The project will focus on the Langham village community circa 1624 by researching, collating and recording information on the families, their antecedents, their livelihoods and land ownership. Descendants of some families still live in the village. Therefore, it is important that the heritage of the village is preserved for posterity. This project will build upon the great interest already shown by the community, that has been engendered by the Langham Village History Group (LVHG) by way of its regular public exhibitions, published booklets on the history of Langham and articles included in the Langham News which is distributed free, every 2 months, to every house in the parish.
The project, led by the LVHG, will involve the numerous village groups, church, local school and the wider community. Throughout the heritage project the training, research and documentation undertaken will ensure a continual process of learning, appreciation and improvement of knowledge by all those concerned.
The result of all the work carried out will be published in written form. This publication will promote awareness and understanding by the villagers and wider community of today and will become an historical document of Langham's heritage for those that follow.
The group will also take into consideration the following information and bring together its research into a central repository rather than the multitude of locations at present:
Continuity of Land Ownership, Hearth Tax, Lay Subsidy, Muster Rolls, Manor Court Rolls, Calendar Rolls, Patent Rolls, Close Rolls, Fines Rolls, Assize Records, Westminster Abbey Records, Arch Deaconry Records, Church Courts, and Registers, Charities (some of which are still active in the village today), property deeds and leasing records. There are a variety of wills from the period which provide a snapshot of family life and rural economy.
All this should assist in identifying who were the power brokers and the moneyed and give a cross section of life in a rural community during this period. The village also has strong connections with the North American Continent at this time.
