Historian Stephen Nunn explores Dr Thomas Plume's past

It feels like it has always been like that, successive generations (certainly within our living memories) decorating Christmas trees, sending cards to each other, singing carols and exchanging gifts (as well as eating and drinking to excess).

But in the scale of history those trappings are largely a Victorian invention. The celebration of Christ’s birth is, of course, much older than that, but the approach to the annual event has evolved down the centuries.

During the Interregnum (1649-1660), for example, Christmas was seen as a “popish survival” and was made a rather austere public fast day instead.

After Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658, the Restoration heralded Charles II’s reign (1660-1685) and a return to some Nativity normality. And so it continued under his successors – James II (1685-1688), William III (1689-1702) and Anne (1702-1707).

All in all, the mid-17th to the early 18th century is a fascinating period in our national story and who can think of that often turbulent time without reference to the biographer of the age, the diarist Samuel Pepys (1633-1703).

He mentions eight of his Christmases and talks of food at dinner and supper (mutton and chicken and mince pies), drink (mostly wine), gifts including a new mantle (a cloak or shawl) for his wife, and music, but also of church services and, more often than not, what he saw as rather dull sermons.

But there was an exception – he is very praising of those given by our very own local son, Dr Thomas Plume (1630-1704).

Plume’s portrait is in the Moot Hall (by permission Maldon Town Council).

Pepys describes Plume as “an excellent scholar and preacher”.

Those of us that are interested in Maldon’s heritage know that to be the case, not least in relation to the many generous bequests that he has left us.

Down the years there have been a number of researchers who have studied Dr Plume’s life and legacies.

I think particularly of Sydney Deed and his prodigy, my much lamented late friend, Dr WJ (Bill) Petchey. Bill’s work The Intentions of Thomas Plume (first published 1985) was thought to be the last word on the subject.

But now a new and much more detailed book has been published. Entitled Dr Thomas Plume, 1630-1704. His life and legacies in Essex, Kent and Cambridge (EP publications 2020), it is a series of papers edited by local residents, Tony Doe and Chris Thornton.

Dr Thomas Plume, 1630-1704. His life and legacies in Essex, Kent and Cambridge (EP publications 2020)

The contributors are foremost experts in their field and have covered all matters Plumian – his legacies, his family, his character, his will, his trust, the library collection, the building in which it is housed, Kent connections and the continuing professorship at Cambridge.

It is an outstanding collection and literally covers the good doctor’s life from cradle to grave, as well as all the things that have come down to us today.

I am sure Bill would be mightily impressed – I know that I am – but then Thomas Plume deserves nothing less for a life well lived and someone who had the foresight to leave us a school that still carries his name, a trust that, year on year, makes grants to young people in education and training, and not forgetting a world-famous library of 8,000 books, pamphlets, manuscripts, pictures and furniture.

Dr Thomas Plume died a month shy of Christmas 1704 (on November 20 in fact).

He lies in an unnamed tomb in Longfield, Kent, that declares (in Latin and in his own words) that he was “the greatest of sinners”.

He forbade his portrait to ever be hung in his library (it is now in the Moot Hall).

He was, some say, a closet royalist, but was friends with Cromwell’s son, Richard.

I wonder what Plume thought of Christmas.

Back in 1985 I attended one of the annual Plume Lectures. It was by Robert Latham, Pepys librarian and foremost scholar and editor of the famous diary.

That Christmas one of my presents was his The Shorter Pepys (Bell & Hyman 1985). I still have it and remember the excitement of flicking through the index to find any reference to Plume.

This year on my wish list is the new Dr Plume Life and Legacies publication.

Why don’t you get a copy too? If you do, I guarantee you will not be disappointed by this detailed account of one of our town’s most important Founding Fathers.

Dr Thomas Plume, 1630–1704. His life and legacies in Essex, Kent and Cambridge is available from the University of Hertfordshire Press, priced £15.19 (free p&p).

May I wish all readers of my weekly history column a very merry (and non-Cromwellian) Christmas and a happy New Year.