Current Projects:
1) Fieldwalking:
With the support of the Leicestershire Museums Archaeological Fieldwork
Group, the group has already begun the detailed task of collecting artefacts
from the surrounding fields through fieldwalking.
2) Census Data:
From the 19th century is being entered on spreadsheets to facilitate family
history and local research.
3) Directories:
Data from directories published between 1846 - 1941 is being entered on
data base.
4) Oral History:
Memories of old Ratby are being tape recorded and transcribed.
5) Collecting artefacts and old photographs:
An archive of such evidence of the past is being collected and classified.
6) Exhibitions:
Photographs and artefacts of “Ratby in 1952/3” have been displayed to
commemorate the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the reign of Queen
Elizabeth II.
7) Publications: our first book: History of Ratby, Volume 1 was published in
July 2004. It contains 110 pages and c.80 photos, maps and drawings and
costs £8. It includes articles on the following topics:
a) Memories of Desford Lane Corner: 1920-1945”;
b) A. Stevenson: “Samuel Deacon: clockmaker and son of Ratby”;
c) H. Gamble: “The Story of Railways in Ratby” ;
d) Personal recollections of Ratby's Railways;
e) Ratby in 1770: on the eve of the Enclosure Act.
If you are interested, contact Doug Harwood (see Contacts)
8) The History of Ratby: Volume 2 was published in September 2006 and
includes the following articles:
a) A Stroll around Ratby in the 1930s & 40s: recollections by Dennis
Green.
b) The History of Geary's Bakery: 1906-2006: Champion Bakers of Great
Britain by Gloria Coates, Charles Geary and Pam Hodgkin.
c) The Toil and Trouble of a Ratby Schoolmaster: 1875-79 by Doug
Harwood.
d) d) Annie Astill 1863-1922: the smallest sub-postmistress in England by
Doug Harwood.
e) Ratby's Enclosure Act of 1770 and its effects upon the landscape and
social history by Doug Harwood.
The book has 161 pages and 170 illustrations. It costs £10 and can be
obtained from doug.harwood@virgin.net.
9) The History of Ratby:
Volume 3 describing "Guided Walks in the National Forest" was published
in November 2008 in association with the national Forest Company. It
includes:
a) A Short History of Ratby's Rural landscape.
b) Guided descriptions of 6 walks in the parish:
i) Discovering Ratby's Woodlands.
ii) Ratby's NW frontier.
iii) Round the Change.
iv) Ratby's Deep South.
v) Discovering Ratby's Railways: East Side.
vi) Mysteries of Martinshaw Wood.
There are also keys to identifying selected Ratby trees and flowers.
The book has 136 pages x A5 and includes 27 maps and 130
illustrations.It costs £5 per copy plus p & p. It can be obtained
from Ratby Post Office or from Doug Harwood (see contacts)
10) Volume 4 of “The History of Ratby” was published in 2011. It includes:
a) Further Memories of Ratby: based on the publications and talks given
by the late Dennis Green on features of Ratby life, such as the Cooperative Store, Majestic Cinema, Outside Toilets, Health Care in
Ratby, Bereavement and Funerals and Theatre in Ratby. These are
supplemented by other people’s memories
b) The history and social life of the “Lost Yards of Ratby”, Harrison’s Yard,
The Earl of Stamford Arms Yard and Workhouse Yard. The history of
businesses created in these yards, e.g. The Carriers, Shipman the
Builders and Harrison’s Drapery are included, as are people’s memories
of living in these yards during the 1920-40s.
c) The history of sanitation and health care in Ratby: 1800
d) Caring for the Poor in Ratby: 1530 - 1948.
e) Alf Hunt 1904 - 2007: Ratby Centurion and Gentleman.
11) ‘The History of the Deserted Village of Whittington, in Ratby’ by Michael
Ball and Doug Harwood was published in Volume 84 (2010) of the ‘The
Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society’. It
considers the controversial issues of when and by whom the former village
was first established; whether Whittington Grange was originally a
monastic estate; how far the demise of the village was caused by the Black
Death and the timing and probable causes of its eventual abandonment.
The location of the former village and whether it was a nucleated or
dispersed settlement are also considered. Offprints of the article will be
available for purchase at the next meeting at £1 per copy for 24 pages with
illustrations.
12) Ratby and World Wars I and 2. We are currently collecting information
about Ratby people who served in World Wars I and 2, in preparation for a
Memorial Book which will be placed in the Parish Church, Methodist
Church and Library.
If you can help in any way, please contact >d.l.harwood@btinternet.com