OU on the BBC: History Detectives - A head and a racing car

photos.com

The cases

Carol Poole was metal detecting and unearthed an exquisitely detailed fob and chain. The profile of a man’s head is carved in amethyst on the fob. Jeevan Deol is able to reveal the name behind the face and uncover how his story fits into the rapidly-evolving land-ownership of England.

Judith Smythe found some faded photographs in a presentation box in her grandfather’s workshop. One shows him hurtling round a racetrack in a racing car, seated next to the driver. Claire Barratt's investigations reveal a wonderful story of social mobility, at the moment that defined our future love affair with the motor car.

The clues

(some resources that the History Detectives used in the programme)

The Amethyst Head

Links

The family tree of the Standish families of Standish and Duxbury – shows the line of descent of the Lords (and Ladies) of the Standish Manor.

The National Archives Access to Archives Database
to access references to material relating to the Strickland, Standish and Bindlosse Families.

The National Archives have a research guide entitled "Domestic Records Information 30" which provides a brief history of seals, their uses, their variety and their ownership.

Documents

The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Lancashire, Vol.8 pp.170-177
Farrer, W and Brownbill, J, (eds) 1914 but republished by Dawsons of Folkestone 1993 for the University of London, Institute of Historical Research.
Details the history of ownership of Borwick Hall.

The Dated Buildings of South Lonsdale, (2nd Ed)
Emmeline Garnett, CNWRS Lancaster University
Details datestones and the families that put them up.

Handbook on Seals
Dr Elizabeth New, British Records Association

A Guide to British Medieval Seals
P D A Harvey and Andrew MacGuinness, British Library Division, Oct 1995

A Catalogue of Seals in the Public Record Office, Personal Seals I and II (1978 and 1981) and Monastic Seals (1986)
R H Ellis, Public Record Office

Wills and other probate records (TNA 2004) (Nat archives, Kew)
Karen Grannum and Nigel Taylor

Stricklands of Sizergh Castle
Henry Hornyold

Organisations

Sizergh Castle and Garden (National Trust), Sizergh, nr Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8AE For portraits of the Strickland Family

Wigan Archives Service for original letters and personal documents with wax seals of the Strickland Family

Lancashire Records Office for information about the Borwick Estate and Bindosse family, Standish and Strickland Family. Sales particulars of Borwick Hall.

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge for a large collection of seals and seal matrixes.

National Maritime Museum – searching their collections will reveal a host of intaglios from various periods.

National Portrait Gallery – searching their collections will reveal a host of intaglios made by James Tassie (1735-1799).

The racing car photo

Links

Isle of Man Motor Racing History

Documents

My Life at the Sunbeam, 1920–1935
Norman Cliff  Ashley James (1987)
Shows a group picture of Sunbeam employees, thought to be taken around 1920. A man in front row, right is identified as Broadbent.

The following can be found at the British Library:

Light car and Cyclecar Magazine
Temple Press, 1912.

Road Test of the 1908 12/15 hp Hillman Coatalen
Cecil Clutton,  Motor Sport, July 1960 Edition.

The 12–15 hp Hillman-Coatalen Car
The Autocar, April 24th 1909.

Organisations

1901 Census Online (for tracing James Broadbent).

Coventry Transport Museum exhibits a Hillman-Coatalen car.

Brooklands Museum has an extensive library and the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit.

First broadcast: Friday 21 Sep 2007 on BBC TWO

History Detectives in more depth: