The Local History Group

The Group

The Bishop Wilton Local History Group was formed in August 2002 with a wide range of interests spanning the recent and the more ancient past. As well as conducting on-going research, we record the memories of current residents, where possible, along with those of the descendents of former residents.

Specific areas of research include: the site of the Archbishop of York’s former Palace; the site of the Manor House; St Edith’s Church; the village as depicted in old postcards; repopulating the village from the census returns to show who lived where; family histories of current and former residents.

Special Publications

NEW - Certain Special Publications have been made available for on-line viewing via a website called Issuu. There is now a specific page giving acces to such on-line publications here or via the Online Publications link in the navigation bar.

The Blog

RELATIVELY NEW - There is a blog at www.bwlocalhistory.blogspot.com. Watch this for "up to the minute" information on what is emerging. We should have started this years ago! Remember that it is in chronological order with the most recent entry at the top.

The Bulletin

As of May 2011, 20 Local History Bulletins will have been produced - now with 30+ pages and a circulation peaking at 100. In all around 600 pages of history have been published. The first 12 Bulletins were published quarterly, this was extended to every six months (subject to contributions being available!). Bulletin 19 took 9 months to assemble and Bulletin 20 took 18 months!. Bulletin 20 is the last of the regular editions! New material will be publshed on this website when it becomes available.

The Bulletin is only available in printed form at the moment. But a mailing list is maintained and you can email (see contact link below) requesting details of the payment required for receipt of a posted copy of the Bulletin. Back copies of all editions are also available.

RELATIVELY NEW - To help with your choice of back copies, an index of editions 1 to 18 is available for download here in PDF format:

Please note that you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to be able to read this Index.

Some articles will be provided as extracts from the Bulletin in PDF format (especially where there are extensive footnotes). The first of these explores the reason for Bishop Wilton Church being dedicated to St Edith of Wilton.

Talks & Meetings

Talks & meetings are in abeyance at the moment.

Exhibitions

We have had numerous exhibitions over the years and our archives are bulging. Up until 2007, one of these used to take place on the day of the Bishop Wilton Show but we have had to withdraw from that in order to concentrate on events in the village.

The Website

This website has proved very popular in putting us in contact with the descendents of past residents of Bishop Wilton.

The website's colour scheme isn't popular with everyone but it was chosen to represent the village's natural setting and its connection with the Archbishops of York.

The Guided Tour

A guided tour of the village has been devised that covers what has been learnt so far about the village’s history. Based on this it is hoped that a brochure (plus an online equivalent) can be produced which would be for sale in the village so visitors can guide themselves.

As a subset of this, we now have a tour of the perimeter of the former Palace site of the Archbishops of York. Even current village residents are unsure about its significance and the date of its use so the tour serves to inform them so they can explain things to their visitors.

Feedback

Feedback is welcomed concerning the content and design of this website. You will receive special attention if you can offer material relating to our area (e.g. old photos, memories, family history) for publication in our Bulletin or for display at one of our exhibitions.

A Plea!

We have been particularly in need of medieval Latin scholars who could help us transcribe & translate old documents from the 14th to 16th Centuries. But we are pleased to say that we have had two experts respond to this plea and we are currently up to date. In fact the last expert made such rapid progress that we are still trying to catch up!

1978 Exhibition

Thirty years ago three of the people currently involved in the Local History Group got together to mount an exhibition of memorabilia. A slideshow of photographs in black and white from that event are displayed here: