Victor Hatley Memorial Series

A series of paperbacks published to commemorate the life and work of the late Victor Hatley, an active local historian and a great encourager of other people. Before his untimely death, for many years he was an active member of the Council of the Northamptonshire Record Society.

Democratic Radicals

Democratic Radicals

  • Tim Hughes

Democratic Radicals

John Mastin

A Georgian Country Parson: The Rev John Mastin of Naseby

  • Edited by: Christine Vialls and Kay Collins

A Georgian Country Parson: The Rev John Mastin of Naseby

Religious Census

The 1851 Religious Census of Northamptonshire

  • Edited by: Graham S Ward

The 1851 Religious Census of Northamptonshire

The Autobiography of The Rev. John Jenkinson

The Autobiography of The Rev John Jenkinson: Baptist Minister of Kettering and Oakham

  • Edited by: R L Greenall

The Autobiography of The Rev John Jenkinson: Baptist Minister of Kettering and Oakham

William Arnold

Recollections of William Arnold

  • Edited by: Keith Brooker
  • Introduction by: Keith Brooker

Recollections of William Arnold

Country Houses

Useless Anachronisms? A Study of the Country Houses and Landed Estates of Northamptonshire Since 1880

  • Neil Lyon

Useless Anachronisms? A Study of the Country Houses and Landed Estates of Northamptonshire Since...

Thomas Cowper

Thomas Cowper Land Surveyor

  • William Franklin

During the 18th century, the landscape and economy of much of Northamptonshire was transformed as a result of the Parliamentary Enclosure of the fields. Key elements in this process were the skill and hard work of surveyors who took measurements of the land concerned and created detailed maps of the previous arrangements as well as setting out the boundaries and other aspects of enclosure awards. One of the surveyors involved was Wellingborough-born Thomas Cowper (1712-1778).

Probably the only 18th-century surveyor to leave a diary which still survives, Cowper had a varied and unusually well-documented career, initially as a schoolmaster in his home town. His house was one of the many in Wellingborough that were destroyed by fire in 1738. There is extensive evidence of his skill in mathematics and astronomy. His first known survey was undertaken in 1753. Particularly interesting aspects of the book are illustrated explanations of the surveying instruments available in Cowper's generation and how they were used.

In addition to transcriptions of the diary (1765-66), this book includes some journal-like entries from his notebooks, including an account of a journey to London in 1759 and the survey of the River Nene in 1760. There are many clues to Cowper's character and preoccupations. While clearly prioritising the well-being of his wife and children, he was also to be found in public houses in Northamptonshire and the other areas to which his work took him. These included enclosure surveys of places as far afield as Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Warwickshire.

An appendix provides details of the principal people who were mentioned in Thomas Cowper's writings. The index helps readers to find references to a much larger number of individuals, as well as places and other topics. There is also a useful Glossary to explain the many specialist words to be found.