'51. am. ¢u'nI>oroC'A.R‘.-ifl H1-Ck. J . 2_§$i‘"‘"1’1;—5hz"A7g‘§§;2L7’ESSE_Y'I ,. “Wt-»»I%~>.-yr 52%’ 1% 3&3,-fi:r.1£0/513~Ti%::x¢’ T __ -.. Mg” '8-‘ . ‘,£’_/ . é 157.1%!/‘9,<[’_ I ‘ - 4-, .. / ‘ 2 ‘ b .;;; _:7:r‘.;\\\}/‘I 7? { ,.;-=~ . firrnhfiifii "git; C. § A whd v 19",?’ ‘ " I';Z * VHF ' \. . ' . \ ‘§_.I'aufy1:Hf/' H’ . J7, :. B. C: = \ ’ A '2-=~“'=r'*:/’“ 4_ ;@‘Fw°§""' ’* :.,,. §\»q..M. 5* ;3@ Ody; -Ir_;r.rr¢; ////( ' dd‘!/£1 I m ‘ , .=:~\;. 0'7’?/""' 0 v A’ O. ’ / . K.) }/U I ’I‘arm::Ig}1r'r:",_’_} A‘, " “L ;,,,,_,,,, _f}E«fiE/-.3 ",7 C,4._4//xx: .-.'.".'*(73n1 .. 1 ‘. an : gxi;:»« 6 J 1'“! 41.44: ' 3 Mm . .5’ e - r - .517" 5-‘ I ’ 226% 5 1.; A’ M 34:: -*.-:fr gall B,,,,.._ -_ .._‘I E‘. If 6 in * ‘mzaw §’*'"‘£'2*"“7 iv firflmti -fl’ - .' W» -1-‘; —~--."..,.;;.-.1-c.f.¢... ‘:4. _ . F: N"\ ..&§£..//r_vfl- V «M ’ \ o :.» ., , , ~fl~'+- Local Studies Library,Springfie|d ‘INTRODUCTION The Local Studies Library comprises a central collection of materials on Kent. The size of the county makes it impossible to attempt in—depth coverage for every location, and the aim of the Library is to provide books and other relevant material relating to the county generally, with a selection of items on most towns and villages. The larger town libraries have comprehensive collections of material on their own localities and a separate leaflet is available giving addresses. ( The Springfield Local Studies Library is a reference library and many of the items it contains are unique and irreplaceable. TYPES OF MATERIAL Books and Pamphlets There are over 10,000 books dealing with the history and topography of the County, together with other aspects such as industry, transport, education, architecture, religion, geology, agriculture, natural history, sport and literature. Directories These can be divided into the County Directories of Kent and Local Directories of towns. The library has County Directories for the following years: 1845 1878 1895 1913 1924 1934 1847 1887 1907 1915 1927 1938 1874 1890 1909 1922 1930 Local Directories are mainly kept at the appropriate town libraries, but a few are available centrally. The publication ‘Kent Directories Located’ should be consulted for a list of directories, electoral registers and poll books with their locations. Early directories cover a wide area and give limited information on the main towns. The London Directories (which also include Kent and the Home Counties) are available on microfilm. These directories were published between 1677 and 1855. Kent County Council Publications The County Council, with its various Departments, publishes many reports and documents, and most of these are available for consultation in the library e.g. Planning Department publications. Recent copies of the Minutes of the County Council and its Committees are also kept. Local Acts of Parliament, Parliamentary Reports and Government Departments‘ Publications The library has an expanding collection of Parliamentary material relating to Kent. Copies of new editions of the Department of the Environment's ‘List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest’ are being obtained as published. Periodicals and Serials A complete set of Archaeologia Cantiana, together with the Kent Records Series, is available for consultation. Files are also kept of most County journals, e.g. Kent Life, Bygone Kent, Kent Post, Journal of Kent Local History, Kent Archaeological Review, Kent Family History Society Journal. Census Material The printed County volumes of the modern censuses are acquired as published. The Census Enumerators Returns which exist from 1841 and become available for public consultation after one hundred years, are kept. The library has the Returns on microfilm for the whole County, for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881. The 1851 Census of Religious Worship is also available on microfilm. ( Maps Early County Maps are well represented in the ? collection (originals or facsimile reproductions), e.g. ‘ maps produced by Saxton, Symonson, Speed, Blaeu, Ogilby, § Andrews and Dury. The Tithe Maps and Apportionments for every Parish in Kent are available on microfilm. A collection of Ordnance Survey Maps covering the County is being built up. A complete set of early maps on the 1" to 1 mile scale is held. The 