Barton and District History Group
What are we?
The Group was formed in 2008 primarily to manage the local history archives that form part of the Baysgarth House Museum (BHM) collection. The local Community, Heritage, Arts & Media Project (CHAMP) Trust, which took over management of BHM in 2004, decided to sub-lease management of the archives to provide both access to the material and also to create a repository for future acquisitions. To ensure the long term survival of BHM it has to become more than ‘just a museum’ and more a hub for local history studies. We believe that by working in collaboration with such bodies as Barton Civic Society, Barton WEA and individual local historians this can be achieved. We also intend to work closely with other regional archive offices at Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Lincoln. The last year has been spent developing all the paperwork necessary to comply with the regulations and in training a core group in the handling of archive material. We are now ready to start!
Barton and the surrounding villages have a long and interesting history. Did you know for example that Ted Lewis, author of such books as “Get Carter” and “The Rabbit” lived in Barton for many years? Did you also know that Chad Varah, the founder of the Samaritans, was born in Barton? Samuel Wilderspin, the educational pioneer, set up and taught at a school in Barton for four years. John Harrison, the famous clock and watch maker, lived in Barrow for many years and Joan Plowright, the second wife of Lord Oliver, was born in Brigg. St. Peter’s church in Barton is one of the most investigated churches in Britain, having a Saxon tower. Barton and the surrounding area has also been linked to rope making, brick and tile making, and trade via the river Humber.
A number of books have already been published, however, there remains much to be researched and recorded, and this task is the challenge offered to members of the Group. If you have an interest in local history, do join us. Previous experience is of value but by no means essential!
What is in the Archives?
There is a wealth of material ready for study, including redundant legal documents and files relating to local industries, such as Rawson’s candle factory and Collingwood’s soft drinks works (including some recipes). Then we have papers of the Waterside Sports, Phillip Pape’s archive, material from the surrounding villages, railway archives, and, of course the Barclay papers that include the letters sent from the Western Front by Stanbury Taylor, heir to the Baysgarth estate, until his death at Ypres in 1917.
As we get established it is hoped that more and more local paper records will be donated to the BHM archives so that it will provide an ever more valuable resource for historical research.
Click here to contact us.