The     
Alabaster     
Society     
 

The Family History Society        
of the Alabaster Family        

Alabaster Gathering - 25th/26th/27th April 2008

Laraine Hake writes:

The eighth Alabaster Gathering will take place in Hadleigh over the weekend of 25^th to 27^th April 2008. On Saturday 26^th April, we will be in the Guildhall Complex. We will have the Guild Room for the daytime meeting when we will "gather" and listen to talks on aspects of Alabaster history, eat well and thoroughly enjoy the day. The Guild Room has good access for the disabled and, even more importantly, would have been used by our Alabaster ancestors in the 16^th and 17^th century. It can accommodate up to 100 people……….so book soon! For the evening dinner we will be in the Old Town Hall. This is an exceptionally attractive medieval room on the first floor with a crown post roof and timbered floor and it also would have been known by those Alabasters past.

Cost for the daytime meeting, including Buffet Lunch is £18. The cost for the full day, that is Evening Dinner as well as the daytime Buffet Lunch will be £37.

It is hoped that on the Friday evening we will be able to meet for an informal meal in a Hadleigh Public House. We did this in 2005 and it made a great start to the weekend. On the Sunday it is intended that we will be visiting Ipswich which will be of interest to us all but particularly Branches IIIA and IIIB. These extra activities will be at additional cost, details below.

It all sounds a long way ahead, but it will be here before we know it so now is the time to start planning your visit; the first step being to complete the form and send me a deposit to confirm your intention of being part of this event and joining us at the main Gathering on the Saturday. Friday and Sunday do not need to be organized quite so far in advance; further details will be sent with the winter Chronicle.

Eighth Alabaster Gathering - Main Programme

Guild Room, Guildhall Complex, Hadleigh, Suffolk

Saturday, 26th April

9.45 am onwards   Arrival and coffee

10.45   General Meeting of the Alabaster Society

11.30   Ann Beaumont and the Alabaster connection - Sue Andrews, Hadleigh Archivist and member of Alabaster Society

12.00 pm   Victorian Delights - Betty Alabaster West sharing treasures from her collection

1.00   Buffet Lunch

2.00   An opportunity to show, and be shown, items of Alabaster memorabilia that members have brought with them today.

2.30   One Family's History - Laraine Hake, how the history of the Alabaster family was traced

3.30   William Alabaster and the period surrounding the publication of 'Apparatus' 1607 - Tony Springall

3.45   Presentation to The Mayor who will receive Apparatus "William's Book" on behalf of Hadleigh Archives

4.00-5.00
Guided tour of the church with Hilary Griffin; see Alabaster brasses or
Hadleigh Archives with Sue Andrews: view Alabaster documents from 17th century (maximum of 4 people at any one time) or
Walk around Hadleigh

5.15   Tea and biscuits, drawing the raffle!

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Additional Programme

7.00 for 7.30   Dinner upstairs in the Old Town Hall in the Guildhall Complex. Bring your own wine.

Followed by Clive Paine speaking on the Plague in Suffolk during the seventeenth century, with particular reference to Hadleigh.

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On Friday, 25th April, many of us will be dining at The George from 6.30 pm onwards. To book, contact The George directly on 01473 822151.

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On Sunday, 27th April, members may, if they wish, attend the morning family service at St. Matthew`s Ipswich, where some Alabasters were baptised, married, and buried during the 17th and 18th centuries.

This will be followed by a guided walk around Ipswich (£3 per person) with lunch overlooking the Quay at Isaac`s, a former merchant`s house (£10 per person). Please let Laraine know if you intend to join us.

And just to remind you of what happened in 2005............

The 2005 Alabaster Gathering
23rd and 24th April 2005

PROGRAMME
with illustrations taken over the weekend of the Gathering 

Saturday
10.00 a.m. Arrival and coffee

• sign your name on the huge family tree of those attending this year’s Gathering
• buy or collect your pre-ordered copy of Hadleigh and the Alabaster Family by Sue Andrews and Tony Springall
• please sign up for the afternoon activities……..
• enjoy the display “What your Victorian ancestors wore………” courtesy of Betty Alabaster West
• look at the display of Alabaster memorabilia
• study the Book of the Alabasters – 2002
• get your raffle tickets
• consider buying …….. an Alabaster badge, an Alabaster Chronicle binder, Quintet of Alabasters by Adrian Alabaster, back copies of Alabaster Chronicle or ordering a silver or gold Alabaster brooch.
• and catch up with distant family and friends

From left: Shirley Alabaster, Hon Treasurer; Ron Alabaster West; Laraine Hake, Hon. Secretary

11.00 a.m. General Meeting of the Alabaster Society - chaired by Ron Alabaster West - see agenda

12.00 noon “Holts - Another Alabaster Home” – Sue Andrews

12.15 p.m. “How the Alabasters lost their Wealth” - Tony Springall

1.00 p.m. Lunch Quiche and Salad~Fruit Salad~Fruit Juice

2.00 – 4.30 p.m. Your chosen activities:

• stroll around and renew your acquaintance with the town of Hadleigh
• visit Hadleigh church (and Art Exhibition) – Hilary Griffin will be there to show you around between 2.15 and 4.00 p.m
• Alabaster archives in the Guildhall – your ancestor’s signature on the actual documents The Guildhall is opposite the church - 2.30 p.m onwards
• a unique opportunity to explore the interior of the Deanery Tower with Roger Kennell (pictured, above right) – safe footwear is needed - 3.30 p.m. at door of the tower at east end of church
• visit Kersey Mill (pictured below) owned by the Alabasters in 17th century: sign up for the 2.30 p.m. or 3.30 p.m. visit
• stay in the warm at the Old School and chat to your friends.
• take the opportunity to meet up with other Alabasters interested in research; examine the displays further; Betty can tell you more about the wonderful Victorian Clothes!

4.30-5.15 p.m. Tea, biscuits and the drawing of the raffle at the Old School

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7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Dinner at The Old School

Mushroom Soup, Hungarian Goulash with Noodles, Lemon Meringue Souffle or Poached Pears with Cream -- Licensed bar available

To be followed by a talk by Roy Tricker (pictured, left): "Some Norfolk Churches”- with some input by Laraine

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Sunday 24th April 2005

11.00 a.m. Family Church Service at Snape, Suffolk.

George Alabaster (Branch IV) was the churchwarden here from 1754 until his death in 1759, aged 37. His gravestone still exists just outside the door of the church. It is the oldest gravestone in the churchyard.

1.00 p.m. Lunch at Castle Inn, Framlingham. Choice of Roast; Beef, Pork or Chicken + Dessert for less than £10!

2.30 p.m. Framlingham Castle where Dr William Alabaster was imprisoned, transferred from the Tower of London in 1601.
[This will cost £4.30 per person, £3.30 for concessions (OAPs!) and free if you are a member of English Heritage – but do remember your card! We get a discount if we all pay in a block so I will do something complicated, collecting the money while we eat!]

The staff at Framlingham Castle hope to be able to give us a short talk about the castle in the 16th and 17th century before we begin. After that we will make our own way around the castle and disperse at our own pace. It is suggested that you allow something in the region of one and a half to two hours to complete the visit. There is an audio tour which takes 50 minutes.