Arrived in Northampton around 11.45am. Went to see the Public Library (closed!) then took the 30 min guided tour of the Sessions House. An excellent, informative, well attended tour. Much better than Coventry! Included a tour of the old prison cells - very unsettling. The bldg was completed in 1678 but had undergone much refurbishment and expansion.
I wondered how many black, Asian & Jewish men and women had experienced hearings in these premises since 1678.
Next was a brief visit to the Guildhall, largely to see the Black History displays. This information seemed so marginalised by its lack of inclusion in the two main museums of Northampton. The books produced by NBHA don't even feature on the shelves of these museums!
The third event was the Jewish Heritage Trail. The tour guide of my group (one of the three tours starting at 2pm) was Don Welsh. He was brilliant - very knowledgeable. No real attention to a black or Asian presence - but I guess it was a Jewish trail.
The visit to the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery was highly disappointing re. acknowledgement of a black/asian presence. The Jewish headstone was on display which gave rise to acknowledgement of a Jewish presence, but not even Walter Tull was mentioned.
On to the Abingdon Museum where there was a much clearer reference to links with black and Asian peoples, notably through Colonial militias during 1700s/1800s, and refs. to Imperial Regts during 1900s. Still no mention of Walter Tull though!
Throughout the day I'd asked about back-to-backs in Northampton and about WWII hostels. No real info. on these aspects was gained. I was referred t the Public Library (Closed) and to the Records Office (Closed) but at least I've got areas to focus on for next time.
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