SANHS Library & Archives

History

The Society was founded in 1849, and began to form a library (and a museum) in 1850. From the start books and journals came – and continue to come – via purchase, exchanges with other societies, donations and bequests. Substantial collections came from the Taunton and Somerset Institution between 1875 and its closure in 1883. Other notable acquisitions include those from W.E. Surtees (1889), Frederick Brown (1890), Edwin Sloper (1905) and W. Jerdone Braikenridge (1908), as well as Charles Tite, whose magnificent collection of about 3,000 volumes is a unique and important facet of the recorded history of Somerset.

Originally housed in the Taunton and Somerset Institution’s rooms, SANHS’ library moved to Taunton Castle in 1874, to Taunton public library in Paul Street in the 1990s and to its present home in the Somerset Heritage Centre (SHC) in July 2010.  A Library Collection Agreement exists between SANHS and Somerset County Council (SCC).

SANHS library books and journals can now be consulted by the public at SHC, and SANHS members may borrow books, but not journals.  The Society continues to add to the Library collections.  New books and journals are displayed in the SHC Searchroom, where staff are always on hand to provide help and answer queries.

A very substantial manuscript collection was separated from the printed books and deposited in the Somerset Record Office in the 1950s. This collection, part of SANHS Archives, is also now housed and available for consultation at Somerset Heritage Centre.

See further details of the Archives Collection below.

Library catalogues

The Society’s library catalogue is now held as one of a suite of online catalogues hosted by South West Heritage Trust. You can access the SANHS library catalogue via the SWHT Catalogues and Indexes page – link here.  Once there, at the Advanced Search page, enter your search terms, click the SANHS box to limit results to SANHS Library holdings only (if required), and click the yellow Search button.  For further information, click the Help button at the top of the page. [We hope to be able to offer a more direct route to our Library catalogue in due course.]

The catalogue can be searched from a computer or device at home, in any public library, and in the Searchroom at the Somerset Heritage Centre itself.

The old card catalogue can be consulted there as well and remains largely accurate, but far from complete, as new additions have not been made to it for several years.

Each full catalogue entry for a Society book includes its shelf number, usually a combination of letters and numbers, eg. AR12-1, or Gray 4-15, and this should be included on an order slip when asking for a book to be produced for reading or borrowing. Further help is readily to hand to personal callers in the SHC Searchroom and by e-mail from honlibrarian@sanhs.org

Library new acquisitions

All new acquisitions are listed in a Word document, updated monthly.  Each annual volume of Somerset Archaeology and Natural History: the Proceedings of SANHS lists all of the Library acquisitions for the preceding year.  Here is the list for January to December 2021.

Significant new acquisitions are displayed on arrival in the Searchroom at SHC, and acquisitions in 2020 will be listed on this page during the year.  However, no new acquisitions have been possible since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We recently acquired a catalogue of William De Morgan designs (published by Dennis & Wiltshire, 1989), a useful introduction to the ceramicist and his work.  SANHS hosted a very well-received ceramics day in February, based on the Society’s own collections.


The designs of William de Morgan, a catalogue by Martin Greenwood

Journals held in SANHS Library

Current and recent issues, and back runs, of journals on archaeology, natural history and other subjects, are increasingly becoming available online, but it is not always straightforward to locate and access them. The society holds a large collection, with a wide range of titles, and runs extending back to the mid-19th century and beyond, of  original printed volumes – link to journals list, 2022.

They include an early run of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, from 1773 to 1803,  with many hundreds of hand-coloured plates, like this one of a ‘round-leav’d cyclamen,’ published in 1786.

≈  ≈  A few examples from our extensive library collections  ≈  ≈




A woodcut from one of our eleven 16th century titles.  This is from “Neue biblische Figuren der alten und neuen Testaments” of 1565, by Sigmund Feyerabend (or Feuerabend) (1528-1590).

“A letter … concerning the raising of the siege of Taunton”, which was sent to William Lenthall, the Speaker of the House of Commons.  It was printed on 10 July 1645.

We hold over 500 books published in the 17th century.

One of our many books on vernacular architecture.  Local history and historic buildings are two of SANHS’ core areas of interest. 

A handbook published by the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland.  We hold the majority of their publications, and of many other natural history societies and interest groups.  They are actively collected. 

= = = = SANHS Library special collections = = = =

Mick Aston Collection

Professor Mick Aston (1946-2013, obituary in SANHS Proceedings, vol. 157, pp. 217-221) [link to this to be added] bequeathed his collections of over 2,000 books, 200 pamphlet boxes and 70,000 35mm slides to the society. The books and pamphlet boxes are listed here as a pdf,  and the books and individual pamphlets are included with the rest of the society’s library in the SWHT online catalogue (follow links via Explore Local Studies).

The first 3,000 slides, all of them air photographs, have (in August 2019) been digitised by the Historic Environment Image Resource (HEIR) at Oxford, and may be viewed and downloaded at low resolutions on the HEIR website, searching by the surname Aston or by many Somerset and other place-names. The society’s hon. librarian can give members access to high resolution downloads.

