Power Trail 1
Local History Introduction
This Power Trail explores the life and work of the Bentall family, local engineers and creators of the ‘Bentall’ car.

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We recommend that this Power Trail is used to visit the museum as part of a wider local history study. The Preparatory Worksheet uses, as an example, Abraham Darby and Ironbridge, as this is where the Bentalls came from.

Teachers could equally use Wedgwood and Pottery, Brunel and Swindon, Titus Salt and Saltaire, Cadburys and Bourneville, Lever Bothers and Port Sunlight, etc, etc as an example of a one-company town.

Possible sources of materials to help you develop your own local study could include:

	The local library – this will have a local studies collection which you should be able to photocopy and use
	The local newspaper – should have an archive and old photographs that you can search and select useful stories
	Your nearest record office – should have papers and documents relating to your area and any firm that you might wish to focus on
	The census data - every 10 years from 1801 the Government counted everybody in the country. These local records should be available in both the archive and the library
	Kelly’s Directories - Kelly, and lots of other firms, produced commercial directories for towns and counties every year. These contain people, occupations and a host of other information, town by town, village by village. They are also full of advertising – that’s how the firms made their money. Any large factory would advertise their wares in a directory!
	A local history or family history society – someone might have researched the firm already, and published their work. Always ask!
	Your local area – quite often people have lived in an area for a long time, and have newspaper photographs, memories or photographs. A local old people’s home, or church/chapel coffee morning, or your schools newsletter can often provoke a lot of response
	Parents and grandparents - are a really useful source of information – and often ‘know someone who knows someone who…’