Self-financing Essex Record Office? The President writes to Essex County Council

The Essex Society for Archaeology & History 

Cllr. David Finch, Leader, 

Essex County Council, 

County Hall, 

CHELMSFORD, Essex CM1 1QH 

16th November 2016. 

Dear David, 

Many of our members have read with interest the following report by Stephen Dixon, Archive Service Manager at the Essex Record Office (ERO), in the autumn issue of the Newsletter of the Friends of Historic Essex: 

'We are credited with achieving an extra £100,000 income in the first year of the implementation stage of our business case but this year's target is much higher and we now know we are to become self-financing by about 2020' 

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History (ESAH) of which I am President, represents many users of the ERO who will be interested in hearing from ECC about what plans are in place to become 'self-financing', a position that I suspect other County Record Offices have not attempted. 

Following on from the reduction in opening hours that took place in the last few years, the local and family history community are naturally interested in what future plans there are for the ERO and any further restrictions on access to non-digitised historic archive material. Your 'business case' will be of interest at our next ESAH Council Meeting in January 2017, when this matter will be discussed. 

Initial questions that spring to mind are: 1. Current running costs 2. Current income 3. What was this year's (2016-2017) target and what is now the new target? What has changed? 4. Plans and implications on the service for how to achieve this year's target? 5. Projected 2020 running costs and plans for how to become self- financing 6. Implications on the service of the current and future income targets (for example, current and projected staffing levels and opening hours) 7. Will there be an opportunity for public consultation on plans? I look forward to receiving your detailed reply to the questions raised in this letter together with a copy of the business plan please. Thank you. 

Yours sincerely,

Adrian Corder-Birch, President, Essex Society for Archaeology and History 

Blackmore Post Office End of Era

Thursday 24 November 2016 is a sad day for local historians in Blackmore, as it marks the final day of trading at Blackmore Post Office which opened in 1888, and has above its door ‘JHA 1888’ where this is John Henry Arthy the first postmaster on the premises.  John Henry Arthy is recorded a churchwarden of the Parish Church and has his name inscribed on a bell recast in 1901.

Times change.  The Post Office moves to the local Cooperative Store on the following day.

Members of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History might be interested to know that all the books sold from the Online Shop have been posted from there.

Essex Archaeology and History News: Contents #89-130 (4) T-Z

Tendring, Hill Farm … 126.16, 128.15

Thames Water Authority Pipeline … 105.12

Thaxted, A Roman Lamp from … 113.10

Thaxted, Goddards Farm … 116.12

Thaxted, rear of 23 Town Street … 115.12

Thaxted, rear of 34 Town Street … 126.16

Thaxted, Weaverhead Lane … 118.16

Thorndon Country Park … 114.4

Thorndon Country Park, Contour Survey … 122.15

Thurrock, Recent Publications from … 116.7

Tidal Defences, Millbeach to Goldhanger, Evaluation … 123.15

Tilbury Fort, Great Armade Pageant at … 102.6

Tiptree, Wilkin & Son, A Fruitful Centenary … 92.13

Tollesbury Wick Marshes, Evaluation … 123.14

Tollesbury, Tollesbury Creek … 120.10

Transactions for Sale … 111.8

Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, From Past … 101.8

Transcripts A Caution … 115.6

Treasure Trove. Law Commission … 102.18

Tufnell, John Jolliffe, Obituary … 110.3

University of Essex History Day Schools … 129.9

University of Essex, Local History at … 123.3

University of Essex, Weekend Residential Course … 128.9

Valence House Museum, Improvements to … 115.6

Victoria County History … 101.8, 106.5, 109.6, 112.2, 115.4, 117.7, 120.4, 121.2, 124.5, 125.3, 126.5, 128.4, 130.5

