Hands On Heritage Day
Mansfield Library
Hands On Heritage Day returns to Mansfield Central Library on Saturday 17th May, 10.00am to 2.00pm, bringing a variety of fun and free activities for all the family. The library will be taken over by history groups and organisations from across the county including Nottinghamshire Mining Museum, Old Mansfield Society, Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire, Old Warsop Society, Farnsfield Local History Society, Blidworth and District Historical and Heritage Society, Nottinghamshire Family History Society, Nottinghamshire Archives, Bassetlaw Museum, Newstead Abbey Museum, Friends of Milton Mausoleum and Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust.
Visitors can explore local and family history, browse books for sale, and get hands-on with attractions such as virtual reality experiences, interactive maps, costumes, and historical artefacts. To commemorate 80 years since VE Day, stallholders will present a variety of World War II-related displays and activities, with live 1940s-era music from Inspire’s Red Hot Band.
The event is free and no booking is required – just drop in. Refreshments will be available on the mezzanine floor. For more information and a full list of participants, visit www.inspireculture.org.uk/HandsOnHeritage.
Medieval Worksop
Worksop Library
On Wednesday 21st May at 2.00pm, Benedict Jephcote will give a talk exploring how the Norman and Medieval periods shaped the development of Worksop and its surrounding villages, including the origins of some of the area’s oldest buildings.
Tickets cost £3.00 and early booking is highly recommended. To book, visit Worksop Library, call 01623 677200, or go online at www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage.
Historic Gardens of Nottinghamshire
Mansfield Library
On Tuesday 27th May at 2.00pm, former local studies librarian turned garden historian Philip Jones will deliver a talk on Nottinghamshire’s rich horticultural heritage. Focusing on the great ducal estates of Welbeck, Clumber, Worksop and Thoresby, he will also discuss his current research into the Victorian and Edwardian gardens of Newstead Abbey.
Tickets are £3.00. To book, visit Mansfield Library, call 01623 677200 or visit www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage.
Researching Family History: An Introduction
Mansfield Library
A six-week course, Researching Your Family History: An Introduction, begins on Wednesday 4th June, 10.30am to 12.30pm (every Wednesday until 9th July). This beginner-level course introduces participants to key family history records and how to locate and interpret them, focusing mainly on England and Wales.
Topics include birth, marriage and death records, census returns, the 1939 Register, parish registers, newspapers, trade directories, electoral rolls, and wills. Participants will use sample documents and case studies to develop research skills and search strategies, with guidance on organising and presenting findings.
The course costs £42.00 (or may be free if in receipt of certain benefits). For more information or to book, visit www.inspireculture.org.uk/FamilyHistoryJune25, call 01623 677200, or email learning@inspireculture.org.uk.
Historical Highlights from Bassetlaw
Retford Library
On Thursday 5th June at 7.00pm, local author and historian Adrian Gray presents a talk exploring the rich and often overlooked history of Bassetlaw. Highlights include stately homes, historic villages and notable landmarks along the Trent Valley, paired with stories of the people who once lived there.
Tickets are £3.00. To book, visit Retford Library, call 01623 677200, or visit www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage.