Turvey Through Time

A Brief Numerical Analysis of Turvey’s Residential Property
Records from the Hearth Tax of 1671 show that Turvey had 107 residential properties. In 2019 the figure stood at 535.
A Trace of Medieval Life in Turvey
The pre-inclosure map of Great Oaks Farm, Turvey dated 1783 reveals, through the name of one of the plough strips, a trace back to one of the essential pillars that supported William the Conqueror (William I).
An Edwardian Childhood at Picts Hill (1)
In 1901, Marigo, the 9 year old daughter of Ambrose and Henrietta Argenti of Picts Hill House, began a diary which chronicled her life in Turvey and London at the beginning of the 20th century. In the first of two articles based on the diaries we learn about the typical routine and pastimes of a child in an Edwardian country house and get a glimpse of some of the family’s domestic staff.
An Edwardian Childhood at Picts Hill (2)
In this, the second of two articles, we return to the diaries of Marigo Argenti of Picts Hill House, written when she was aged 9 and 10 in 1901 and 1902. The entries reveal the contrast between the privileged life of Marigo and the ‘poor people’ she encounters out on walks. We also join the family on holiday and discover how they celebrated various events through the year.
Bartram Family Memories of WW2
WW2 memories of the Parachute bomb that caught in a Turvey Tree and the Distinguished Service Medal awarded to Turvey resident Bill Bartram.
Enclosures in Turvey
The article is a brief outline of why and how ‘Enclosure’ happened in Turvey and is in itself an introduction to the detailed article Turvey in Turmoil
Origins of a Village
Turvey has fresh water, a river with a crossing point, fertile land in the river valley and natural building materials – what better place for a settlement.
Peace Celebrations in Turvey
Saturday 19th July 1919 was a very special day of celebration in Turvey. For on that day the village came together to celebrate the end of the first world war.
The Bedfordshire Regiment
The Bedfordshire Regiment was raised in 1688 as Archibald Douglas’ Regiment of Foot (i.e. infantry) by order of King James II. During World War I, the regiment raised 21 battalions (500 to 600 men); quite an achievement for one of Britain’s smaller counties.
The Eighteenth Century in Turvey
A summary of the changes in the way of life in England in the 18th Century and their evidence in Turvey
The Shaping of Turvey: Saxons to Enclosure
The Saxons All Saints Church gives us our first easily accessed glimpse of what was here before. When we go beyond ...
The Turvey Abbey Scrap Books (1830 -1846)
It has never been published, it has 465 pages of beautiful writing and drawings, is an invaluable resource to historians and is now available, in full, on the Turvey History Society (THS) website.
There But Not There
As part of the commemorations of the centenary of the end of WW1 the “There But Not There” silhouette have been produced in the hope that villages and towns erect one as a tribute and as an act of remembrance to those who never came home.
Turvey at the time of the Domesday Survey
Turvey has eight separate entries in the Domesday Book. Each entry lists the major land owner before 1066 – and his under tenants and the major land owners in 1086 and his under tenants.
Turvey in the 1850s
We know something of life in Turvey in the 1850s, mainly thanks to Joseph Bell’s memoir, which covers the years 1846-1858.
Turvey in Turmoil
The shape of the village as we now know it dates from the late eighteenth century and is largely, though not entirely, the result of the work of the Inclosure Commissioners.
Turvey’s Farming Past
A general introduction to the history of agriculture and the methods of farming that have been used in Turvey.