The execution of Charles I in January 1649 was a highly significant event in British history. It followed the defeat of the Royalists in the English Civil War.  Charles wished to be buried in Westminster Abbey, but Parliament would not allow it.  Instead, with his head resewn onto his body, he was taken to St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The service of burial, however, was carried out by the parish priest at St John’s. This is why the King’s burial is noted amongst those of the local townspeople in the burial register of Windsor St John the Baptist.

‘The appearance of Charles I in this register shows the impact of the Civil War. No other monarch’s burial is in such a humble register. It’s remarkable that such a significant moment in English history can be so casually found.’ 

The Berkshire Quarter Sessions details the meeting of the County Justices at the Pelican Inn in Speenhamland on 6 May 1795.

The meeting has become famous for adopting what became known as the Speenhamland System. This was a means-tested supplement to create a minimum wage. It was paid by the county when the price of bread was high to poor agricultural labourers who could not afford to feed their families.

It was meant to be cheaper than paying a universal rate of poor relief.  Although similar systems were used across Britain, the Speenhamland one became best known. It lasted until the workhouse system of relief was created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

‘Speenhamland has been much imitated in the 200 years since it was introduced. But, although the county was a trailblazer, it’s sad to note that the system neither saved money nor alleviated poverty. The invention of the county justices came to naught.’

In July 1646, the plague was back in Reading. Goodwife Lane reported a dead child ‘full of blew spots’ in Broad Street. A temporary pest house was quickly set up outside the town centre and cases quarantined within it.

These accounts from the town constable, Mr Chandler, record the number of patients cared for in the pest house each day. On 21 September 1646, there were over 100 individuals present. They also record expenses such as soap, ‘cauta’ (cloth for burying the dead) and shovels for gravedigging were purchased. Individuals were also paid to clean the homes of victims.

‘One of the great pleasures of research is when other documents survive which shed further light on a subject. Chandler’s accounts are our only detailed knowledge of this traumatic episode. It was a tumultuous period in Reading’s history.’

- Catherine Sampson, Chairman of the Berkshire Family History Society 

These two deeds show Adam Lambard of Binfield organising his affairs as he lay dying from the Black Death.

In the first, dated 7 May 1349, he gave all his property, apart from the mansion house in which he lived, to two men, John atte Westende and John Baron. They were to act as his trustees to make sure his wife inherited from him.

The second deed is a few months later, after Adam’s death. It transfers Adam’s property from his trustees to his widow, Christina le Stout.

This formality was necessary because women had so few rights. Without the first deed, Christina would only have inherited a meagre third of her husband’s estate.

‘These two little documents are exciting because there is so little evidence of life during the Black Death. But here is a human story during a time of trauma: Adam wanted to provide for his family and one of his last actions was to do so.’ 

- Lisa Spurrier, Archivist 

These two deeds show Adam Lambard of Binfield organising his affairs as he lay dying from the Black Death.

In the first, dated 7 May 1349, he gave all his property, apart from the mansion house in which he lived, to two men, John atte Westende and John Baron. They were to act as his trustees to make sure his wife inherited from him.

The second deed is a few months later, after Adam’s death. It transfers Adam’s property from his trustees to his widow, Christina le Stout.

This formality was necessary because women had so few rights. Without the first deed, Christina would only have inherited a meagre third of her husband’s estate.

‘These two little documents are exciting because there is so little evidence of life during the Black Death. But here is a human story during a time of trauma: Adam wanted to provide for his family and one of his last actions was to do so.’ 

- Lisa Spurrier, Archivist 

Depositions are witness statements in court proceedings. Church courts such as the Archdeacon’s heard cases relating to morality. They gradually lost this power during the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The book is open to show part of a case of disputed betrothal between Thomas Roberts of Reading and Joan, step-daughter of John Green of Newbury. Both pages feature witness statements. On the left, Griffin Junklin, viewed an exchange of tokens and Joan’s promise to marry Thomas. On the right, Richard Knight of Reading, said that in her parents’ presence, Joan admitted she had received letters and tokens from Thomas and had promised to marry him. Her father was angry. Joan now said she would only marry with her father’s ‘goodwill’.

‘I did some research using deposition books a long time ago and I still remember how very unusual a source they are, once you work out how to read them. The excitement comes from eavesdropping into someone’s home and all the characters within it. These books tell us about people’s homes, hopes and relationships in their own words. There’s no other source quite like them.’

- Joan Dils, Berkshire Record Society