Mapping Our Area

In the immediate run-up to Christmas Magdalen Walks members gathered at St Augustine's Church Hall and we were delighted at the turn-out, especially given the seasonal distractions AND a soggy, grey day. 

During the session, we had a think about our personal experiences of heritage tours: both, good and bad. Our purpose in doing this was to reflect on the elements that go to make a positive experience for audiences. Among our many thoughts, was the importance of feeling welcomed, valued and included. Orientation is also important: people like to know how long a walk will be (in duration and distance) as well as a broad overview of what is to be covered. In addition, folk don't like to be bombarded with facts, facts - FACTS!! Much better, therefore, to have coherent themes and tell a 'story' that people are able to comprehend and engage with. Crucial also, to relate what you are talking about to the people in front of you. There was more, but that gives you a flavour. 

After that we had a tea break and a good old chin-wag, before taking a look at some maps of our area drawn up in during the 18th and 19th centuries. I'm a big fan of maps as historical sources: they potentially reveal so much about the development of an area. Thus, for instance, we noted that the parish of St Clement's not only includes the church on the north of the river Wensum, it also encompasses an area beyond the medieval city wall (modern day Magpie Road). The question we asked was, 'Why?' The most plausible explanation is, because this church was almost certainly the earliest foundation (dating from the Anglo-Saxon/Scandanavian period), with a huge original parish. Known as a proto-parish church, the subsequent church parishes - St Margaret's etc - were 'carved' out of this original one. There is supporting archival evidence for this, in fact, as the medieval tithing records show that churches in this area were paying fees to the 'mother' church of St Clement's. 

Among the many other things prompted by this exercise were areas of potential future research. For instance, one member noted with interest the presence on these maps of various green spaces in the north of the city that no longer exist. Another, was interested in finding out more about the 'lunatic' asylum that existed near the junction of modern-day Waterloo and Magpie Roads during the 19th century. 

In terms of developing our research skills, we have booked a session at the Millennium Library on Saturday February 13th, on the second floor (gathering near the reception desk at 10:30 on that day). Here, we will be having a tour of the remarkable Norfolk Heritage Collection, which is held at the library. It contains around half a million Norfolk-related items: photographs, books, maps, postcards - there is even an early 15th century Wycliffite bible, once owned by the Boleyn family and probably read by Anne Boleyn herself! 

Please do come along Magdalen Walkers - you're in for a real treat, and it will be so useful for you to be introduced to such a treasure trove of potential sources. 

NOTE: we next meet at The Stage on St Augustine's on Saturday 16th at 10:30. After a quick cuppa and catch-up we will brave the elements and going for a walk - a Magdalen Walk in fact! Time to start exploring our area together. This one will be going along Magdalen Street itself, via St Augustines and Magpie Road, so it's right at the heart of our project. Look forward to seeing you on the day! 

FINALLY, if you read this and are interested in joining the project, please email Niki Taigel via magdalenprojects@gmail.com. Thanks!

John Abigail’s just desert.

Following Colin's blog post, I also went on the St Augustine’s Church walk and am very grateful to Stuart for truly guiding us. For an hour or so, I was engrossed in the hidden stories that have moulded cherished corners into the texture of the building.

Stuart drew our attention to the memorials located throughout the church, each one eulogising a local resident. There are dozens, spanning several centuries, and we discussed how displaying such plaques may have been intended, to some extent, to peacock; a way of ‘keeping up with the Jones’. Each plaque is a shop window for a remarkable story and all it takes is a little research or the guidance of someone like Stuart who has done a lot of research!

By following the questions in Stuart’s pop quiz, we reflected upon the nature of the inscriptions. For example, only two depict the acts of women beyond ‘mother and wife’; another was born in America yet came to Norfolk in 1778; a textiles manufacturer, Thomas Clabburn, was remembered by “upwards of the six hundred weavers of Norwich”.

Visualising the individuals behind the words, I imagined the clothes of the day, the housing these people occupied and the motive behind the celebrated achievements.

Of all the dedications, one in particular stood out for me. In the whole of the UK there are only a dozen instances where a WWI soldier, shot for desertion, has their named listed among those who died from active service.

The name of Private John Henry Abigail appears although he was executed at the age of 20 by firing squad in 1917. We can only speculate as to exactly why Mr Abigail deserved his place among the traditionally mourned but hearing his back story it becomes easier to imagine.

Born into abject poverty and sleeping on soiled sackcloth behind a distillery, John was often responsible for younger siblings during the father’s incarcerations for neglect and drunkenness. After joining the forces, possibly as a means of getting regular food, John was injured and sent to recuperate in Great Yarmouth. During his absence both parents had spent time in Norwich prison. Learning of his father’s pending release, John visited his siblings. He was arrested and sent back to the front but after deserting a further three times, he was eventually consigned to the firing squad.

Regardless of your stance on desertion, this is surely a poignant story. John had just three years of so-called independence and it was spent either on the run or in the trenches. If I hadn’t spent time in St Augustine’s church with Stuart, this story would have remained unknown to me. So, what? Well, so nothing, maybe, but I feel a little enriched for the experience and it certainly made me question my judgement on desertion.

This is why I believe heritage should matter to everyone. We don’t exist in a sealed year, immune to the past and oblivious to history - what we are is shaped by what we were and taking time now and again to reflect on the people who occupied our place before us can allow us to live our own lives a little more mindfully.

Exploring St Augustine's Church

Tomorrow morning we gather at St Augustine's for a short talk about the church by MW volunteer and author, Stuart McLaren. In keeping with our ethos of active exploration, we will also be looking to discover something about the church for ourselves. In addition, we will be thinking about how we turn a talk into a brief stop as part of a walk. 

If we have time after that i've got a great interactive activity that will help us (a) take notice of things most people miss and (b) generates a vocabluary through which to tell the story of a site.