The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
An historic manuscript charting the details of Lincolnshire families over hundreds of years has gone on display at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The museum is currently displaying a range of items belonging to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, focussed on the recently acquired manuscript.
The piece is an 18th century manuscript titled “Armes and Memoires of ffamilies in Lincolnshire” compiled by Maurice Johnson of Ayscoughfee Hall.
The striking green and gold document depicts the genealogies of a number of renowned Lincolnshire families.
It is believed to date from the 1710s or 1720s and features beautifully written and illustrated entries for various local families, presumably known to Maurice Johnson.
Over 200 families are listed, some of whose histories are traced back to the eleventh century.
The exhibition also features an index of names which visitors are able to search, and also to order facsimile copies of pages from the Society, which they hope will help genealogical researchers visiting Spalding.
Coun Gary Taylor, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for Arts Development, said: “Anyone who has a passion for local history will be fascinated by this exhibition which has already attracted much interest.”
A spokesperson for Spalding Gentlemen’s Society said: “The Council of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society would like to extend a special thanks to the Friends of the National Libraries, whose generous support enabled the Society to purchase “Armes and Memoires of Ffamilies in Lincolnshire in 2014”.
The objects displayed show the broad range of collections held by the society, which are accessible by appointment and at the society’s open Sundays, held on the third Sunday of the winter months.
The exhibition is open until the end of March. Admission is free.
For more information visit www.sholland.gov.uk
