Published 24 Nov 2021
As many of you may know, Aubrey Bailey wrote a book called “Tutbury – In Burgo Circa Castellum – The Borough About the Castle”.
It was in three “Parts” (or booklets) published at different times and copies are in the Museum.
The first two “Parts” are (short) tales and anecdotes about people in the village, possibly meaningful mostly to long established Tutbury residents who will recognise the characters, less interesting maybe to those who have arrived in later years. These two parts can only be found in the Museum or private hands – they are not available to purchase.
This Third “Part” (booklet) is different and consists of four sections.
The first section is A possible Guide for Visitors – Ancient Sites and Monuments in Tutbury (about a dozen in all) loosely in the form of a guide (the Market Hall, The Guildhall, the Dump etc.).
The second section is “Diary of a Thousand years” – 20 pages of events in or around Tutbury or which had an effect on Tutbury over the last 1,000 years – quite an effort to create I would think!
The third section is called “Some More Stories” and is a continuation of the first two ‘Parts’ published earlier.
The fourth section is “Treasure Thoughts” and is a collection of poems and prayers.
This third “Part” (booklet) is also available in the Museum – it was published posthumously in 1985 by Aubrey’s family – unfortunately in its original form it is difficult to read being A5 and about 8pt font.
To try to give it a wider audience by making it more readable, with agreement from Aubrey’s daughter Colleen Benson, we have scanned and OCRed it and created it in A4 in a readable font size. We (and others) have also added a few items to the Thousand Year Diary.
The primary intent is to supply it to the Museum, so that visitors could read it, and to Colleen in memory of her father.
It has subsequently occurred to us that others might be interested in seeing it so we thought we would ask around before we got it printed.
The price will depend on how many want a copy but I would expect the 70 page book to be about £7.50.
We plan to order from the printers this week so please let me know if you would like a copy by midday Friday 26th November – remember, it will be available to read in Tutbury Museum from next spring when it reopens.
Please use the contact form below o order a copy
It must be emphasised that it is not a picture book of historical images. To give you an indication of what is in the book, there are some extracts below:
Section 1 – A possible Guide for Visitors
The site of The Guildhall was, where now is, The Duke Street car park, little is known of this building, but we must remember that in those far-off days, practically all organisations had a Guild, like The Guild of Blacksmiths, The Guild of Archers and so on, and were probably the forerunners of present day unions.
Moving on into Fishpond Lane, mentioned earlier, and of interest to those who hunt game or conies, legally or illegally, take a look at ‘Peggers Rest’ written about elsewhere, the home of Joey Hood and his Merry Men. This is now Number 14 Fishpond Lane the home of Mr. John Hewitt.
Section 2 – Thousand Year Diary
|
1836 |
Expansion of the Ludgate Street Glassworks factory, including construction of a furnace and cone for the manufacture of glass for the first time |
|
1838 |
This year saw the building of the Wesleyan Chapel in High Street |
|
1838 |
Robert Bland appointed Vicar of the Priory Church |
|
1838 |
J. C. Staton & Co. Ltd commenced the extraction of gypsum from the mines at Fauld |
|
1843 |
Henry John Peach appointed Vicar of the Priory Church |
|
1848 |
The Tutbury Jinny commenced the service between Tutbury and Burton upon Trent |
|
1849 |
The gallery in The Independent Chapel in Monk Street, was added, dedicated the same year |
|
1850 circa |
The Misses Parrick established a Private School for young ladies, on the upper floor of No 34 High Street, known as The Warren |
Section 3 Some More Stories
Being personally acquainted with this particular Doctor, to whom I dedicate this story, I can vouch for its authenticity, it was recounted to me by the perpetrator, none other, with some trepidation, and some satisfaction.
Let me explain, this Doctor friend was a keen gardener and a first class shot, which, to a small degree, made us kindred spirits, as you will appreciate a little later on.
There was this ‘Ginger Tom’, a big, ugly, randy devil if ever there was one, his head and ears were scarred from the many battles with rival Toms within the village. But – he had a way with the ladies which very quickly brought about submission. His regular stamping ground was, yes, you guessed it, the Doctor’s garden. As the Doc. put it, it wasn’t so much the holes he dug, but what he left in it, and we all know what a roistering Tom can do in a well laid out flower bed
Section 4 – Treasure Thoughts
Lord, suffer me to catch a fish
So large, that even I
When telling of it afterwards,
Will have no need to lie.
