‘The Story of Windsor’, by Maurice Bond

– A book review by the WLHG

Published in Windlesora 04 (1985)

© WLHG

For many years before his death in December 1983 Maurice Bond had stimulated research and writing in the field of Windsor local history. Although it was as Clerk of the Records of the House of Lords that he achieved a national reputation as an archivist and historian, Windsor was his home throughout his life and he served it with devotion. An appreciation of these services is recorded in the booklet ‘A Tribute to Maurice Bond‘, compiled and edited by Valerie Bonham.

His contribution to local history was far-ranging. As Honorary Custodian of the Muniments of St. George’s Chapel and for many years editor of the St. George’s Chapel Monographs his achievement was immense. But whereas earlier historians had given pride of place to the Castle often to the partial exclusion of the town, Maurice made it his object to secure a proper consideration of the history of the Borough as important in its own right. He was Honorary Archivist to the Borough from 1950 to 1980 and instituted the series of Borough Historical Records Publications which began in 1968 with his wife, Shelagh’s, edited transcript of the First Hall Book of 1653-1725.

He had retired in 1981 and one of the many reactions that followed his death was one of profound sorrow that the research and writing which were occupying his retirement were stopped in full flood.

Before his death, however, he had completed a history of Windsor and had deposited the manuscript with the publishers, Countryside Books. Now, the book has been published in their ‘Local Heritage Books‘ Series, with the title ‘The Story of Windsor‘.

The first thing to be said is that it will immediately take its place as one of the definitive works on the history of Windsor. It is the fruition of Maurice’s life-long study and appraisal of the subject. It is, as one would expect, a book of exemplary scholarship, not only in its treatment of the successive phases of the story but in the meticulous foot notes and references to which Maurice always attached great importance.

The pattern of the narrative reflects Maurice’s approach to the history of Windsor. Firstly, he gives the town equal treatment with that of the Castle. After an introductory chapter on ‘The Origins of Windsor‘, a chapter on ‘The Castle in the Middle Ages‘ is followed by one on ‘The Mediaeval Town‘. And he concludes with a chapter on ‘Windsor Castle in the Twentieth Century‘ followed by a much longer one on ‘The Borough in the Twentieth Century’.

Secondly, he has continued the story of Windsor to the present day and his account of Windsor in the Twentieth Century enhances immeasurably the value of the book. Tighe and Davis’ ‘Annals of Windsor‘ (1858), along with other books such as T.E. Harwood’s ‘Windsor Old and New‘ (1929), remain classics which are in no way displaced by ‘The Story of Windsor‘. What Maurice has done is not only to devote his scholarship to a re-appraisal of Windsor’s history, but to continue the story into recent years. His final chapter is divided into six sections; (i) At the turn of the century; (ii) The Edwardian age; (iii) the First World War; (iv) between the Wars; (v) the Second World War; vi) Re-organisation. In the last section he finds room to record the story of the Council in the post-war years, including the short-lived Labour majority in 1945-46, the formation of the Windsor and Eton Society, the setting up of the Guildhall Exhibition, the expansion of the town – and much more.

The book comes to us in an attractive format, fully illustrated, at a price which in these days of high costs makes it excellent value for money. This has been achieved not only by publishing the book in paperback, but by including in it advertisments. These detract from the quality of the book and in my opinion are to be regretted. Publishing a book posthumously, however, always presents problems and publishing a book at a reasonable price equally presents problems. With this one personal reservation, Countryside Books has made a splendid job of this important book. Buy it and possess it as quickly as you can; one thing is certain, there will not be published for many years another history of Windsor so comprehensive, so scholarly and so enthralling.

Published by Countryside Books (Newbury) in Paperback (174 pp) at £4.95.

Raymond South