New Books

Chelsfield Chronicles, Annals of a Kentish parish, 1450 – 1920 by Geoffrey Copus. 1-872886-01-9 £10.00.

Based on original research over the past 55 years, this book contains much hitherto unpublished material and, although scholarly and well-documented, is written with a light touch that makes it interesting to the general reader. 180 pages with many line illustrations, plus 12 pages of plates and a fold-out map of the ancient parish in 1914. Amongst other topics, the 16 chapters include 'Scandal in the parish', 'Church, priest and people' before and after the Reformation. 'The great Chelsfield inheritance case', the Manors of Chelsfield, Goddington and Norstead, 'Lilleys Farm – a well-documented history with a tragic end' and 'Mormon emigrants'.

Currently available in Chelsfield from St Martin's church or the 'Kent Hounds', Well Hill, or at Bromley Local Studies Library. Available shortly from local bookshops also. Alternatively, it may be bought direct from the author at 17 Oakdale Road, Tunbridge Wells. TN4 8DS for £11.50 (includes UK p&p).

Women of Victorian Sussex by Helena Wojtczak. 1904-109-055 £9.99

The lives of the women in our neighbouring county serve as a microcosm of English life in the early to mid Victorian period. The first part details women's poor social, employment and legal status between 1800 and 1870, giving real examples of how the law worked against women. The second part lists, in subheadings, many different occupations followed around the mid 19th century, with much detail about working in each occupation and with special attention paid to women in commerce, richly illustrated with advertisements from female-owned enterprises. The third section, which includes many original press cuttings, relates to women's dealings with the law, as both plaintiffs and offenders, including poisoners and burglars. A short chapter about the emancipation movement and the Sussex women involved ends the book.

In bookshops or by mail order (post-free) from The Hastings Press, PO Box 96, Hastings TN34 1QG tel: 0845 4585947 email: hastings.press@virgin.net.