Victoria County History Committee Report … 117.7

Victoria County History Report … 119.5

Volunteer Finds Processors … 119.11

Wadhams, Mike, Obituary … 111.3

Walkers of Hanningfield … 92.16

Waltham Abbey, Abbey Gardens, Cornmill Stream Footbridge … 110.15

Waltham Abbey, RARDE Site (north) Area P Gunpowder Factory … 119.15

Waltham Abbey, Recent Excavations at … 97.4

Waltham Abbey, South site … 124.15

Waltham Abbey, The Essex Gunpowder Industry and Edge Runner Incorporating Mills … 130.10

Walton on the Naze, Visit to … 97.2

Walton's Cast Iron Roots … 97.3

Wanstead, The Lost Roman Villa at … 91.10

Warley Hospital … 130.20

Warrior Association … 95.11

Wickford, Berne Hall … 128.15

Widdington, Priors Hall, A Pre-Conquest Building … 105.15

Wills, Pilgrim Trust Grant for Essex … 92.15

Wimbish, Parsonage Farm … 123.15, 130.20

Wimbish, Tiptofts Farm, Recorded … 123.15

Witham … 93.10

Witham, 157 Newland Street … 122.15

Witham, Gravel Quarry, Watching Brief … 118.16

Witham, Mike Wadhams and Cocksmiths (22-26 Newland Street) … 111.4

Witham, Mill House, Chipping Hill … 130.19

Witham, Mill Lane … 119.15

Witham, Smallands Farm … 118.15

Woodham Walter Hall … 129.6

Woodham Walter, Excavations at, and an Assessment of Essex Enclosures (Publication) … 100.13

World War II Defences on the East Coast … 116.12, 118.8

Writtle, Birch Spring … 119.16

Writtle, Hylands House … 126.16

Writtle, Hylands Park Ice House … 128.15

Writtle, Kitts Croft … 128.15

Essex Archaeology and History News: Contents #89-130 (3) M-S

M11 Wicken Bonhunt … 118.14

M11 Widening Scheme, Archaeological Evaluation of the Proposed … 117.13

Mabbitt, Kenneth, FSA, Death of … 107.2

Maldon Archaeological Group … 106.3

Maldon Friary … 110.13, 112.14, 113.14

Maldon Millennium Conference 1991, Battle of … 105.3, 109.4, 111.8, 112.3

Maldon Millennium Lecture Series, Battle of … 110.6

Maldon, 39 High Street … 113.14

Maldon, Elmcroft Development … 99.3

Maldon, Maldon Hall Farm … 106.9

Maldon, Mystery Pots from … 105.2

Maldon, New Friends for an Old Library. Thomas Plume's Library .., 102.11

Maldon, Origins of, Publication … 122.9

Manningtree High Street … 112.15

Mansion, The Mystery of the Missing … 92.4

Mapping Project, Essex … 129.13

Mary Rose Lecture … 91.3

Matthews, Early Career of Joachim … 93.13

Medieval Life, A New Magazine of the Middle Ages … 122.9

Mee, But Who Was? … 114.3

Members, New … 89.25, 91.17, 91.17, 92.25

Mid Anglia Conference … 112.6

Morant Dinner, 1984 … 90.3

Morant Dinner, 1985 … 93.4

Morant Dinner, 1986 … 96.1

Morant Dinner, 1990 … 109.3

Morant Dinner, 1991 … 112.2

Morant Dinner, 1992 … 115.4

Morant Lecture, 1985 … 91.3

Morant Lecture, 1986 … 95.2

Morant Lecture, 1987 … 99.1

Morant Lecture, 1988 … 103.3

Morant Lecture, 1991 … 112.6

Morant, The Omnipresent Philip Morant Connections Between Essex and Jersey … 112.10

