1583 (OS): Lancelot Russell, the son of Lancelot Russell senior, was baptised at Harwich St Nicholas. The name "Lancelot", like Josian, was one of those rare, localised forenames, which occasionally cropped up in Harwich around this time, but was usually associated with the Russell family. 1912: The edition of "The Builder" from this date explains: … Continue reading On This Day: March 22
The Bridges of Harwich
The WordPress #WordPrompt of the month for March 2022 is "Bridge". Bridges aren't all that typical in the Harwich area (Phoenix Bridge excepted), and since we're all still waiting on a Shotley one to be constructed, it would make sense to turn to another interpretation, that of the surname. Now, this will not be too … Continue reading The Bridges of Harwich
Christopher Jones: A Memorial
Four hundred years ago, on March 5 1622, Christopher Jones, master of the Mayflower, was buried at the church of St Mary in Rotherhithe. Much as with Sir Anthony Deane, as no record of Jones' birth or baptism dates exist, we must use the one day we know for certain as an anniversary date, to … Continue reading Christopher Jones: A Memorial
The Instagrammability of Harwich
Bear with me. When it comes to discussions of local tourism, of architecture, of photography, one structure stands out, quite literally - Dovercourt Low Lighthouse. While lighthouses in Harwich & Dovercourt in general are often looked at with intrigue, it is this one short, distant beacon in particular that draws people to it. Occasionally there … Continue reading The Instagrammability of Harwich
Query: Why Did Christopher Jones Not Write A Will?
One of the more frustrating missing pieces of the Mayflower puzzle is the lack of an extant will of her master, Christopher Jones. While it would not have necessarily offered any clues as to the vessel's overall ownership, it is likely it would have included some useful information, such as family leads, and work colleagues. … Continue reading Query: Why Did Christopher Jones Not Write A Will?
Detailing the 1997 General Election
In a previous post, I wrote about the 1997 General Election, in relation to Harwich, largely from the perspective of the Referendum Party, drawing on the benefit of hindsight and the events of the 2016 EU Referendum. Due to the current political situation, and to being in a particularly graph-y mood, I shall look back … Continue reading Detailing the 1997 General Election
A Corner of Dovercourt High Street
The mid-Victorian era saw the start of a dramatic change to Dovercourt, and the Main Road through it. With developments such as Orwell Terrace and the area around the Mission Hall, as well as two public houses in the shape of the King's Arms and Queen's Head (later Queen's Hotel), increased footfall meant commercial potential. … Continue reading A Corner of Dovercourt High Street
On This Day: January 19
1549: As recounted by Len Weaver in The Harwich Story, Nicholas Diggens of Limehouse wrote a letter to the vicar in 1609, within which he stated he was baptised at Harwich on this date, and left an annual gift of £4 to the poor. Diggens was an Elder Brother of Trinity House. 1843: Captain John … Continue reading On This Day: January 19
Sarah Twitt: A Brief Sketch
Sarah Twitt (regularly written as Sara in contemporary sources) was baptised on October 28 1576, the daughter of Thomas Twitt and Josian Twitt. In fact, she was one of twins, her sister Bridget Twitt (Brigitta) also being baptised that day. Sarah would write herself into the history books for two reasons: One for being the … Continue reading Sarah Twitt: A Brief Sketch
The Irlams of Earlham’s Beach
Earlham's Beach has long been considered a hidden gem of Dovercourt's coastline, being just far enough out of the way for the average tourist not to notice, but close enough for the average resident to visit and enjoy. But why the name Earlham, where does it come from, and why is an obscure beach named … Continue reading The Irlams of Earlham’s Beach
Harwicensis 