NWKFHS- 15 October 2011 Introduction to Army Family History research. 13 October 2011- Master of the Seas- NWKFHS (Sevenoaks, Kent Branch) talk by Meryl Catty. 1 October 2011, Datrford Branch, Parkwood Hall, Swanley, Photographic display and talk by David Cufley. Deceased Online-Eltham. NWKFHS Cemetery Register publications

Introduction to Army Family History research.  NWKFHS (Bromley, Kent Branch) talk.

On 15 October 2011 Ken Divall will be given a talk entitled "Introduction to Army Family History research" Held at the Bromley Branch of North West Kent Family History Society at  Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS. Open at 9.45am. No charge to members of NWKFHS .Visitors are welcome, a donation is requested. For details of the location please go to NWKFHS Branches

Master of the Seas- NWKFHS (Sevenoaks, Kent Branch) talk by  Meryl Catty.

13 October 2011 at the NWKFHS Sevenoaks Branch (Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road (at junction with Crampton Rd.), Sevenoaks, a talk by Meryl Catty "Master of the Seas" Start time of the meeting is 7.15pm. No charge to members of NWKFHS .Visitors are welcome, a donation is requested. For details of the location please go to NWKFHS Branches

1 October 2011, NWKFHS Dartford Branch. Photographic display and talk by David Cufley about  Parkwood Hall, Swanley, Kent.

1 October 2011 NWKFHS Dartford Branch, Dartford Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford. A photographic display and talk by David Cufley about  Parkwood Hall, Swanley, Kent. Start time of meeting is 9.45am. No charge to members of NWKFHS .Visitors are welcome, a donation is requested. For details of the location please go to NWKFHS Branches

Deceased Online-Eltham.

Deceased Online Have announced that they are in the process of adding more records to the Eltham Crematorium data on the site.  so far there are some 61,500 records  available online, covering the period from 21 May 1996 to 14 February 2011. The information is available as computerised data only. No scans are available. The data typically includes name, cremation number, date of burial, date of death, age, sex, marital status, denomination, (sometimes) occupation, and death registration details. Information on the disposal of ashes may also be available. Addresses will be available where the date of cremation was over 15 years ago.

This is a Pay per View site, though there are plans to offer a subscription option.

NWKFHS has several Cemetery Register publications available that contain facsimiles of actual cemetery burial registers. For Instance:

Gravesend Cemetery 1839-1885 & indexes 1850-1901 (with plans) ; Burial Registers 1885-1919 & indexes; 1878-1927 (with plans) ;Burial Registers 1920-2008 & indexes 1902-1983 (with plans). The Indexes are the original Cemetery Indexes.

Bexleyheath Cemetery Burial Registers & indexes 1879-1943. The Indexes are the original Cemetery Indexes.

Dartford, East Hill & Watling St Cemeteries Burial Registers & indexes 1856-2006. Indexes are the original Cemetery Indexes.

Erith Cemetery Burial Registers 1894-1962.

Northfleet Cemetery Burial Registers 1893-1949 & indexes 1893-1983 (with plans).  Indexes are the original Cemetery Indexes.

Swanscombe Cemetery Burial Registers & indexes 1895-2006. Indexes are the original Cemetery Indexes.

For more details and how to order please go to NWKFHS Parish Register & Cemetery Register Publications
 

13 October 2011-The British Library’s Newspaper Moves strategy. 6 October 2011-Capturing Memory though the Spoken Word- Oral History at the British Library.Free Map site that allows you draw on the maps and to insert text and graphics.

The British Library’s Newspaper Moves strategy

In 2013 the British Library’s hard copy newspaper collections are due to move

from the Colindale site to a Newspaper Storage Building at Boston Spa

in West Yorkshire.  Access to the newspaper collection will be via microfilm and

digitised copies in a dedicated Newspaper Reading Room at St Pancras.

A workshop is to be held  Thursday 13 October, 10.30 – 12.00, St Pancras
to provide an update on the progress made by along with a preview of the service currently being developed for St Pancras.

The session is designed to give regular usesr of the newspaper collections the

opportunity to give feedback on the strategy, to help manage the transition

as smoothly as possible and help users adapt to access arrangements in the future.

