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When David Ball decided to research his family history he probably had no idea that it would become an account of life in the village of Ringstead in the nineteenth century. His book began life as a website, giving him the flexibility to alter things as his research developed.

The book Ringstead People - The Lives of some Nineteenth Century People from a Northamptonshire Village was published in 2011. It is much more than a history of his family; it is a book for family and local historians and for those interested in the lives of ordinary people of the time. David has given the local and national socio-economic background for each person and family he has so carefully researched. This means that although the book is about Ringstead it has relevance to people’s lives in other villages in the county. For instance, he describes the conditions for farm workers, millers, shoemakers (including Margaret Thatcher’s ancestors) and village craftsmen, the impact of the railways, the interaction between children, parents and the schoolmaster, marital disharmony and disputes between family members and neighbours.

The lives of the village butchers, bakers, blacksmith, post masters, lace makers, inn keepers, tailors and of some lawbreakers are brought to life. He also has chapters on those whose lives extended beyond the village - a sailor in Nelson’s navy and migrants to America
and Australia.

The historian is like a detective, always searching to find the missing pieces of the jig-saw and David is no exception. He is continuing his research and has put further chapters on the website www.ringstead.squarespace.com.

The book which extends to 275 pages with over ninety drawings and pictures can be obtained from David Ball, 1 Fenton Road, Warboys, Huntingdonshire, Cambs, PE28 2SD or contact David via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He still has copies at the original price of £15 plus postage and packaging.