Author Archives: atticsandacres

As you will have seen from the other blog posts on this site, the Graham Family Archive encompasses a wide variety of material.  One very personal item is an illustrated scrapbook which was created as a Christmas gift for Sophy Stobart (1824-1895), … Continue reading →

One of the pleasures of working on the Attics and Acres project has been meeting and working alongside all the wonderful volunteers who have contributed their valuable time to work on the archive of the Graham Family of Norton Conyers. … Continue reading →

I’m delighted to present a guest blog, written by researcher and author Midi Berry concerning papers relating to the Villiers family found amongst the Graham Archive – thanks Midi for sharing your knowledge, passion and expertise! I’ve long been researching the … Continue reading →

A busy morning got this week off to a cracking start with the changeover of the travelling exhibition which I collected from Ripon Library and transferred to Norton Conyers Hall. The new exhibition replaces the original three panel display and is located in the Summer House … Continue reading →

I’m very much looking forward to meeting those of you interested in the Graham family archive and the work of the project at our Roadshow event in Wath tomorrow. The drop-in event is open between 10-3pm. Entry is free with light refreshments and practical … Continue reading →

Documents which have caused a fair amount of discussion of late are those which have a short length of straw woven through the paper. Being in a very crumpled and fragile state they required the expertise of in-house Conservator, Rachel Greenwood, to clean, humidify and flatten the documents to stablise them; … Continue reading →

Come and discover your local history by exploring the archive of the Graham Family of Norton Conyers, original home of the mad woman in the attic from Jane Eyre. Who was poisoned and who was the Black Sheep of the … Continue reading →

Given the location of the correspondents discussed below, I feel I’ve struck a rich seam of coal recently.  Some of the letters exchanged between Elizabeth and Adlard Cage of Kippax Hall in West Yorkshire and the agent William Pearson include … Continue reading →

No doubt many of you are familiar with the Jane Eyre link to Norton Conyers, but for those of you who aren’t, and in recognition of the bi-centenary celebration of Charlotte Brontë’s birth, I shall endeavour to explain. Charlotte, aged 23, and in want of a … Continue reading →

Today’s interesting blog has been written by one of the wonderful Attics and Acres Project Volunteers: David Milner.  Thank you David! The Mint At the end of the thirteenth century, the Royal Mint was housed in a purpose-built facility in the Tower … Continue reading →