HEIR, the Historic Environment Image Resource, contains digitised historic photographic images from all over the world, dating from the late nineteenth century onwards. HEIR’s core images come from lantern slide and glass plate negatives held within the University of Oxford. New resources are being added all the time, including collections from outside the University such as this one belonging to SANHS.

The image reproduced below is a general view of Montacute taken on 8th May 1976.

In addition to all this, a substantial collection of Mick’s paperwork is held in the Somerset Heritage Centre and included in its archive catalogue, under the class-mark A/DMW.

Aerial view of Montacute, Somerset (from the Aston collection of slides)

Braikenridge Collection

The Braikenridge Collection was formed by George Weare Braikenridge, F.S.A., F.G.S (1775-1856) of Broomwell House, Brislington. It originally took the form of an extra-illustrated copy of J. Collinson’s History and Antiquities of Somerset (1791), enlarged from three to fourteen large volumes with the additions of prints and watercolours. The majority of the latter were commissioned from William Walter Wheatley (1811-1885). Examples have been published in Somerset: the millennium book, edited by Tom Mayberry and Hilary Binding (Somerset Books, 1999), in Sir Stephen Glynne’s church notes for Somerset, edited by Michael McGarvie (Somerset Record Society, 1994) and elsewhere, and a full description and itemised catalogue is included in the SWHT online archive catalogue, under the class-mark A/DAS/1

Braikenridge 1 image (002)

Entrance to Cheddar, 1824; by Samuel Jackson (Braikenridge coll.)

Spargrove Manor, Batcombe, 1829; by John Chessell Buckler (Piggott coll.)

Pigott Collection

The Pigott Collection was commissioned by John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, FSA (ca 1792-1853) of Brockley Hall and of Grove House, Weston-super-Mare. It consists of six large volumes containing 1,154 black and white wash drawings entitled ‘Illustrations of the Ecclesiastical and Domestic Architecture of Somersetshire …’ The artists were John Buckler, FSA (1770-1851) and his son John Chessell Buckler (1793-1894). Examples have been published in ‘Somerset: the millennium book’, edited by Tom Mayberry and Hilary Binding (Somerset Books, 1999), in ‘Sir Stephen Glynne’s church notes for Somerset’, edited by Michael McGarvie (Somerset Record Society, 1994) and elsewhere.  A catalogue was published in the Society’s Proceedings, vol. 8 (1858), pp. 149-190, and can be seen here.

Philip Rahtz slide collection

The society has, in 2019, received from his widow, Lorna Watts, a collection of several thousand 35mm slides taken by Philip Rahtz (1921-2011). He was described by Mick Aston as ‘the 20th century’s most important archaeologist in Somerset’ (obituary in SANHS Proceedings, vol. 155, pp. 317-318).

The slides include excavations at Cadbury (Congresbury), Cannington cemetery, Cheddar Saxon and medieval palaces, Chew Valley Lake and Glastonbury – Beckery and the Tor. A index to locations can be found here.

We propose to arrange further digitisation, but a large number have been digitised already, and may be found at York Digital Library, where they are arranged in folders by location.

York Digital Library is an online repository for multimedia resources including images, past exam papers and Masters theses from within the University of York, but also incorporating other notable research collections, such as SANHS’ Philip Rahtz collection.

This example shows a 10th century chapel and bell pit at Cheddar.

Accompanying Philip Rahtz text

A slide from the Philip Rahtz collection

Philip Rahtz emerging from the dig at Pagans Hill, Somerset, in 1951.

This photo and the one above are  reproduced under the University of York’s Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike Licence.


Chiselborough Church, watercolour by Roland Paul

Roland Paul Collection

Roland Wilmot Paul (1864-1935, obituary in SANHS Proceedings,vol. 81, pp. 266-267 [link to be added]) bequeathed his Somerset topographical books and the Somerset part of his collection of topographical and heraldic drawings to the society. There is a full description and itemised catalogue of the latter in the SWHT online archive catalogue, under the class-mark A/DAS/9.

One of Paul’s own works is illustrated.

Grimm Collection

We have a small collection of original wash drawings made between 1786 and 1790 by the Swiss artist Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1733-1794). Grimm worked as a landscape and topographical artist in Bern and Paris; in about 1768 he moved to London, where he later died.  His work in England included illustrating Gilbert White’s The natural history and  antiquities of Selborne.

This illustration from the Grimm collection shows the ferry between Rownham and Hotwells, looking down the Avon Gorge in the direction of the future Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Other subjects include Brockley*, Bruton Abbey, Cheddar Gorge, Failand Inn, Farleigh Hungerford Castle*, Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor*, Hinton Charterhouse*, Keynsham*, Stanton Drew*, Stavordale Priory*, Walton Castle and Wookey Hole*.

