Gloucestershire Archives: Secrets Revealed
The Census: What's the Fuss?
Wednesday 26 January. 1 - 2pm. Free of charge
With the 1921 census about to be released (and despite the fact most of us will have to wait a year for free access to it) this talk will take a brief look at the history of the census, including just how they were undertaken in Britain. We will then focus on just why they are so interesting and so useful to historians and family historians alike.
To book this talk visit Gloucestershire Archives Events
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Future events to add to your diary...
...February's talk
A brief history of Gloucester’s Civic Buildings (aka “You have no authority here!”)
Wednesday 23 February, 1 - 2pm. Free of charge
his presentation will look at the various buildings that have had a role in the governing and administration of Gloucester from Roman times to the present day. Using archive maps, images and documents it will reveal the history and nature of places including the Roman basilica, Saxon Great Hall, the Norman castles, the medieval Gildehall and Boothall and then the Tolsey, Guildhall and a few more besides. We will investigate how these places helped the civil administration evolve and what happened to the buildings when they passed out of use.
Secrets Revealed are live Zoom seminars that bring together a community of people with a shared interest in history, heritage, culture and their importance in today’s world.
To book this talk visit Gloucestershire Archives Events
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.....and coming in March
Throw away the key! – a brief history of Gloucestershire prisons & prisoners
Wednesday 23 March, 1 - 2pm. Free of charge.
There has always been a need for somewhere to put wrongdoers and criminals, so this presentation will provide an overview of some of the lockups, bridewells, gaols and prisons in the county and how they functioned with the justice systems of the time. The criminal history of the county is well represented in the archive record and so this presentation will also look at what crimes took place, the punishments that were handed out, some of those who were incarcerated and reveal the hidden aspects of what their day-to-day regime could be.
Secrets Revealed are live Zoom seminars that bring together a community of people with a shared interest in history, heritage, culture and their importance in today’s world.
To book this talk visit Gloucestershire Archives Events
Other useful information about the talks.....
This monthly series of leisurely lunchtime learning sessions are great for those who are new to learning about the past and for those passionate about history, keen to expand their knowledge on a given subject in a focused session.
Led by experts at Gloucestershire Archives they are easy to digest, laced with humour and full of headline facts and context information ready to unlock an the secrets of a time gone by.
Secrets Revealed are live Zoom seminars that bring together a community of people with a shared interest in history, heritage, culture and their importance in today’s world.
You should receive your Zoom link as an automated message when you book on to this event (remember to press the "Book now" button once you've entered your details). If you don't, please check your junk folder. If it's not in there, please contact archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk and we will send you a link.
We also have online exhibitions some of which are related to the Secrets Revealed talks.
Visit our online exhibitions here.
Gloucestershire Archives: Passport to the Past
Drawing on the past - Gloucestershire castles and the Cathedral
Wednesday 2 February, 4 - 5pm. Free of charge. For 6-13 years.
Gloucestershire is home to some wonderful historic buildings, including some Mediaeval castles and a magnificent Cathedral. Becky, the archivist at Gloucester Cathedral, is one of our friends and we are very happy to say that she will be coming to talk to us about some of the history of this iconic building. We’ve also persuaded Karen, the archivist at Berkeley Castle to share some of the castle’s incredible history with us.
Many of you enjoyed our session on drawing from life led by artist Georgia. This time we will be joined by another artist, Jamie, who is fascinated by architecture and specialises in drawing buildings. Bring pencils, pens and whatever you need to release your inner artist! As before, we would love to see and share your work.
To book this talk visit Gloucestershire Archives Events
Coming in March...
Tykes, ragamuffins and scallywags: children, punishment and the law
Wednesday 3 March, 4 - 5pm. Free of charge. For 6 - 13 years
For this session Jemma and Kate will be joined by Sue Webb, a former Police Officer and an expert on the history of the Gloucestershire Police Force.
The archives hold many examples of children being insulted, caned, beaten, and made to stand in a corner for hours. Young children could even be made to do ‘hard labour’ or imprisoned. These records help to show how attitudes to children have changed over the years.
Not all that long ago teachers used to physically punish their students: the cane, the slipper and the ruler were all used to beat ‘naughty’ children. We are going to look at some examples of the kinds of punishments children used to receive in and out of school - and YOU are going to decide if the children really were ‘naughty’ and the punishment was fair.
Other useful information about the sessions.....
For every monthly Passport event, we create new resources which can be used during the session. These will appear on the Passport to the Past: fun activities and resources for families and schools page at least 48 hours before each event takes place giving you time to print them off. This link will also be sent to you a couple of days before the event takes place.
If you can’t print off the pages for the session, please don’t worry! We will display the pages on the screen during the event and all your child will need is a couple of pages of blank paper and a pen or pencil.
Please note that there are other pages listed as downloads which you can also print and enjoy in your own time if you want to do so.
You should receive your Zoom link as an automated message when you book on to this event (remember to press the "Book now" button once you've entered your details). If you don't, please check your junk folder. If it's not in there, please contact archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk and we will send you a link.
Gloucestershire Archives: Training event
Ask Us How...
Wednesday 9 February, 1 - 2pm. Free of charge.
On-line event
For February’s training session we’ve assembled a crack team to answer some of the most frequently asked “how” questions which are sent to the Archives inbox.
For example:
- How can I trace the history of my house
- How can I reinstate the number plate of my vintage motor vehicle
- How do I find out about my ancestor who was in Gloucestershire Constabulary
As well as an experienced archivist, our panel will include:
- local history researcher John Chandler
- Sue Webb, Gloucestershire Constabulary archivist
- John Loosley of the Gloucestershire Family History Society
If you’d like us to answer your particular “how”, please email your question in advance to archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk
To book this talk visit Gloucestershire Archives Events
You should receive your Zoom link as an automated message when you book on to this event (remember to press the "Book now" button once you've entered your details). If you don't, please check your junk folder. If it's not in there, please contact archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk and we will send you a link.
A new sculpture for the Community Garden
Monday 31 January - Wednesday 23 February (during Heritage Hub opening hours).
The Heritage Hub community garden is delighted to be hosting a new sculpture by Natasha Houseago called Displaced Child.
Inspired by The Walk with Amal project Displaced Child is with us for three weeks.
In 2021, from the Syria-Turkey border all the way to the UK, The Walk brought together celebrated artists, major cultural institutions, community groups and humanitarian organisations, creating one of the most innovative and adventurous public artworks ever attempted.
At the heart of The Walk is ‘Little Amal’, a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a young refugee girl. representing all displaced children, many separated from their families. Little Amal travelled over 8,000km embodying the urgent message “Don’t forget about us”.
The Walk | July to November 2021 (walkwithamal.org)
Natasha spent several weeks at Nature in Art carving the sculpture and it will be sited there permanently once it has visited other venues.
The sculpture has already been hosted by Gloucester Cathedral and The Everyman Theatre. From the Heritage Hub it will visit the University of Gloucestershire.
We are hoping young people from a local primary school will be able to join Natasha and discover more about how she made the sculpture. Young people will also have the opportunity to add to the sculpture making their own peg doll and finding out more about the refugee children who have inspired Displaced Child.
To find out more about the sculpture and the project visit the Heritage Hub community garden.