Objects of the charity
1) To benefit the inhabitants of King’s Lynn and to advance education by:-
(a) the establishment and maintenance of a collection of documents, records and recordings illustrating as completely as reasonably practicable the past – contemporary and developing history of King’s Lynn by:-
(b) making, acquiring, indexing, storing and maintaining (by whatsoever means) records of any or every aspect of King’s Lynn’s geology, prehistory and history (such records to include without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing books, photographs, diaries, letters, property deeds and documents, computerised records, maps, charts and films)
(c) making, acquiring, indexing, storing and maintaining (by whatsoever means) audio and visual recordings of the sounds and sights of contemporary and developing King’s Lynn
(d) commencing and advancing the compilation (as such compilation is from time to time facilitated by technological developments) of a comprehensive street plan of King’s Lynn until the modern industrial age and thereafter
(e) making such collection available (by whatsoever means and at such reasonable charges, if any, as the Trustees from time to time think fit) for public use by educational institutions and by persons concerned with research (whether now or in the future)
(2) Such charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of King’s Lynn as the Trustees shall think fit.
Biographical notes
Audrey Muriel Stratford, the only child of George William Stratford and Emily Gertrude, née Carnegie, was born on 2 September 1907 in Johannesburg, where her father was at that time employed as a railway clerk. The family moved back to England in 1914, initially to Norwich and then to King’s Lynn, where Audrey Stratford attended King’s Lynn High School. As an undergraduate, she studied Physiology at Bedford College in London and was awarded a B.Sc. by the University of London.
While working as a Lecturer in Physiology at Chelsea College of Physical Education, she joined the British Federation of Women Graduates and served as Honorary Secretary of the London Association of University Women at Crosby Hall from 1944 to 1953. After spending some time in Western Australia, where she was the guest of the Western Australian Womens’ Graduate Association, she returned to King’s Lynn. She continued to live at the family home, The Bennals, in Chase Avenue, until her death on 23 May 2000. She also inherited her father’s business: Stratfords is a well-known menswear and protective clothing manufacturing and retail business based at King’s Lynn.
Miss Stratford was also the author of books and articles under the slightly modified name of Audrie Muriel Stratford. Some are on the subject of knitting, in which field she was an authority, but she also wrote on business management. A copy of each book was presented by her to the Sybil Campbell Library, then housed at Crosby Hall. She also had a keen interest in the heritage of King’s Lynn and played a part in the cultural life of the town as an active member of the King’s Lynn Society of Arts and Sciences.
New technologies interested Miss Stratford, and she acquired and used a home computer at a time when this was still unusual. She continued to take an interest in scientific questions, and in particular salt in the diet and the fluoridation of water, to which she was vehemently opposed. She had a strong interest in the preservation of records, and particularly business records: she was a member of the Business Archives Council and attended one of the early conferences of the Society of Archivists. The charitable trust which she established encapsulates her aspiration for the preservation of and public access to records and information relating to King’s Lynn.
Access to the collection
The A. M. Stratford papers are available to the public for research at King’s Lynn.
From 2003, and until further notice, access is provided with the King’s Lynn Borough Archives at The Old Gaol House, King’s Lynn, by arrangement with the Norfolk Record Office and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. They are available to the public for research when an archivist is at the Gaol House in the Town Hall complex (normally on Fridays from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4.45pm), and arrangements can also be made in advance for limited access to the records at other times.
Contact details
The Old Gaol House
Saturday Market Place
King’s Lynn
Norfolk PE30 5DQ
King’s Lynn (01553) 774297
Norfolk Record Office
The Archive Centre
Martineau Lane
Norwich NR1 2DQ
Norwich (01603) 222599
Links
Borough Council
Norfolk Records Office
The Old Gaol House
24 Hour Museum
True's Yard Museum
The Northenders
The Ouse Washes Molly Dancers
Robert Fuller Associates
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