If you would like to attend this session please RSVP to Email address

Capturing Memory though the Spoken Word- Oral History at the British Library.

A fascinating insight into oral history collections at the British Library is being offered

on Thursday 6 October 2011, 6:00pm (doors 5:30pm) - 7:30pm at the London Metropolitan Archives - Huntley Room, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB

Mary Stewart and Elspeth Millar of the British Library Oral history Unit will reveal
the different types of oral history records held by the BL and how these are collected and made
accessible.

Thursday 6 October 2011, 6:00pm (doors 5:30pm) - 7:30pm at

You will need to book in advance booking to guarantee your place by contacting Jeff Gerhadt

This seminar is free to all AfL members, non-members £2 (payable on the door).

Bring your questions and news items. Refreshments available.

Free Map site that allows you draw on the maps and to insert text and graphics.

FIND is a new website that offers totally free access to a range of constantly updated maps from reputable sources such as the Ordnance Survey and Google. 

It offers a free toolkit which allows users to draw on the maps and to insert text and graphics.  It also allows them to instantly measure, style, colour and print finished maps or save them as PDFs.

Having selected a map and a view, you can examine an area in which family members lived or create personalised maps, e.g. the geographical movements of an individual , the distribution of different family members or the location of graves.  You can also add information to maps from a range of layers grouped under various headings including ‘heritage’ and ‘boundaries’.

Proposed merger of Bexley and Bromley Library services. New Records to be available free on The National Archives website in 2012.First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries to be digitised.

Proposed merger of Bexley and Bromley Library services.

The Federation of Family History Societies has reported on a meeting held by the Archives for London (AfL)AGM which was followed by a seminar entitled London's Local Archives - the Shape of Things to Come on the  on 8 September 2011.   Amongst the subjects covered was the proposed merger of Bexley and Bromley library services.  The plan seems to be to streamline back office functions while minimising changes to front line services. Though exactly what this means is not clear. Will Branches close?

In December 2010 it was announced that responsibility for museums and libraries would be transferred to the Arts Council England (ACE), with no mention of what would happen to archives.  It was not until April 2011 that the new role for TNA was confirmed.

  

TNA’s goal will be to create a stronger sector in tough times taking note of:

The unique statutory position which requires archives to be maintained and access provided. The essential local legacy.  The fact that archives are often at minimum sustainable level already. Looking for partners that can work together.

We will have to wait and see what this really means.

New record images to be available free on the The National Archives in 2012.

The The National Archives  has scanned the following documents:

The Foreign Office card index to correspondence 1906-20 (FO 1111, over 500 drawers of cards).

The printed books of Foreign Office indexes to correspondence 1920-1953, 1959 (FO 409, over 140 volumes)

The Dominions Office card index to correspondence 1925-1947 (un-accessioned, c. 80 drawers of cards)

It is planned that by March / April 2012 the scanned images will be made available free on the TNA website, including a working ‘reference convertor’ programme to convert old references in the indexes to TNA references. New updates will go onto the website by the end of September.

Other plans include WO95 ( First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries)  to be digitised to commemorate the centenary of the 1st WW, with extra search fields to be included in the catalogue.   Full details to be announced around Remembrance Day.

 

The History of Greenhithe, Kent. The Long Long Trail the British Army in the Great War-Kent Regiments. Roll of Honour - Kent.

The History of Greenhithe.

At Greenhithe Riverside Village can be found a history of the Village and there is a Gallery of photographs dating from the Edwardian times at Gallery 

At NWKFHS Gazzetteer can be found a photograph of the Parish Church, St Mary, and details of  registers that can be purchased.

The Long Long Trail the British Army in the Great War.

This site is a great place to start if you are researching ancestors or family who served in the British Army.  Details of each regiment and each unit of the army. Step by step details on how to research a relative in WWI The site is being updated to give even more information  British Army in WWI

It has information about the Kent Regiments. E.g. the Royal West Kent Regiment  and the East Kent Regiment giving details of where the Battalions served. There is a lot within this site and it is worth exploring.

Roll of Honour - Kent.

