A Thousand Years of History in Hempstead, Essex
Author: Ross Midgley
Published Date: 3 March 2025
Publisher: The Conrad Press
ISBN: 9781916966871
Length: 240 pages
Price: £12.99 or less
Available From: Amazon (also accessible as a Kindle), plus Waterstones & T.G. Jones. Furthermore, it can be bought from Hart’s Books or the Tourist Information Centre in Saffron Walden.
Description.
Walking the Hamster to the Fountain is an engaging and fascinating read for all history enthusiasts and anyone wishing to learn more about the character of Essex rural life over many centuries.The book reveals the 500 year-old pattern of land ownership connected with Dr William Harvey and his family. Harvey is credited as having discovered the human body’s blood circulatory system and is buried in Hempstead parish church. The author has also uncovered some new facts about highwayman Dick Turpin, who was born in one of the village pubs in 1705. In praise of the book, Dr Elizabeth Goodwin of York University has said ‘Greedy vicars, a school bully turned merchant, child brides, hellfire preachers, eccentric generals, family curses and dynamic women. This wide-ranging and thoroughly researched work weaves vibrant personal stories into a national and sometimes international narrative.’ The project did not start life as a book, but as a simple task to catalogue documents and old photographs which grew into a thorough investigation into Hempstead’s past.
The Author
Ross Midgley, a Hempstead resident and history enthusiast, said “The book came about only a year ago, when someone at a New Year’s Eve party asked if I could help them catalogue some documents and old photos. This inspired me to develop a website and I collected so much information and so many jaw-dropping stories that a book was the only possible next step.’ Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, he brings to life the connections between past and present, illustrating how the threads of history weave together to create a rich tapestry of human experience. The son of a journalist, Ross Midgley has ‘always loved writing and research. Once I get my teeth into a project, I find it very hard to let go. And, of course, I live in a village with far more than its fair share of history!’
The website started by Ross Midgley can be found at hempsteadhistory.uk/
Book review first appeared Saffron Walden Historical Journal No. 49 Spring 2025