6" to 1 mile edition of 1907 — 1910 (lacking the coastal areas) is in stock, as is the 1960's edition, at the same scale (lacks the areas now in Greater London). It is suggested that if in doubt,intending users shou{ check the availability of maps before visiting the library. The library has collections of Specialist Maps, e.g. Geological Maps, Agricultural Land Classification Maps (published by the Ministry of Agriculture), Land Utilization Maps (all those so far published for Kent), Maps and Information Cards produced by the Archaeology Division of the Ordnance Survey (early 1970's), and a set of vertical aerial photographs taken by the R.A.F. in 1947, and published by the Ordnance Survey, the sheets covering the same areas as the 6" to 1 mile series. Illustrations Illustrations are collected, and the library has prints, watercolours, photographs, transparencies, lantern slides, postcards and negatives. The postcard collection is particularly comprehensive. Deposited at the library is the Amos Collection of 125 lantern slides, illustrating windmills in Kent. Oral History The library has an arrangement with Radio Medway whereby,recordings of broadcasts, relevant to local history, are transferred to cassettes and kept at the library. The scheme is still in its early stages and the tapes available are limited. The library also possesses the complete typed transcripts of the tape recordings made by Dr.Michael Winstanley and used for his book ‘Life in Kent at the Turn of the Century‘. Archival Material (available on microfilm) It is hoped that, in future, the library will obtain on microfilm, more nationally held Kentish material. Two collections at present in stock are the 17th .entury Hearth Tax Returns for Kent, microfilmed from the holdings of the Public Record Office, and the Registers of the Archbishops of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. The Registers date from AD6l5 to 1645 (text is in Latin). Newspapers The Local Studies Library does not possess any files of newspapers. Local newspapers, either bound or micro- filmed, are kept at the main town libraries in the locality to which they relate. CATALOGUES AND GUIDES There is a card catalogue to the main book collection, with entries under author, subject and place, and there is a separate catalogue of maps. There is,at present,no index to the Illustrations Collection. The Library also keeps printed guides to the contents of the Kent Archives Office and the Public Record Office. The ‘Kent Bibliography‘ and 'Supplement' lists books W1 and pamphlets available in libraries throughout the County; directories and similar publications are covered by ‘Kent Directories Located‘. The British Library is shortly to publish a bibliography and finding list of newspapers published in Kent, A collection of general aids to the Study of Local History is also kept. These books cover such subjects as how to begin studying a locality, types of documents, palaeography, maps, and facilities available from national organisations. A small section on genealogy is also maintained, including the printed volumes of ‘Indexes to Wills Proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.’ USE OF THE COLLECTION The book collection is to be found on the open shelves and is accessible for immediate reference purposes. Maps, illustrations, microfilm and ephemeral material is housed in filing cabinets and will be produced on request. There are three machines for reading microfilm, but it is essential that any one wishing to use microfilm (e.g. census, tithe maps etc) should contact the library in advance to make an appointment, as the machines are heavily used. Photocopies and m’ f‘ . from most material atigrgtiig P:1n:—outs are available made subject to the . . ar C arge- C0pies are provisions of copyright law and ph°t°°°PieS cannot be made from material t or heav t _ oo fragile Y 0 copy. Large maps, including the tithe maps on microfilm, cannot be re Produced satisfa t ' normally only small portions ' C orlly and will be copied. The staff will be Pleased to give further inf ormation on the Collection to . » _ geth ( .dditional material or ad::c:1th help °n Where to obtain Local Studies Library, ent County Library, Springfield, Maidstone ME14 2LH. Telephone: Maid t S one (0622) 671411 Ext_ 3240