Spanton-Jarman Collection of Photographs of Bury St Edmunds

I hope you find it useful as well as interesting.

The Society exists to bring the fascinating history of Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk and related history to your attention through its annual lecture programme, occasional visits and by degrees, enlarging the contents of its website. At the present time we are much engaged in downloading and captioning the very extensive Spanton/Jarman photographic collection to the site. But, we have ideas on other topics we believe should rightly form part of our continuing story of Bury St Edmunds. If you have suggestions, do let us know.

Please familiarise yourself with our current programme published on this website. This season we have enjoyed four splendid talks by Tessa West on Bury Jail and by Dr Jennifer Ward on Elizabeth de Burgh, both of which attracted full houses!

At our December meeting we enjoyed a presentation of Bury in Postcards; we are grateful to Richard Everett and his colleagues for an interesting and entertaining evening and some unique insights into Bury St Edmunds. Our January meeting was concerned with The Guildhall, one of the oldest civic buildings in England and, sadly in need of some TLC. Our speaker was Air Vice Marshall Mike Jackson; he is leading a project aimed to create in this unique building a new Exhibition and Heritage Centre; details can be accessed on their website www.buryguildhall.co.uk. Your support is needed.

At our meeting on Monday 4 February Andrew Tester of the Suffolk Archaeological Service will report on their activities and finds during the period 2000 to 2010, a period which has seen new build and redevelopment, not least the Cattle Market conversion to the Arc Shopping centre.

Finally, may I remind members that our AGM is planned for Monday 4 March 2013. This is your opportunity to let us know your views on how The Society is working; if you have any questions to table at the AGM, please send these to our Secretary, Eric Humphreys by email by Monday 4 February 2013. Following the AGM, Dr. Pat Murrell will give us a story of mystery and drama in the Great Churchyard!

There's lots more, not least the planned summer evening at West Stow on 5 June 2013; meanwhile, our 2013/2014 programme is nearing completion and will provide another informative and interesting series of talks. Just to give you a flavour of the range of subjects we cover, why not scan through our past programmes going back to 2000/2001?

It does not matter where you are from; the Society is not open solely to citizens of Bury St Edmunds. If you are visiting please come as a visitor; if you want to support us as a member, we shall be very happy to enjoy your membership.

Now, please move on and explore the rest of our website.

Happy reading - sincerely,

Richard Stewart - Chairman