon Essex

-- II. The Norman and Angevin Kings

-- III. The Growth of Deer Parks

-- IV. Law and Order in the Forest

-- V.  Forest Fieldwork

- Essex Royalist Clergy - and Others: taken from Essex Review

High Country History Group: Journal No. 47 (March 2013)

The quarterly Journal (40 pages) of the High Country History Group given to subscribing members.  The March 2013 contents are as follows:
- The Epping Railway Company 1859-1863: taken from the Essex Review
- The Picture of St Edmund at Greensted Church: taken from the Essex Review
- What The Papers Say: extracts from Chelmsford Chronicle, Lincolnshire Echo and Essex Newsman
- Theydon Mount School
- This Might Be Useful
-- Family History Books Collection: http://familysearch.org/#form=books
-- Centenary of The Great War: http://www.1914.org
- Essex Quarter Sessions Order Book 1652-1661
- Sayings
-- A Square Meal
-- Show a Leg
- The Budworth Family of Greensted Hall
- Rookes Evelyn Bell Crompton FRS (31 May 1845 - 15 February 1940)
- Ongar District Cottage Hospital War Memorial Scheme

Welcome to the High Country History Group

The famous log church at Greensted

Welcome to the High Country History Group, covering the small parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount just west of Ongar in Essex, England.  The Group was founded in 1999 by Rob Brooks.  The club meets on most fourth Thursdays in the month and this year we have changed our meetings to meet from March to November (except August and September) rather than through the winter months. 

For a membership of £7.00, or £10.00 for family members, those on our list receive four journals a year containing items of local and countywide historic and social interest and reduced admission to our regular meetings (£1, instead of £3 for visitors) held at the Toot Hill Village Hall.  Each time we meet we have a speaker who talks on the subject of local or general topic of historic interest.  Sometimes our members lead the evening.  We always end the evening with tea or coffee and biscuits, and at Christmas with a mince pie and glass of wine.  We believe one of our strengths is the opportunity for people to get together, enjoy a talk and a good natter afterwards.  Do join us. You will be very welcome. 

Our blog is an extension of the Group, connecting us to the worldwide web and people who may have had, or have ancestors connected with our local area. 

So welcome, and enjoy what we have to offer.