Museums, Around the … 90.9

New Road Schemes, 1984 … 89.11

Newport … 93.10

Newport, Land adjacent to The Paragon Café … 120.11

Nonsuch Celebrations, Surrey, 1988 … 102.5

Officer Resignations … 119.4

Officers and Council … 115.3

Old Father Thames Visit … 95.4

Ongar Sewerage Scheme … 112.15

Orchard Press … 95.10

Orsett, Welling Road … 122.15

Othona, Excavations at … 117.14

Outings, Reports of … 93.4

Paleaography Course … 106.2, 110.6

Panorama Returns, Thurrock Local History Society … 113.9

Phyfe, Duncan (1768-1854) … 100.5

Pitsea Church … 93.11

Pleshey … 93.11

Pleshey Castle Watching Brief … 118.16

Pleshey Village Hall, Excavation … 100.15

Post Excavation Pottery Processing … 90.7

Prehistoric Pottery … 90.7

President, A Message from the … 100.1

President, John Appleby, Our New … 109.2

President, Our New: W R Powell … 100.1

Presidents Past and Present … 124.2

Pricklowe, The Wll of Nicholas, of Moreton, yeoman (ERO D/AEW 17/76) … 95.12

Programme Committee, Notes from the … 128.2

Programme Committee, Notes from the … 130.3

Programme for 1985 … 90.2, 91.2, 92.2

Programme for 1986 … 93.2, 94.1

Programme for 1987 … 98.1

Programme for 1988 … 102.3

Programme for 1989 … 105.3, 106.2

Programme for 1990 … 107.3, 108.2, 110.3

Programme for 1991 … 111.3

Programme for 1992 … 113.3, 114.3

Programme for 1993 … 116.2, 117.3

Programme for 1994 … 118.2

Programme for 1995 … 122.2

Programme for 1996 … 123.2

Programme for 1997 … 125.2

Publications … 105.13

Publications … 105.13, 107.12, 115.13, 123.9, 126.10

Publications Development Fund … 119.2, 124.2

Publications Development Fund 1992-1998, Paying for Essex History … 129.3

Publications Development Fund, 140th Anniversary … 120.3

Publications Development Fund, Donors to the … 117.2

Publications, New … 94.8, 100.8, 101.7, 102.9, 105.8

Purleigh, A Lost Pottery Kiln at, Rediscovered … 108.13

Quendon Park, Lost mound … 108.15

Quendon Park, Lost mound … 111.16

Rayleigh … 93.10

Rayleigh, Origins of, Publication … 118.9

Rettendon, A130 Stage II … 118.15, 119.14

Rewards of Searching in Dusty Places … 91.5

Rich, Studies of the Career of Robert … 105.6

Rivenhall Church, Investigation at, 1990 … 108.14

Rivenhall Churchyard … 130.19

Rochford and Rochford Hall … 93.10

Rochford Hall … 92.8

Rochford Hospital, Building Survey Phase II … 124.13

Rochford Hospital, Recorded … 123.15

Rochford Hundred, Getting More Out of Local History Philip Benton's History of … 112.7

