Alison McCann holds a degree in History from the University of London and completed postgraduate Archives training at the University of Liverpool. She joined the West Sussex Record Office, and spent rest of full time career there. She is the author of various articles and publications.She retired from WSRO in August 2012. Now Archivist to Lord Egremont and the Leconfield Estate.
Recent lectures include:
Petworth Garden History
9th Earl of Northumberland’s attitude to learning
Estate records for Family Historians
Presentation
The Petworth Emigrations 1832-1837
The Petworth Emigration Scheme was responsible for sending 1800 emigrants to Canada, mostly from the Sussex area, between 1832 and 1837. It was a model scheme of its kind, chartering its own ships, which conveyed the emigrants in better conditions than most schemes, and employing a supervisor to escort the people upcountry on their arrival in Canada. The organisers also made great use of printed publicity to encourage prospective emigrants. The scheme was made possible by the generous patronage of the Earl of Egremont.