Introductory lessons on family history: 29 July - 26 August 2008

Starting on 29 July Nottinghamshire Archives are running 1-hour lessons on the basics of researching your family history.

The classes cover the following:

• Registration (Civil & Parish)
• Census Returns
• Family History & the Internet
• Probate Records
• ‘Digging Deeper’

Further details and booking instructions are available on the Nottinghamshire County Council website:

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/newshome/newsarticle.htm?id=104972&Leisure=t;

Archaeology week in Nottinghamshire, 12-20 July 2008

The CBA's annual Archaeology Week kicks off on the 12 July. Events in Nottinghamshire include a chance to meet Nottingham-born Julian Richards of Meet the Ancestors fame, a wide variety of events at Cresswell Crags, opportunities to see behind the scenes at museums in Newark and Nottingham, explore life in the Roman army with Gaius Flavius Baca of the IX Legion at Bassetlaw Museum, take part in flint knapping workshops and an open day at the Iron Age round-house in Calverton.

Full details are available on the CBA website:

http://www.nationalarchaeologyweek.org.uk/nawresults.asp?county=Nottinghamshire

Salvation Army HERITAGE SYMPOSIUM, Nottingham on Saturday 28th June 2008

... more than heritage - A celebration of Salvation Army Heritage at William Booth Memorial Halls Nottingham on Saturday 28 June 2008.

More information on the William Booth Memorial Halls website:
http://www.wbmh.org.uk/Heritagecelebration.htm

Work at Gringley Wharf

Nottinghamshire County Council have spent £20,000 on a project to investigate the remains of Gringley Wharf. Community archaeologists from the County Council worked with local residents and members of Gringley Parish Council to reveal the site. See the Retford Times news item for more information.

Hazelford Ferry on the River Trent

Interesting item in the Newark Advertiser on Hazelford Ferry, near Bleasby. The site was an ancient ferry crossing (the only one between Nottingham and Newark for several hundred years) but has been neglected in recent years.

Parish councillors and residents of Bleasby and Gibsmere have recently cleared the area and planted a wildflower meadow to create a place for people to sit and enjoy the river.

http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/template/temp3.asp?id=a75c98af-73aa-102b-a3b1-7e87293aa58e

Worksop Past

This book, originally published last year, offers a range of "nostalgic photos capturing memories from Worksop’s past 120 years. "

Available to buy on the W H Smith website: http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Worksop+Past+-9781845471491.html

Anglo Saxon mound discovered in Sherwood Forest

The Nottingham Evening Post has published details of a suspected Anglo-Saxon mound in the Birklands area of Sherwood Forest which is near Ollerton.

The mound, known as 'Thynghowe' was located three years ago by a couple from Rainworth. It is possible that Thynghowe was "used by different tribes as a gathering point to resolve differences and may have marked the boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria."

Nottingham Evening Post article (25 April 2008)

New book: Downstream by Tom Fort

Excellent new book by Tom Fort, The Financial Times Angling Correspondent, describing the journey he took (mainly by plywood punt!) along the River Trent in the summer of 2005. The book is "an exploration into the historical, geographical, social, cultural and industrial aspects of a river filled with the curiosities, forgotten characters and departed ways."

I should confess to my minor role in the production of the book - I supplied Tom with some of the photographs and did the map but please don't let that put you off buying it!

Book details: http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=184605169X&id=Downstream%20by%20Tom%20Fort

Observer review: http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/travel/0,,2265736,00.html

Exhibition: Wheels of Fortune - the story of Raleigh Cycles of Nottingham

This exhibition draws chiefly on the archives of the Raleigh Cycle Company (now Raleigh Cycle Ltd.) held at Nottinghamshire Archives. There is also a series of lunchtime lectures associated with the exhibition.

Dates: 12 April – 3 August 2008
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 11am–4pm; Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holidays 12 noon–4pm
Location: Weston Gallery, D H Lawrence Pavilion, University Park, Nottingham
ADMISSION FREE
Further details: 0115 846 7777

>> Download the exhibition flyer

New book: Retford old and new. A new take on some old views of Retford

A fascinating collection of excellent photographs (many taken by the author, Ron Beare) comparing views of Retford from the past with the view today. Having lived in Retford in the 1970s this brings back a lot of memories.

Buy the book from Bookworm's e-Bay shop:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Bookworm-The-Retford-Bookshop

New book: Castles of Nottinghamshire

I was delighted to find James Wright's book, Castles of Nottinghamshire, at the library last week. The book provides "a synthesis of recent archaeological and historical research" and concentrates on the lesser known castles, so Nottingham and Newark castles are largely ignored in favour of Annesley, Laxton, Egmanton etc. Contents include:

• The castle's place in the landscape
• The castle's role in war and peace
• How castles have survived today
• Current historical, archaeological and architectural techniques in castle studies
• A gazetteer of all known castle sites in Nottinghamshire

Castles of Nottinghamshire is priced at £5.95 and can be bought from Nottinghamshire Archives and libraries through-out the county. It can also be purchased by post by sending a cheque for £8.95 (including £3 for postage and packaging) payable to Nottinghamshire County Council to: Libraries, Archives and Information, Communities Department, 4th Floor, County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7QP.

Latest Nottinghamshire Historian journal published

Just received my Spring/Summer 2008 copy of The Nottinghamshire Historian, issued by the Nottinghamshire Local History Association. As ever, it's attractively produced by The Local History Press and contains articles on the following:

• The Edwardian gardens at Rufford Abbey
• The role the Co-operative societies in Greater Nottingham played in local politics
• Investigating the lives and deaths of Hucknall men recorded on two WWI brass plaques found in the town's Central Methodist Church
• The story of the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Ruddington

Further information is available on the NLHA website: http://www.local-history.co.uk/nlha/nottshistn.html

In my father's house

Intriguing book by Miranda Seymour reviewed in The Guardian yesterday recounting the painful story of her eccentric father's obession with Thrumpton Hall. Doesn't look like lightweight reading but I'll probably get it anyway!