Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

where did those 30 years go ?! Carole Sent from my iPad > On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:21, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: > > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

My abiding memory of Harrington Gardens (I was a teenager then) was after paying for a I guess a day ticket - wandering about passing shelf after shelf of books until turning a corner I found an elderly gentleman sleeping in old but comfortable looking arm chair ... and oddly I also remember the late Victorian or early Edwardian plant stand which found its way to the new building On my next visit (always with Arthur Willis book Genealogy for Beginners in my rucksack) there was a notice - in the window I think .... redirecting me to Harrington Gardens ... I must have been 19. Very Best Regards Richard Heaton -----Original Message----- From: jjgduffus@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear all Harrington Gardens had so many magical nooks and corners , one could never be sure that you had explored the full extent of the library. I thought it a nice touch to have various rooms named after the founding members of the society. The furniture was very comfortable, if a little shabby in presentation. The only bit of high tec on site was the microfitch  readers for the 1978 issue of the IGI I can still recall how frustrating it was if a fitch was misfiled  More use was made of the special collections each seemed to be contained in its own lovely wooden set of drawers. The MSS collection was on open access and what an amazing lucky dip it was. When I first joined there was an attic flat that was occupied, but soon the rental income was dispensed with the make room for ever expanding Library.  Mr Lawson Edwards often used to be seen at the front counter which was at the foot of the rather grand staircases. He used to popout from his little cubby hole if he heard anything of interest going on.  In the common room there was a 4pm tea ceremony heralded by a hand bell being rung. I think the bell was rung at closing time too to wake the readers up!! The great sales point of the society in those days was cross county research being done under the same roof rather than having to buzz of to different county record offices. The jewel in the crown of the library was the parish registers so laboriously transcribed by our members long past.  Sections of the Great Card Index was housed in an old kitchen range and to make the best use of the space the shelves where rather on the high side with wonky step ladders all around to help you rise and retreave your book.  On the whole Charterhouse Buildings are far better suited to the needs of an important collection like our  I guess I'll have to start regarding our library not as the New one anymore but the settled home. Julian Duffus Sog member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.   Original Message   From: Richard Heaton Sent: Wednesday, 23 April 2014 19:15 To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Reply To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now My abiding memory of Harrington Gardens (I was a teenager then) was after paying for a I guess a day ticket - wandering about passing shelf after shelf of books until turning a corner I found an elderly gentleman sleeping in old but comfortable looking arm chair ... and oddly I also remember the late Victorian or early Edwardian plant stand which found its way to the new building On my next visit (always with Arthur Willis book Genealogy for Beginners in my rucksack) there was a notice - in the window I think .... redirecting me to Harrington Gardens ... I must have been 19. Very Best Regards Richard Heaton -----Original Message----- From: jjgduffus@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I visited both but could only get to Harrington Gardens with someone driving me, found it quaint and cosy. The 'new building' was rather stark and lacked character but at the time was easier to get to by train and tube. From Merryl Wells of Luton, Beds. E-Mail: merryl.wells@one-name.org GOONS Mem. No. 1757 Reg. ONS: Bawtree; Gullick/ock, Moist/Moyst. ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgduffus@gmail.com> To: <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New > Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in > the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Sadly I was never able to visit Harrington Gardens, as much as I wanted to. I started researching my family history in about 1971 and heard about a strange society that may have been able to help. I eagerly sent off my SAE for details, and in return received a wad of pretty coloured papers, amongst which was an application form. I grabbed my pen (fountain type in those days) and started to fill in the usual details until I came to a question which asked 'Please give references from 2 members of the Society'. Full stop end of application filling. It was another 10 years in the mid '80's before I found out that the rules had changed and a letter from a responsible person or employer would be acceptable as a reference. I typed the letter from my boss, bought him a pint to convince him I was a responsible person, and he duly signed. I was admitted to membership. The boot seems to be on the other foot now with the Society seeking members rather than putting obstacles in the way. I do however remember the good old days at Somerset House and always marvelled that no volumes ever when 'over the edge' into now what we would call the atrium. ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgduffus@gmail.com> To: <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now >> Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New >> Building >> from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. >> >> I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new >> home. >> >> I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in >> the >> private gardens to have lunch >> >> Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? >> >> Julian Duffus >> >> SoG member 1978 to present >> >>

I didn't know about the move, but I do remember Harrington Gardens. Went there on a day ticket a few times. It seemed extremely old-fashioned, especially for a teenager. A lovely building full of hidden treasure. I seem to recall that Boyd's marriage index ran along the top of a grand mantelpiece. Good memories, but the new place is way more practical to use, Kim Travis On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:23, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message