How has the use of the computers helped in your project looking into Wollaston's past?
Weekly, daily sometimes, something is found that requires further investigation. It may be a name, or a link to somewhere that someone or something from Wollaston moved to or was connected with. Using the Internet, and following enquiries up with e-mails, can either resolve the issue or show that it is effectively a dead end much quicker than any other means. We also use the Internet for background information on broader events. One example: we recently discovered that the playing field behind the village school was named the Kimberley Recreation Ground on 16th February 1900. Suspecting this was linked to events in the Boer War, we looked on the Internet and found that Kimberley was relieved only the previous day!

In your research into the WW1 soldiers, did you use the Web?
Yes, Ian Williams, one of our group made extensive use of the Web for this.

What websites did you find useful?
Ian mainly used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's site, plus that of the PRO, those of specific regiments, and a site in Canada that is slowly putting enlistment papers on the web.

So how is the book going?
The book is going well. It's to be called A History of Wollaston. We're hoping to have it out in the late Spring or early Summer. The date keeps slipping because we keep coming up with such interesting stuff that has to be checked out.

Are you using computers to create it? How?
Yes, absolutely. The text is being delivered to the printer on disk, as will most of the images. I have also dummied-up a cover for the book, which I did using scanned image and a bit of clever word processing. With the images a computer comes into its own. I have both a flatbed scanner and one for slides and negatives, both of which produce excellent results. Throw in enhancement software, and images, especially old ones, can reveal details almost hidden to the naked eye.

Why, what is the advantage?
In a word "control". You can ensure that the text is how you want it. That there are as few typographical errors in it as possible. With the images, you can prepare them the way you want them to look, cropped how you want them.

Have you had any success in finding Wollaston Hall?
Partly - we have established that panelling and a fireplace from the Hall are now in Edsel Ford's house in Grosse Point in Michigan. We also believe that the main framing of the house is either with the Fords or, more likely, with the Hearst Collection at San Simeon in California. The problem is that the Americans are very bad at owning up to such things!

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Content last updated: 31/03/2005

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