Rochford, 3 East Street … 128.15

Rochford, Horners Corner … 96.6

Rochford, Millview Meadows … 118.14

Rochford, Origins of, Exhibition … 100.14, 102.13

Rochford, Origins of, Publication … 102.12

Roman Pottery … 90.8

Roxwell, Roxwell Quarry … 128.15

Roydon, Parish Registers, St Peter's Church (ERO D/P 60/1/2&3) … 91.8

Ryan, John, Death of … 130.4

Saffron Walden, 11 Park Lane … 119.14

Saffron Walden, 15 Gibson Close … 123.15

Saffron Walden, 33-35 High Street … 126.16

Saffron Walden, Fairycroft House, Excavations at, 1990 … 109.12

Saffron Walden, Friends School … 118.15

Saffron Walden, Park Lane … 124.13

Saffron Walden, Swan Meadow … 114.8

Salter, John Henry, The Good Doctor of D'Arcy … 102.19

Sampford Society … 90.4

Sandon Church, Watching Brief … 118.16

Sandon Quarry … 118.15

Scandalous Story with a Happy Ending … 117.4

Sellers, John Ezra 1923-1994, Obituary … 120.2

Shelley, Tithe Award 1837 … 128.9

Shenfield, St Marys Church extension to graveyard … 119.16

Sible Hedingham … 115.12

Sites and Monuments Record … 89.14

Sites and Monuments Record, Computerisation of the … 98.7

Smither, Philip A, Obituary … 108.2

SMR Progress and Development … 127.11

Society 100 Years Ago, The … 127.5, 128.9, 129.11

Society and County News … 90.3

Society Display, New … 124.2

Society Events … 89.2, 95.2, 96.1, 97.2

Society News … 91.3, 92.3

Society Officers … 89.25, 90.17

South Benfleet, Land to the rear of the Hoy and Helmet public house … 122.15

South East Essex Archaeological Society … 102.16

South Ockendon Hall Moat … 96.5

South Weald Camp … 111.16

Southend , Warner's Bridge … 124.13

Southend Museum Disovery Centre … 130.13

Southend Museum News … 89.15

Southend Museum, Recent Acquistion … 96.12

Southend on Sea Museum, Medieval Pilgrims Ampulla … 100.11

Southend, Fox Hall Farm … 114.7

Southend, New Record Office at … 123.8

Southend, Warner's Bridge … 124.13

Southminster Sewerage Scheme … 121.14

Spains Hall, Visit to … 92.3

Spalding, Frederick, photographs … 94.2

Sporting Essex … 112.9

Springfield Cursus … 94.11

Springfield Excavation Project … 89.8

Springfield Lyons … 93.9, 111.16

Springfield Lyons, The Bronze Age and Saxon Settlement at, An Interim Report … 100.13, 102.12

Springfield Project … 98.5

Springfield, Marconi School of Wireless, Recording … 130.20

Spy In The Sky … 116.7

St Aylott … 126.6

Stanford le Hope Pipeline… 121.14

Stansted Airport … 93.14, 94.11, 98.6

Stansted Airport Catering Site, Excavation … 100.14

Stansted Airport Expansion, Archaeology and … 90.16

Stansted Mountfitchet, Society Visit to Hole Farm and Hassobury Manor … 130.11

Stansted Project ... 96.7, 102.15, 103.9, 104.12, 105.12, 106.11

Stansted Project CIS Site (Car Park I) … 109.13

Stanway, Warrior Burial at … 116.9

Stebbing Church … 93.11

Stebbing Church, Watching Brief … 118.16

Stebbing, A Roman Mill at Blake Hall Farm … 104.13

Stebbing, Church Vestry or Chapel? … 119.9

Stebbingford … 118.13

Stock, Crondon Park … 114.8

Stondon Massey Church … 115.10

Stour Barge Restoration Project … 92.17

Stour Valley Steam, Visit to … 93.4

Strict Baptist and Calvinistic Indpendent Churches Archives … 119.9

Studies in Essex History … 113.7

Suffrage Centenary, NZ/UK New Zealand … 121.5

Essex Archaeology and History News: Contents #89-130 (2) E-L

Earls Colne, Colne Priory … 121.15

East Anglian Archaeology … 107.8

East Anglian Archaeology Publications, Happy Birthday … 107.8

East Tilbury, Coalhouse Fort, Visit to … 89.4

Editor, Paul Gilman, Farewell from … 130.20

Editorial … 89.1, 90.1, 91.1, 92.1, 93.1, 96.1, 97.1

Education Programme … 122.10, 123.10

Elmstead, More Wall Paintings, Parish Church of St Laurence and St Anne … 117.8

Elsenham, Pyxis Preserved … 113.15

Elsenham, Tye Green … 120.11

Entente Cordiale … 116.10, 123.9

Environmental Exhibition 90 … 108.4

Epping, Old Copped Hall Excavation … 89.9

Erith, Felix FSA, Obituary … 112.2, 113.2

ESAH Committees … 118.5

Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress Symposium, 1992 … 115.6

