ACCOUNTING FOR ABSENCE: EXHIBITING THE MANORIAL RECORDS OF RAVENSER ODD

Ravenser Odd was an island at the mouth of the Humber estuary between the 1230s and 1350s. During its brief, dramatic, life it became a Royal Borough, with the result that many of its records have been preserved centrally. Ravenser Odd’s manorial accounts are extant for the period of its flourishing and offer a rich insight into the economic life in the town, as well as its demise; yet they have been under-used in historical accounts. This article reflects on the experience of tracing Ravenser Odd’s brief existence through its manorial accounts, and of bringing them to life for local audiences. It shows that the formulaic nature of the accounts makes them particularly well-suited to public engagement activities and highlights the imaginative possibilities created by a telling absence within the archival record.