News
A dedicated team of local history buffs are helping staff at Hitchin Museum to organise and repack the archive collection.
Archive Project Volunteers
Many of the group are from the Hitchin Historical Society, but they have been joined by young student Chris, who is hoping to work in archives after finishing his studies.
The team brings together a wealth of knowledge of local history as well as other skills such as being able to read Latin and decipher old legal documents.
This project is thanks to a grant from EERAC, the East of England Regional Archive Council. As the team work, they are going to be re-packing the documents in archival quality folders and boxes purchased by the grant. The project will help preserve this eclectic North Herts collection and make for an accessible and interesting Study Room in the new museum.
Man-traps first came into use in England during the late eighteenth century. The law permitting the use of man traps can be explained by the fact it was near impossible to protect game without some kind of aid. The use of man-traps and spring-guns was not completely inhumane as land owners were obliged to give notice (Fig I) that there were traps set in order to prevent poaching; unfortunately this did not always deter poachers. (See Fig II for our example of an inhumane man-trap, I am 5’3 and the trap is nearly as tall as me, so it is awful to imagine someone being trapped in this trap!).
Fig I A notice of man-traps
Fig II Inhumane Man-trap
On occasion the land owner and staff were the victims of such traps and so the law was eventually altered in May 1827 which made it illegal to set man-traps, spring-guns and other mechanical items which would kill or maim except within a home between sunset and sunrise. It was in this period that the ‘humane’ man-trap (Fig III) came into creation which did not have teeth and was intended to harmlessly trap the poacher who would remain until a home-owner or gamekeeper came to release them with the key.
Fig III Humane Man-trap
We also have some examples of spring-guns (Fig IV) which were more widely used as they covered a larger area, again there are two types; one potentially deadly and one humane. They worked by having a series of wires stretched at right angles which were attached to the gun, and so when the unfortunate person came across them and knocked one of the wires the gun would spin around to the wire which is now slack and would fire. The humane version did not contain live bullets, although they would still have the potential to injure!
Fig IV Spring-gun
It is with great regret and sadness that I have to report the death of Col John Sainsbury OBE TD FSA. John has been a great friend and supporter of the museum for many years. He brought together the extensive Hertfordshire Yeomanry Collection, which has been an integral and popular part of the Museum for many years. He was also the source of a vast amount of knowledge about the collection and the regiment. Many people were helped in their research by his books, and just a few months ago, he went through the collection with curatorial staff at the Museum, to choose items for display in the new North Hertfordshire Museum. We were due to meet again soon, and we are very sad that this opportunity will not arise. We are also very sad that he will not see the new displays, though I am comforted by the fact that he was very happy with the way that things were progressing. I am sure that everyone who worked with him would agree that he was very generous with his time, and a very kind person to work with. He will be sorely missed.