Essex Archaeology and History, Periodical Literature in, 1985 … 98.13

Essex Archaeology and History, Volume 26 (1995) … 123.3

Essex Archaeology and History, Volume 27 (1996) … 125.3

Essex Archaeology Book List … 94.7

Essex Book List … 96.9

Essex County Council Archaeology Section, Help Wanted … 99.3

Essex Heritage Trust … 106.13, 109.3

Essex Heritage Year 1989 … 103.14, 104.16, 105.10, 106.13, 107.5

Essex Historic Buildings Group … 99.6

Essex History Fair … 96.2

Essex History Fair 1991 … 111.7

Essex History Fair 1995 … 122.2

Essex History Fair: Hedingham Castle … 94.2

Essex History Symposium, 1987 … 98.2

Essex Journal … 108.6, 116.8

Essex News … 93.6, 95.6

Essex Numismatic Society … 130.12

Essex Place Names Project … 124.3, 125.4, 126.2, 127.1, 128.3, 130.4

Essex Place Names Project Seminar … 125.16

Essex Record Office … 99.7

Essex Record Office 50th Anniversary … 103.13

Essex Record Office Colchester Lectures … 90.4

Essex Record Office: Developments in Colchester … 89.7

Essex Sound Archive … 105.10

Exhibitions, Forthcoming … 107.7

Fairlop Quarry, London Borough of Redbridge … 128.14

Faulkborne, Visit to … 96.2

Field Archaeology Group … 125.14, 129.15

Field Archaeology Group, results 1997 … 127.14

Fieldwalking in Wessex … 110.4

Films from the East Anglian Film Archive, Essex … 127.2

Folk Song in Essex, Forgotten History … 118.3

Forthcoming Events … 96.3, 98.2, 100.3, 103.6, 105.4, 114.2

Forthcoming Exhibitions … 110.6, 105.13

Fortress Essex, Publication … 122.9

Foulness Island, The Signal House … 92.9

Frating Green Business Park … 119.16

Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust … 94.3

From The President … 101.1, 102.1, 103.1, 104.1, 105.1, 106.1, 107.1, 108.1, 109.1, 110.1, 111.1, 112.1, 113.1, 114.1, 115.1, 116.1, 117.1, 118.1, 119.1, 120.1, 121.1, 122.1, 123.1, 124.1, 125.1, 126.1, 127.1, 128.1, 129.1, 130.1

Gill, Eric, in Essex … 122.5

Gobel, Betty, Obituary … 129.2

Goldhanger, Chigborough Farms … 103.8, 106.8, 107.11

Gosfield Hall, Visit to … 129.7

Graphics / Illustrators Group … 118.11, 121.10, 122.14, 123.13, 126.13

Gray, Vic, Retirement of … 116.4

Grays Thurrock, Parker Road … 123.15

Grays Thurrock, Where was Vaughans Close? … 119.7

Grays, Blackshotts Lane … 119.15

Great Braxted, A Possible Roman Road at … 101.11

Great Bromley, Book News from … 115.9

Great Burstead and Henham, In the Balance Wall Paintings at … 105.14

Great Chesterford Geophysical Survey … 125.15

Great Chesterford Post excavation Project … 124.13, 128.16

Great Chesterford Village Hall … 126.15

Great Chesterford, Carmen Street, Watching Brief … 122.16

Great Chesterford, South Street … 107.12

Great Dunmow, Buildings Farm … 116.12, 118.13

Great Horkesley, A Deformed Childe at, AD 1562 … 125.5

Great Leighs, A131 Bypass … 121.14

Great Sampford , Shillingstone … 126.15

Great Sampford History Day … 122.2

Great Totham, Howells Farm … 109.11

Great Viaduct, The … 108.4

Great Wakering, Alexandra Road … 120.10, 121.13

Great Wakering, Primary Iron Age Pottery from … 89.15

Great Wakering, St Nicholas Church proposed graveyard extension … 128.14

Great Yeldham … 105.11

Hadstock Church Survey … 125.15

Hadstock, Holy Well or modern Plumbing? … 119.7

Halstead Area Mains Replacement … 111.13

Harlow, Brenthall Park … 107.9

Harlow, Church Langley … 115.12

Harlow, Fullers Mead … 118.16

Harlow, Harlowbury … 111.14

Harlow, Old House Site … 112.12

Harwich, Bathside Bay … 112.13

Harwich, Bathside Bay Battery … 117.15

Harwich, Bathside General Battery … 109.15

Harwich, George Street … 94.11

Harwich, Origins of, Publication … 103.11

Harwich, The Lost Battery at Bathside Bay … 110.12

Hatchlands Book Prize … 107.2

Hatfield Broad Oak, Visit to … 106.4

Hatfield Heath to Matching Tye Rising Main … 125.15

Hatfield Peverel, Sandford Quarry … 120.9

Hatfield Peverel, Visit to … 93.5, 100.5

Helions Bumpstead … 115.14

Heritage Record … 129.12

Heron Hall, The More Family Group at … 125.7

Heybridge Hall … 112.13

Heybridge, Elms Farm … 118.14, 119.14, 120.8, 121.13

Heybridge, Lofts Farm … 92.5

Heybridge, Saltcote Mill … 126.15

Heybridge, Slough Hall Farm … 104.12, 106.9, 109.12

Heybridge, The Elms Farm Archaeological Project Visitor Centre … 120.11, 121.6

Hickes-Maynard Correspondence … 95.9

High Easter, Great Garnetts. An Essex Dovecote Re-discovered … 104.9

Horndon on the Hill, Mill Land and High Road … 124.13

How A Set of Transactions Ended The War … 107.3

Hullbridge Survey Project … 89.9, 93.9

Hullbridge, Willow Pond Farm … 128.14

Hyland, Nora, Remembered … 123.5

Hyland, Stanley, Obituary … 125.2

Ilford, Excavations at Uphall Camp Iron Age Site in, by The Passmore Edwards Museum … 101.12

Index, Essex Archaeology and History News, Nos. 119 to 129 … 130.7

Index, Essex Archaeology and History News, Nos. 96 to 118 … 121.2

Industrial Archaeology in Essex, Conference, 1995 … 123.8

Intertidal Sites, Monitoring of … 129.13

Kelvedon … 92.7

Kelvedon Hatch, Visit to Kelvedon Hall … 128.10

Kelvedon, Doucecroft Site … 92.7

Kelvedon, Garden Bungalow … 125.15

Kelvedon, rear of Lawn House … 125.15

Kelvedon, Sawyers Yard Site … 92.7

Landscape Change in East Anglia 1750-1850 … 128.7

Landscape, The Essex, In Search of Its History … 123.3

Langford, Langford Hall Farm … 123.14

Langham Church … 93.11, 126.15

Layer Marney Church … 93.11

Lectures .. 108.4

Leez Priory and the Calling of the Long Parliament … 126.8

Letters to the Editor … 90.12, 91.5, 92.18, 93.8, 94.9, 96.11, 97.6, 98.10, 100.23, 105.16, 109.6, 117.3, 120.6, 122.7, 123.4, 126.6

Librarians Report .., 108.10

Librarians Report … 93.20, 99.5, 100.7, 101.6, 108.10, 110.9, 111.8, 112.9, 113.6, 119.4, 120.5

Library Leak … 90.4

Library Notes … 91.16, 94.10, 102.9, 107.13, 109.15, 115.10, 116.8, 117.10, 118.2, 123.5

Liston Church … 93.11

Little Bardfield, land adjacent St Katherines Church … 125.15

Little Bentley, Hall Farm … 126.15

Little Braxted Hall … 130.19

Little Holland Church … 103.11

Little Tey, Memento More. Wall Paintings at … 106.5

Little Totham Church … 93.12

Little Wenham and Polstead, Suffolk, Visit to … 89.5

Lloyds Bank Fund … 108.4

Local Government Reorganisation in Essex … 118.7

Local History Recorders … 119.11

Local History, Where next in? … 129.4

London Area Pottery Research Group … 102.8

London, Roman, Recent Archaeological Results from the City … 124.4

Lucas, Sir Charles, Our Fall Our Fame The Life and Times of … 123.5

Lydd, Kent, A Romano British Salt Working Site at … 130.12