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How we started
The participants
The pleasure principle
The end result
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The participants
Location: Essex
Almost all those involved were amateur or new historians, enthusiastic, generous, willing to acquire new skills and bring them into play. With a very few exceptions all were local.
Unlike most books, which are designed from the outset with content and length in mind, authors, illustrators and photographers who can be commissioned, given deadlines, and paid for doing specific tasks, we had no idea of what we would find, who or how many our contributors would be. But this became a project strength; differing approaches, deep seams of talent and the colour of different voices has given richness and texture; co-operation and sharing has lent depth. The wide demographic base displayed and ensured a sense of universal ownership of the project.
The two leaders who delineated particular roles between themselves from early days and liaised almost daily sharing information and progress meant that leadership was tenable for a long period of time (the project lasted three years) and also ensured mutual support.
A change in circumstances of one leader, whilst obviously imposing a greater burden on the other would not therefore jeopardize the whole project. Where so many people were involved absolute and long term commitment was necessary from the project leaders to drive it, publicize it, help the participants and ensure that all the steps were taken, safely, legally, on time, without going into debt and to the highest possible standards within the confines of the funding, at the same time conforming to the requirements of the funder.
Logistics were considered, for instance lifts were offered to the ERO to non-drivers, copying was undertaken for those without ease of transport
Help and co-ordination
Advice from many local historians, and experts, the museum curators, Essex Record Office and its Saffron Walden branch of it, as well as the Town Library librarians was sought and gladly received. Learning from them to do a job, i.e. historical research, which was completely new to all of us except for two (not the leaders), was a steep learning curve.
Liaison between participants was done within a sociable context and the meetings were held in each other’s houses, which added interest to the occasions. This was essential; as the project got under way the meetings, initially monthly, became bi monthly for a period to give an extra particular study, that of House History (Littlebury has many very ancient houses) enough time. All meetings were carefully minuted for both progress and information.
Every member was invited to speak or give a progress report within this informal context. Email became a valuable tool for the sharing of information, sharing was a key aid to the preparation of the book and added to the pleasure - and excitement - of acquiring knowledge.
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