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Drury's approach relates the past to what is observable today. In general, as an introductory and general history of Upminster, this approach succeeds. Most of the curiosities have found their way into this book.
Those of us who research the history of Upminster and Cranham might find Drury's approach limited and derivative. However, this is not a fair criticism: we are probably not Drury's target audience. The interpretation of the bronze age excavations at Hunts Hill Farm, the antiquity of the origins of the parish, the possibly older-than-Pevsner's date for St. Laurence's tower, the landscape history of these combined 5100+ acres, and the lack of any current activity in oral history are our problems, not Drury's. If it is admitted that this is a secondary work, and that our research is presented as fact and unacknowledged, then we should accept this as a sign that we have succeeded. If Drury's book gets more people interested in researching the area's history, then the most skeptical researcher should be overjoyed.
About two-thirds of these two parishes is still under cultivation. Drury could be asked to do more in the direction of agricultural history because it is within living memory of some people in his target audience. Drury's treatment of Cranham is superficial in comparison to Upminster, and he could have consulted this reviewer's web-based publication that is restricted to Cranham history. The reference list provided by Drury, whether to paper works or web-sites, is rather limited. For those who are interested, the non-profit community website has further notes on the history of the town, and further details on Drury's book.
Drury's other recent book is on the historical buildings of the London Borough of Havering, again general and derivative, but necessarily with much information about Upminster. Would recommend acquiring and considering these books as complementary pair, with warnings that some statements may be wrong. For example, the origins of the road patterns and parish boundaries in the area have never included a 'theory' that they arose from the north-south routes of pilgrims to Canterbury via the Thames ferries. These roads and boundaries antedate Thomas Beckett by centuries.
The book is reasonably priced for its soft-cover format and size. The quality of some of the illustrations in my copy could have been better.
Drury recently moved to Felsted. I am sure that many will hope that he will not lose interest in the Upminster area. This is a good general introduction to Upminster history, if rather weaker for Cranham. Overall, very reasonable place to start, if you are interested in our local history.
Tony Fox
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