Forthcoming London history and genealogy events

Forthcoming London based genealogy and history based events, mainly at London Metropolitan Archives (www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/default.aspx):

Exhibition: Workhouse

Charles Dickens created the popular contemporary view of the nineteenth century workhouse system in his novel Oliver Twist. It’s a bleak picture of punishment, cruelty and neglect. But what do the archives from this period tell us about life in the workhouses after 1834 and the passing of the Poor Law (Amendment) Act?

The act sought to abolish out-relief and ensure that any relief provided by the new Poor Law Guardians was given within the confines of a workhouse. The records provide insights into the ways in which the Poor Law Guardians sought to run their workhouses and deal with the variety of people who had fallen on hard times.

The records at London Metropolitan Archives are a rich source for the social and architectural history of the period as well as for tracing the history of people admitted to the workhouses. Inspired by Dickens and his desire to reveal the horrors of nineteenth century poverty, we’ve searched the records for the stories of real Londoners in the workhouse, from Master to the inmate, to uncover what the archives tell us about their lives.

This exhibition held at London Metropolitan Archives from 24 September 2012 - 10 January 2013 is FREE. Visitor information is available here.


Workhouse: Dickens and Philanthropy

A morning of talks, document discovery and an introduction to the new exhibition on life in the workhouse. In the afternoon a guided walk around Clerkenwell will focus on Dickens and philanthropy.

This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Friday 26 October from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm is £10 (bring a picnic) Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.


LGBT History Club: Photography and LGBT Activism

As part of Black History Month, photographer and artist Ajamu will present on his work recording Black LGBT people, discuss his forthcoming exhibition, Fierce, at Guildhall Art Gallery and recount his adventures on his 19 day walk from London to Huddersfield to raise funds for the artwork.

This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 3 October from 6 to 7.30 pm is FREE – drop in.


Introducing an Autumn Series of Dockside Walks

A one hour talk by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours introducing the series of four dockside walks he will be leading for the Archive this autumn from Wapping and Limehouse, to St George’s and Old Poplar.

This talk held at London Metropolitan Archives on Tuesday 9 October at 2 pm is FREE. Visitor information is available here.


St Katharine’s Dock and Wapping

This autumn visitors will be able to explore life in the Docklands with a series of four dockside walks, led by Mike Moran of CityHighlights Walking Tours.

Starting with the Pool of London and a detailed look at London’s best preserved dock this walk explores the story of one of the capital’s oldest river side communities and how the building of the enclosed docks at the beginning of the 19th century and their demise in the 1960s and 70s affected it.

This guided walk on Tuesday 23 October at 11 am is £8. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. No bookings on the day. Meet at Tower Hill Tube (outside the main exit adjacent to Tower Hill Gardens).


Focus on Family History

Starting your family history? Come along to this workshop and learn how to get the most out of digitised family history sources, including our records on Ancestry.co.uk. This workshop is aimed at beginners.

This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 10 October and Wednesday 24 October from 2 to 3 pm is FREE. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. Visitor information is available here.


In Living Memory

The third in a series of LGBT writing workshops. The early part of the twentieth century saw some changes in the way Lesbian and Gay people were treated. Find out what the Public Morality Council had to say and be inspired to do your own writing.

This workshop held at London Metropolitan Archives on Saturday 13 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £10. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.


Caring for Your Family History

Get useful advice in how to care for your precious photographs, documents and keepsakes.

This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Monday 29 October from 2 to 4.30 pm is £8 (or book four sessions for £25).


(With thanks to the City of London)

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)