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Ratby Local History Group
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Our group formed in December 2000, we have a constitution and, currently, approximately 50 members.
Every 2 months we produce "Ratby Local History Group Newsletter" which is distributed to group members and is available from the local library. |
| Contact Details:
Ratby Local History Group
C/O Doug Harwood (Chair)
8, Groby Road,
Ratby,
Leicestershire
LE6 OLJ
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Phone: 0116 2394168
Email: doug.harwood@virgin.net
Website: http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/rlhg
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| Meeting Details:
We hold open meetings at Ratby Village Hall, Main Street, Ratby.
New members are always welcome.
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Group interests/Previous projects & events
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1. Fieldwalking:
One of Ratby’s special features is a rectangular ramparted encampment, called Bury Camp. There is still controversy about whether this originated in Iron Age or Roman times. Also, the projected Roman road from Leicester to Chester is thought to pass through the parish. 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, to help answer these questions. |
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:
In 2002 photographs and artefacts of “Ratby in 1952/3” were displayed in the Parish Church, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2003 and 2004 photographs and biographical details of "Men who served in World War I" were displayed in the Church for remembrance Sunday. |
7. Publications:
Our first book: "History of Ratby No. 1" ed. by Doug Harwood has now been published (July 2004). It contains 110 pages and c.80 photos, maps and drawings. It costs £8 and includes articles on the following topics:
a) "Memories of Desford Lane Corner: 1920-1945” compiled by Arthur Stevenson and Doug Harwood;
b) “Samuel Deacon: clockmaker and son of Ratby” by Arthur Stevenson;
c) “The Story of Railways in Ratby” by H. Gamble ;
d) "Personal recollections of Ratby's Railways" compiled by Doug Harwood ;
e) "Ratby in 1770: on the eve of the Enclosure Act" by Doug Harwood.
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8. World Wars Project:
We are currently collecting biographical and photographic data on all those Ratby people who served in World War I and World War 2, so that a permanent record can be displayed in the Parish Church.
If you can help, please contact Doug Harwood at doug.harwood@virgin.net |
9. National Forest Information Board:
We are currently applying for funds to erect an information board to publicise footpaths and places of historical interest in the western part of Ratby Parish. |
10. Involvement in local planning issues, which affect Ratby's heritage
e.g.
a) a report on heritage issues relating to proposed plans to develop the former Pear Tree Farm, Ratby.
b) Report on plans to develop a site adjacent to Ratby's Conservation Area.
c) Comments to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council about Ratby's place in the Borough's recent "Landscape Character Assessment" Proposals. |
Current projects
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1. A second book: "History of Ratby: No. 2” is currently being planned. It will include a selection of articles from the following:
a) Ratby's Enclosure Act of 1770 and its effects upon the present landscape.
b) Memories of Church Lane and Chapel Lane in Ratby.
c) The History of Geary's Bakery: 1906-2006.
d) The Toil and Trouble of a Ratby Schoolmaster: 1875-79.
e) The Story of Omnibus Transport in Ratby.
f) Memories of Ratby in the 1930s.
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| 2. See also items 8 & 9 above.
If you can offer any help with these topics, please get in touch with Ratby Local History Group via the Guestbook or doug.harwood@virgin.net
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3. Programme of Meetings for 2006:
All those interested in finding out more about Ratby’s past will be very welcome. Meetings will take place on Friday evenings in the Village Hall, beginning at 7.30 pm. The charge per meeting will be £1 for members and £2.50p for non-members. Meetings will be free for those in full-time education.
The Programme for 2006 includes the following:
- Fri. 31st March 2006: Rhiannydd Murray: “History of the Hosiery
Industry in the Hinckley Area”;
ff. by a “Ratby Short” on Ratby’s Hosiery Industry.
A visit to the Wigston Framework Knitters Museum will be organised to follow shortly after this event.
- Fri. 19th May 2006: Michael Ball: “Ratby in the Age of Revolutions: from
1605 onwards: Part 2”
- Sat. 17th June 2006: Summer Outing to be arranged.
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Renewal of Membership:
Will take place at the first meeting on 30th September 2005. The annual membership fee is £6 per person. The fee helps us to pay for the hire of the village hall, speaker’s fees, costs of building an archive of Ratby’s people and places. All members will receive a newsletter every two months. |
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