Exploring Local Maps
Tuesday 10th September, 2.00pm at Newark Library
Saturday 14th September, 10.00am at Retford Library
The theme of 2024’s Heritage Open Days festival is Routes – Networks – Connections and several free events will be taking place at Nottinghamshire Libraries and Archives between 6th and 15th September. These include the Exploring Local Maps free group sessions, where a heritage librarian will demonstrate the range and variety of local maps available in those libraries, with hints and tips on how to find and interpret them. The sessions will last 60 to 75 minutes. Places are limited so booking is highly advised – please visit Newark or Retford Library, call Ask Inspire on 01623 677200, or book online at www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage. Information about Inspire’s Heritage Open Days events can also be found at www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
Talk: ‘Mansfield Miscellany’
Tuesday 17th September, 2.00pm to 3.00pm at Mansfield Library
Mansfield Library will welcome local historian Denis Hill for an illustrated talk packed full of fascinating facts about the history of Mansfield. The talk will cover such topics as early transport, wind and water mills, religion, fascinating characters, yards and alleys, local government, early gas, electric and water supplies, education, local charities, the theatre and inventions. Amongst all these subjects you will discover a lot of curios such as: a military tank in the park, a steam powered bus, a huge water wheel, a circular saw and a long-lost folly. Tickets for the talk are £3.00 and places are limited so booking is highly advised – please visit Mansfield Library, call Ask Inspire on 01623 677200, or book online at www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage.
Talk: ‘Historic Building Mythbusting’
Wednesday 18th September, 2.00pm to 3.00pm at Worksop Library
Go to any ancient building in Nottinghamshire and there will be interesting, exciting, and romantic stories presented to the visitor. They are commonly believed and widely repeated – but are they really true? Archaeologist and author James Wright will be speaking about his new book ‘Historic Building Mythbusting’. Secret passages linking ancient buildings, spiral staircases giving advantage to right-handed defenders, ship timbers used for building, or blocked doors in churches to keep out the devil, James will explain the development of such myths and the underlying truths behind them. Tickets are £3.00 and places are limited so booking is highly advised – please visit Worksop Library, call Ask Inspire on 01623 677200, or book online at www.inspireculture.org.uk/heritage.
Family History Course: Researching Your Family History: An Introduction
Six week course starting on Thursday 17th October, 10.30am to 12.30pm at Newark Library
Are you interested in tracing your family tree but don’t know where to start?
Suitable for beginners in family history, this course (running every Thursday up to 21st November). will introduce you to the main types of records available for your research. You will discover where to locate family history documents and online information, as well as developing your research skills to help you make sense of what you find.
Find out important first steps to take before starting to explore family history records, indexes and information available online, as well as in libraries and archives. Focusing mainly on records of England and Wales, learn about birth, marriage and death records, census returns, the 1939 Register, and parish registers. The course will also give a brief introduction to other sources including newspapers, trade directories, electoral registers, and wills / probate records. Using sample documents and case studies, you will develop your research skills and learn search strategies to help you when growing your own family tree. Suggestions will also be given on how to organise and present your research.
The course costs £42.00 (or may be free if you are in receipt of certain benefits). For more information and to book your place, see www.inspireculture.org.uk/FamilyHistoryOctober24, call Ask Inspire on 01623 677200 or email learning@inspireculture.org.uk.