The starred ones are reproduced as illustrations in Edmund Rack’s Survey of Somerset, edited by Mark McDermott & Sue Berry (SANHS, 2011).

The collection has the Somerset archive class-mark ADWX M3959 box 7.

The Rownham-Hotwells ferry, by S. H. Grimm

USE OF IMAGES FROM SANHS’ COLLECTIONS

The current usage policy, including charges which may be levied, can be seen here(The document will open in a new page.)

This policy applies to photographs and images of all items in SANHS’ collections, not just the Library collections.

SANHS Library –  members’ news

Wants lists for the library

The Library Committee wishes to anticipate offers of books from members who may themselves be downsizing, or clearing others’ estates. We are identifying books which we do not hold already, which do not justify outright purchase from our limited funds, but which would make worthwhile and welcome donations should they be offered. Follow this link to read the initial list of gaps in half-a-dozen major series. We intend to add others in due course.  Please contact David Bromwich if you wish to donate any of these items.

Improved access to SANHS Library (from January 2019)

The Library committee have purchased book shelves for the SANHS room in the Museum of Somerset and these now have a collection of books for members to go and browse. They are all duplicates of what is available from the library at the H.C. and it is hoped to add to them when a further bookcase is obtained. This facility is only available to members on the days and times when the Museum is open: Tuesday-Saturday and some Bank Holiday Mondays, 10-4.30.

Access must be booked prior to visiting by contacting Louisa Gillett, SANHS Office Manager, to check the room isn’t in use for meetings. Your membership card must be produced at reception to enable you to access the room.

SANHS argued for the need to have a room in the Museum when it was renovated and I hope that the membership will justify that argument. The amount of usage will be monitored and made known to the membership.

There is not a separate catalogue of what is on the shelves, although the books can be distinguished by shelfmarks starting with the letter M in the overall catalogue, but one of the complaints that was voiced when members lost free access to browse, was that they wanted the freedom to do so.

May I remind members that use of the SANHS room in the Museum must be booked via Louisa at all times, and not by approaching the Museum staff.

David Bromwich, Hon. Librarian, November 2018

SANHS Archives Collection

The Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society became a collector of archives and manuscripts soon after its creation in 1849, partly in response to its wish to gather materials for a large-scale history of the county. Early acquisitions included a reputed charter of King Ine, dated AD 705, and large quantities of material evidently rescued from the Diocesan Registry at Wells. By the 1930s, the vigilance of antiquarians such as Thomas Serel of Wells and Charles Tite of Taunton, together with the gifts and loans of many organisations and individuals, had resulted in a collection outstanding in its richness and diversity. It was transferred to the Somerset Record Office from 1935 onwards, and to this day remains perhaps the most important non-official collection of Somerset archives in existence.

In addition to the charter of King Ine, other individual treasures of the Society’s collection include a magnificent charter, dated AD 995, confirming Ilminster and West Camel as possessions of Muchelney Abbey, a mid-15th century cartulary of Minchin Buckland priory, cartularies of the Beauchamp, Hungerford and Moleyns families, and the remarkable correspondence of Edwin Atherstone with some of the 19th century’s leading literary and scientific figures. The Society’s collection is chiefly impressive, however, not for the individual items it contains but for its range overall. Court rolls for Wrington and Marksbury, dated 1281 to 1443, stand at the beginning of an important group of manorial records, some of them purchased from the collection of Sir Thomas Phillips; the many thousands of property deeds accumulated by the society begin as early as the 13th century; maps are abundant, particularly from about 1750 onwards; and the collection also contains many parish records which at some date strayed from parish custody. They include overseers’ accounts for Pitminster, 1589-1636, and churchwardens’ accounts for Cheddar, 1612-1674, and Charlinch, 1650-1653.

The needs of genealogists are particularly served by the many wills and will transcripts contained in the collection, as well as by the parish register transcripts and indexes compiled by Edward Dwelly and others. Several distinct antiquarian collections are also preserved with the Society’s archive holdings, including George Sweetman’s historical notes on Wincanton, the Arthur Hull collection relating to Chard, the papers of the Somerset historian Thomas Hugo, and the “Survey of Somerset” produced in the late 18th century by Richard Locke of Burnham.

The first serious attempts to list the Society’s collection were made in 1926 by Colonel Phipps of Milverton, and in 1947 by R.C. Innes Winstanley. The arrangement they imposed on the records has largely survived to the present day, though since the transfer of the bulk of the collection to the Somerset Record Office in 1958 much additional listing and arrangement has been undertaken. Extensive lists and finding aids can be consulted at the Record Office, and in addition, summary lists can be consulted in SANHS Proceedings, volumes 113 and 114. A detailed history of the Society’s role as a collector of archives, given as his Presidential Address by Derek Shorrocks, is contained in its Proceedings, volume 133, 1989.

The Record Office moved to the new Somerset Heritage Centre (SHC) in 2010, and is open to the public there. SANHS Archives collection is searchable through the SHC online catalogues.  Please telephone 01823 278805 for opening times.