Announcing Release of Proper People as eBook

Following numerous requests from the public I am pleased to announce that digital versions of Proper People. Early Asylum Life in the Words of Those Who Were There are now available to pre-order on Amazon, iTunes Store and Kobo priced at £9.99.  They will be delivered from 1st November 2016.

Speaking Engagements in 2017

Some years ago I realised that mental asylum records have the potential to enable we family historians to explore an almost untapped source of first hand information about our ancestors. Registers of asylum patients are slowly becoming available through the subscription websites and if the genealogist is lucky enough to find a match, they must then examine any surviving archives for more information. That is where they might just find that "gold nugget"........ as I did!

It is always a pleasure to take that message to other family historians so I am particularly delighted to announce five new Family History Society (FHS) speaking engagements that have recently been confirmed for next year. Huddersfield and District FHS, Chesterfield and District FHS, Rotherham FHS, Harrogate and District FHS and the Oldham branch of Manchester and Lancashire FHS have all booked dates when I will be delivering my illustrated presentation "Early Asylum Life". My aim is to take the audience back in time to experience what life was really like for inmates of an early 19th century county asylum by using material gleaned from the fascinating archives of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum, Wakefield. In doing so I am also demonstrating just what might be found in an ancestor's case notes.

All Family History Societies welcome visitors who usually pay a small entrance fee so if you fancy coming along to one of those events I'm sure that we'd all be very pleased to see you.

My calendar for next year is now as follows:

Wakefield Local and Family History Network	The Learning Zone, Library Main Floor, Wakefield One, Burton St, Wakefield, WF1 2EB	1.30pm, Monday 23rd January
Morley Family History Society	St Mary's in the Wood, Commercial Street, Morley, LS27 8HY	7.30pm, Wednesday 1st February
Huddersfield and District Family History Society	Town Hall, Ramsden Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TA	7.30pm, Tuesday 7th February
East Yorkshire Family History Society	Carnegie Heritage Centre, 342 Anlaby Rd, Hull, HU3 6JA	7pm, Tuesday 21st March
Ossett Historical Society	Trinity Centre, Church Street, Ossett, WF5 8ET	7.30pm, Monday 27th March
Chesterfield and District Family History Society	St Hugh’s RC Church, Littlemoor, Chesterfield, S41 8QP	7.30pm, Tuesday 4th April
Garforth Probus Club	Garforth Working Men’s Club, Barley Hill Rd, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1AU	10.30am, Wednesday 5th July
Bradford Family History Society	Glyde House, Little Horton Lane, Bradford, BD5 0BQ	10am, Thursday 6thJuly
Rotherham Family History Society	The Liberty Church, Station Road, Masbrough, Rotherham, S60 1JH	7pm, Thursday 6th July
Mexborough and District Probus Club	Swinton House Club, 20 Fitzwilliam St, Swinton, Rotherham S64 8RG	10.30am, Tuesday 15th August
Harrogate and District Family History Society	St Paul’s UR Church Hall, Belford Road, Harrogate, HG1 1JA	7.30pm, Tuesday 19th September
Upper Dales Family History Group	Harmby Village Hall, Brook Terrace, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5PG	2pm, Wednesday 27th September
Oldham Branch, Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society	Gallery Oldham, Oldham Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street, Oldham, OL1 1AL	2pm, Saturday 14th October

If you would like to discuss engaging me as a speaker for your club or society please contact me on david@scrimgeour.biz.

 

Patient's "Drone" View of West Riding Lunatic Asylum

We now almost take for granted the ability to capture aerial photographs from a remotely controlled drone buzzing its way above our streets and buildings. Back in 1861, one talented inmate from Leeds was able to visualise what the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum would look like from a point several hundred feet in the air above and like the drone pilot today, his feet never even left the ground. With no digital photographs to work from he then captured his vision in a drawing which would be certified for its accuracy by the County Surveyor of the West Riding himself.

I first saw a print of that drawing in the Mental Health Museum in Wakefield some years ago. As someone who cannot draw to save himself, I was particularly impressed with the skill displayed to produce such an accurate view.

The artist, James WALKER, does appear in Proper People but I have today posted an article on my Early Asylum Life blog which explores his amazing drawing in considerably more detail. You'll perhaps imagine yourself flying through the Wakefield sky 155 years ago.

Enjoy!