Victorian Essex

[Kriti]

Hi Folks
My ancestors all appear to come from a small part of Essex.
This area is bounded on the North by a line from Colchester across to the coast, on the South by a line from Chelmsford to Maldon and East no farther than Braintree.

I want to find out more about this region in Victorian times.|help|
So what I'm seeking are parish histories, local history groups etc. for these rural areas
At present, aside from Colchester and Chelmsford I have some booklets on Tendring and Maldon but little else.
Can anyone put me in touch with small publishers or societies that can fill the gaps?
Please,please.
Kriti|biggrin|

[Jan1954]

Hello Kriti - welcome to Brit-Gen,

Have you had a look at what is available from Parish Chest? The bookshop has masses of different publications about Essex (http://www.parishchest.com/shop/index.php?cmd=listlinkeditems&cat=D9809&supplier=&breadcrumb=The+Bookshop%3AHistory+%3AEssex:Essex+h istory+by+Product).

You could also try the Essex Family History Society (have a google and you will find them) to see if they have anything that they could help with.

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the B-G forums.

To find out about the area and publications about it, try:

Genuki (http://www.nivek-systems.co.uk/genuki/ESS/)

Use a seach engine for 'Victoria County History Essex' (It might be available online)

Use a search engine for 'Historical Directories'

Directories and other fascimile documents sold through the Parish Chest (http://www.parishchest.com/)

Use a search engine for 'Essex Society for Family History'

Essex Record Office (http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/gui.jsp?channelOid=13813&guideOid=14788)

Second Hand Bookshops (some are online)

University of Essex Centre for Local Studies (http://www.essex.ac.uk/history/research/local-history/)

[Browneyes]

The online historical directories (see Geoffers post), for example Kelly's directories, give loads of information about specific towns before listing people/trades etc...search by location (there's a map...click on Essex)...then choose a directory and search whichever towns/villages etc you're interested in.

[Kriti]

Thanks people for all the advice.

I hadn't looked at the Parish chest and it is indeed full of goodies.
I have previously looked at the VCH and I have several volumes holding info. on the towns of Essex, but scant information on the small parishes.

Thanks again for the help.

Sorry for the delay in replying but I had a software meltdown (which was even worse than it sounds).

Kriti