Discover the past with archive workshops at Hampshire Record Office

Thursday, 24 January 2013

A range of afternoon and evening workshops to reveal more about the life of people from the past, and how archive documents are conserved take place at Hampshire County Council's Record Office throughout January, February and March.

Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman, said: "These workshops are hugely popular as ancestry research becomes an ever-growing pastime for many people. Over the next few months, anyone with an interest in the past, or keen to trace the branches of their family tree can enjoy a variety of sessions on offer. These range from a glimpse into the highly skilled work of our archivists and conservators at Hampshire Record Office, to the history of your home and learning the tools to research sometimes fascinating family histories."

The first session, Paupers and Workhouses took place this week, and explored records that reveal the hardships faced by past generations and the background behind documents such as settlement certificates and removal orders.

On Wednesday 6 February, from 2 to 4pm, House History for Beginners looks at how to use archive sources to help discover the previous occupants of your home. They can also help uncover lost or forgotten features and where homes fit into the history of the local community, or what was on the site before the house was built.

You can also Meet the Archive Conservators on Wednesday 13 March, from 2 to 4pm, and find out how documents suffer damage and what is done to repair and protect them for future generations.

The popular Family History for Beginners workshop will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 31 January, the evening of Tuesday 26 February, from 6 to 8pm, and during the afternoon of Thursday 21 March. The sessions will look at all the main sources available, including microfiche/film, and how people can use them for researching their family trees.

Priced at £10 per person, each session must be booked in advance by calling 01962 846154 or email enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk.

There will also be two, free half-hour Thursday lunchtime lectures on Hampshire Quakers before the Toleration Act and Old Romsey at Work. Donations would be welcome.

Hampshire Record Office is open Monday to Saturday. Everyone is welcome to visit and explore this treasure-house of archives and local studies resources dating from the 12th to the 21st century.

• Find out more about Hampshire Record Office and their full programme of workshops

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