On Saturday 19th November as part of the national Explore Your Archive campaign Flintshire Record Office hosted a fascinating fully illustrated talk “The March of Archery”- by Advolly Richmond. The talk was based on the activities of the Royal British Bowman Society and the various estates and families in the Flintshire and Shropshire/Wales Marches area. It gave a light hearted look at archery as an elitist sport in the late 18th and throughout the 19th century. Only the very wealthy could afford to take part in exclusive bow meetings which took place on the estates of the aristocracy, with up to 200 guests and shooters sitting down to have lunch in between rounds.
Those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the combination of colourful slides and informative historical details about local landed families and their properties and learnt about each society having its own bespoke uniform.
During the whole of Explore Your Archive week itself Flintshire Record Office also hosted an exhibition celebrating the tercentenary of Capability Brown (1716-2016). It also featured William Emes and his work in North Wales, the exhibition was compiled by the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, with additional information about a Hawarden connection by Record Office staff.