Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society
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Wotton wakes to the dawn
1950’s : Wotton wakes to the dawn (One man and his tape recorder)
by Wotton-under-Edge Heritage Centre
In the mid 1950’s Harry Grimes bought a Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder. He decided to record the dawn chorus near his home on Old London Road, Wotton-under-Edge. These recordings, over 2 hours of them, were subsequently stored in the attic for many years until after his death. Once they were rediscovered, I had them digitised and shared a clip with Mark Cummings on radio Gloucestershire in 2013. This became one of his most requested clips. The clip included the early morning birds including a Cuckoo, but also a Steam train from Charfield 2 miles away.
Now in 2023 I am a trustee of the Wotton Heritage Centre and thought that I could share the entire recordings – over 2 hours of it, with a bigger audience and raise some funds for the Heritage Centre.
The original recordings have been added to with some bonus tracks,
Harry Grimes talking about birds and his recordings from an Oral history project by the Wotton Heritage centre.
Me talking about the history of the recordings, with a script by Mark Pasco.
An extract from the demo tape from the Grundig recorder, from Bob Monkhouse.
A few selected extracts from the recordings with trains, planes, and Church bells.
Hugo Grimes, July 2023
1. 01 - Dawn Chorus Steam Train 01:08
2. 02 - Harry Grimes talking about birds 02:24
3. 03 - Grundig advert with Bob Monkhouse 01:59
4. 04 - Dawn Chorus Plane and Quarter Chimes 01:01
5. 05 - Dawn Chorus 5 am Chimes 00:57
6. 06 - Hugo Grimes Introduction 03:50
7. 07 - Dawn Chorus 1 pt I 17:54
8. 08 - Dawn Chorus 1 pt II 17:54
9. 09 - Dawn Chorus 1 pt III 17:54
10. 10 - Harry Grimes talking about the Tape Recorder 02:05
11. 11 - Hugo Grimes Conclusion 00:57
12. 01 - Dawn Chorus 2 pt I 22:08
13. 02 - Dawn Chorus 2 pt II 22:08
14. 03 - Dawn Chorus 2 pt III 22:08
15. 04 - Dawn Chorus Steam Train 2 02:21
The CD can be downloaded directly by copying and saving the link below into your web browser:
https://wottonheritagecentre.bandcamp.com/album/1950-s-wotton-wakes-to-the-dawn-one-man-and-his-tape-recorder
all rights reserved
£10.00
WWI Recruitment Ledgers
Two Army Books 69, Cash Book and Ledger, were donated to Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society in the mid-1990s. They were accessioned and recorded as Recruit Books 1914 and appropriately stored. Their unique importance was unrecognised and they remained undiscovered until mid-2014 when the Society was assessing the material it held for an exhibition on the start of WW1. They contain a wealth of social history information.
Twenty three days after the declaration of WW1 the first Ledger was opened on 27th August 1914 with the last entry being on 30th November 1915, prior to conscription in January 1916. There are 465 men listed with 167 believed to have served their King and Country. Twenty four of those listed are known to have died during the conflict, being listed on the Wotton-under-Edge War Memorial, the Roll of Honour displayed in the Town Hall and in Bill Griffiths book First World War Heroes of Wotton-under-Edge. This ledger contains information on the health status and occupations of the men of Wotton.
The second Ledger contains the names, addresses and signatures of 137 men, 56 of whom served in WW1. Eight of these men died in action and are listed on the Wotton-under-Edge War Memorial, the Roll of Honour displayed in the Town Hall and in Bill Griffiths book First World War Heroes of Wotton-under-Edge.
This CD can be downloaded from GenFair.com. Copy the link below and paste into your internet browser:
https://genfair.co.uk/product/rowland-hill-tabernacle-burial-register-wotton-under-edge-1824-1961-39840/
£10.00
Rowland Hill Tabernacle Burial Register
The Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society holds the original burial and interment register for the Rowland Hill Tabernacle, a non-conformist chapel. The register list over 1,200 burials next to the Tabernacle (now the Wotton Auction Rooms). The cemetery is in three areas, the Old, New and Extension burial grounds and lists interments from 1824 to 1961. The Society has created a searchable Access database of the register together with an alphabetical Excel spreadsheet. Copies of the numbered plot layouts and the regulations of the burial grounds are also included.
This CD may be downloaded from GenFair.com. Copy the link below and paste into your internet browser:
https://genfair.co.uk/product/rowland-hill-tabernacle-burial-register-wotton-under-edge-1824-1961-39840/
£10.00
Parish Registers 1571-1659
The Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society holds two volumes of St Mary's Parish registers at the Heritage Centre on behalf of the Parish Church. The 1571-1659 register contains 300 pages of baptisms, marriages and burials. This volume was transcribed by Miss E.C. Perkins, grand daughter of Benjamin R. Perkins, vicar from 1829 to 1881, in 1914 from the original registers. It is in a clear copper plate hand writing, possibly more legible than the original register. The register has been scanned and is available on CD in PDF format. No effort has been made to enhance the text or provide an index of entries. It provides an invaluable source for family history researchers.
This CD may be downloaded from GenFair.com. Copy the link below and paste into your internet browser:
https://genfair.co.uk/product/parish-registers-of-st-mary-the-virgin-wotton-under-edge-1571-1659-38783/
£10.00
Parish Registers 1660-1715
The Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society holds two volumes of St Mary's Parish registers at the Heritage Centre on behalf of the Parish Church. The 1660-1715 register contains 300 pages of baptisms, marriages and burials. This volume was transcribed by Miss E.C. Perkins, grand daughter of Benjamin R. Perkins, vicar from 1829 to 1881, in 1917 from the original registers. It is in a clear copper plate hand writing, possibly more legible than the original register. The register has been scanned and is available on CD in PDF format. No effort has been made to enhance the text or provide an index of entries. It provides an invaluable source for family history researchers.
This CD can be downloaded from GenFair.com. Copy the link below and paste into your internet browser:
https://genfair.co.uk/product/parish-registers-of-st-mary-the-virgin-wotton-under-edge-1660-1715-38784/
£10.00
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