Langham Village History Group
The History Group was formed following the Langham 2000 exhibition to develop work already
undertaken, by investigating some of the issues that had come to light.
The first group project was a study of the period 1841 – 1881 to investigate the reasons for
population growth in the village during that time, against a background of most other villages
declining. This involved transcribing and collating the 1841, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91 & 1901 census
returns and analysing the data.
(The returns are now freely available on this web site in a fully searchable format.)
The tithe map & apportionment data for the village were mapped electronically and this data is also
available on the website.
Individual members have continued to work on their own particular interest areas adding to the
wealth of information that the group has in its archive.
In 2006 an award of £23,000 was made by the Heritage Lottery Fund to research
The Life and Families of 17th Century Langham. The project commenced in September 2006 and
culminated in an exhibition and book launch in May 2009.
Professor Alan Rogers, our mentor, advised on research methodology; collection and sharing of
information and the preparation of written material. Members chose their research topics from a
pre-prepared list. These included: Agriculture, Trades & Occupations, Finance & Taxation, Health,
Charities, Education & Learning, Homes & Furnishings, Costume, Food, The Role of Women,
Transport, Roads and Tracks, Maps, The Church, Buildings and a Time Line.
Our work has included the transcription of one hundred and forty eight wills and thirty inventories,
the transcription of our Parish Records of the period and detailed study of leases and documents
from the Gainsborough estate, Westminster Abbey and elsewhere.
In undertaking their research members have visited: Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Record
Office; Northampton Record Office; Lincoln Record Office; Westminster Abbey Library; The British
Library; Leicester University Library; Cambridge University Library; Oakham School Library;
Loughborough Library; Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Library; London &
Metropolitan Archive; Public Record Office, Kew; Loughborough Bell Foundry; Donnington le Heath
Manor; Gainsborough Old Hall; Rutland County Library; Rutland County Museum; Oliver Cromwell’s
House at Ely; Laxton (Notts); Numerous churches & seventeenth century houses;
Tallow Chandlers’ Hall, London.
Group study sessions have included: Palaeography; Using Information Technology; Extracting
information from Parish Records; Dendrochronology; Maps and the Landscape; Village Buildings;
Introduction to Field Walking; Langham's Medieval Fields; The Archaeological History of Langham
Church; Langham and St Helen.
It has become increasingly evident that there is far more to research than we could possibly have
imagined and that, without a deadline, the project could have run for at least another two years. As
it is, areas for continuing research have already been identified.
During the course of the project the group has also been involved in: The publication of a
Village Walk leaflet; the translation of the Manor Court Rolls 1486 to 1546; the identification of the
11th century churchyard cross; the locating and dating a high status 15th century house.
