Victoria County History update September 2018

At long last, our latest paperback, entitled Cheltenham before the Spa, was delivered in June, and it's great to report that almost all our initial printing (250 copies) has been sold. We've had very favourable comments on the illustrations and the 'topic panels', which give general introductions to aspects of medieval history - all helping to make the subject matter as accessible as possible. we have a few copies left at the introductory price of £12, and after that it will be £14 when ordered via a bookshop or online. Contact vchglos@btinternet.com if you're interested.

As part of the Gloucester History Festival, John Chandler spoke entertainingly about the new book on 9 September, and the VCH also featured repeatedly in the 'Scriptorium Tag' John organised a few days later. Nine mini-lectures spanned over 1,000 years of Gloucestershire history in the course of an afternoon. All good fun, with many insights into very varied aspects of local and family history - among them monks, merchants, floods, hearths, diaries, charabancs and migrants. Naturally, Gloucestershire Archive material informed just about every talk.

John Chandler entertaining the audience with his talk

Regular Archive users will already know that VCH editors and helpers now have the use of the Elrington Room. Just off the main search room, this allows all the VCH reference books and working materials to be kept handy in one place - another very welcome result achieved by the Heritage Hub project.

As winter approached, we are gearing up for further fundraising to keep our three projects - in Cirencester, Cheltenham and South Glos - moving along at the right pace. Supporters old and new are welcome to sign up for our newsletter, via the address above.

James Hodsdon

Chair, Gloucestershire County History Trust