Page 38 - Hindsight Issue 26 April 2020

BooKs
AN AMAZING FIND IN FINEDON!
Michael Britton
Michael Britton is the Secretary of Finedon Local History Society. Working with fellow member Carolyn Smith they undertake research on behalf of the Society and together they write the Society newsletter. In 2019 Finedon Local History Society were given notice to vacate the Friends’ Meeting House; it had been their home for the past 19 years. During the upheaval that followed everything had to be moved out. Not unsurprisingly a lot of “non-historical” items and clutter had been taken in and accumulated over the years. On the other hand, items can also be donated which at the time both the society and the person who donated the item do not realise the true historical significance of their contribution. This is one such story.
During the clearance of the Meeting House I came across a book I had not seen before. the inscription on the front flyleaf read, “Samuel Harlock Sharp Finedon Northamptonshire Oct 25th 1865 NB 2033 years old”. I put the book aside with the sole intention of ascertaining who had donated the book to the society with a view of returning it.
two days later I looked at this book again and for the first time I went beyond the flyleaves and came to the first page of text. two things immediately became
Inscription on the flyleaf dated 25 October 1865
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