At Roll of Honour there are a number of Links to Kentish War memorials/Rolls of Honour with photographs and transcriptions of the names. The main site at Roll of Honour lest we forget  Rolls of Honour leads to information about many Regiments, airfields, memorials, cemeteries and much more with the UK and in many other Countries.

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Knockhalt, Kent. History and Photographs. Archives for London 2011 Conference-The history of education and learning in London. Genealogy & Family History Courses.

Knockholt, Kent. History and Photographs.


At St Katherine's Parish Church there are photographs of the exterior and interior of the Church and at History of the Church  is a history of the Church.


The Memorial Inscriptions for the Churchyard can be found at  Kent Archaeological Site The Tithe Award Schedule for Knockholt can be found at  Tithe Awards


More photographs (from Edwardian Times) and history of Knockholt can also be found at Knockholt Village History




Archives for London 2011 Conference.


The AFL is holding a conference on  October 29th at University College London entitled The history of education and learning in London.


Speakers include:


Elizabeth Wells - School Archives: A Neglected Resource?
Remi Harris - The George Padmore Institute
Alice Mackay - Kingsley Hall as a centre for learning
Dr Brian Bowers - Aspects of Engineering Education
Roland Allen, Maureen Roberts, Richard Daniels - Panel
Session
Anne Barrett - UCL: a Non-conformist University


The conference fee is discounted if booking is made in advance (by 17 Sept)  £32 for AFL members and £42 for non members. For further queries please email  2011 Conference or for  more details go to Learning in London

Genealogy & Family History Courses. On-line no matter your level of experience

If you are interested in taking a course to further your knowledge and ability to research your family history the Federation of Family History Societies site at FFHS Education is a good place to start. It will give you ideas on what you should look for and what is available through various links.

Pharos, in association with the Federation of Family History Societies offers many assessed and un-assessed low cost on-line courses. It is worthwhile checking to see if any of then offer what you are looking for. Pharos Courses

Ancestor Life Search is also a helpful site, not only on various courses but offers other information  that will be helpful in your research, whether you are new to Family History of more experienced. Ancestor Life

GENEVA is an on-line calendar run jointly on behalf of GENUKI and the Federation of Family History Societies.which provides details of courses, Open Days and other events held by various Family History Societies it can be found at Geneva Calendar

e-petition-Research Copies for Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates for Genealogical Research Purposes. Guild of One-Name Studies - Railway Records Seminar: Steam Museum, Swindon, Saturday 19th November 2011, doors open at 09:30 for 10:00 start.North West Kent Family History Society Exhibition of pictures telling the history of Parkwood Hall, Beechenlea Lane. 8 September, 1st October, 12th October and 19th November 2011.

e-petition-Research Copies for Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates for Genealogical Research Purposes.

An e-petition has been started on the Government website to the Home Office requesting that Parliament enacts legislation to allow the General Register Office of England and Wales the ability to issue "uncertified" research copies of birth, marriage and death certs - with a notice on the copies that they are uncertified, and have no legal authority - and that these may be obtained at a much lower cost than the current £9.25 per cert (eg £2) when ordered on-line and the GRO Index Ref is Provided, and that these may be issued in a electronic (email) format or a plain paper in the same way as The Rep of Ireland; this would enable family historians to buy many certs for their research at a lower cost" In the Republic of Ireland you can ask for an uncertified copy from Roscommon (their version of GRO) for €4.

If you would like to support this petition you can sign it at Research Copies for B,M,D Certificates for Genealogical Research This is a much needed change and would benefit all genealogists and family historians.

Guild of One-Name Studies - Railway Records Seminar: Steam Museum, Swindon, Saturday 19th November 2011, doors open at 09:30 for 10:00 start.

Have you a Railway Worker in your Family? The GOONS are holding a Seminar held at: The Sir Daniel Gooch Theatre at the Steam Museum in Swindon on Saturday 19th November 2011, doors open at 09:30 for 10:00 start.

An excellent team of specialists will be present for this seminar which will be  covering many aspects of the criminal and religious justice systems. We lead off with Chris and Judy Rouse, local specialists. Chris and Judy are followed by three well known speakers, Martin Sanders, Senior Assistant Archivist, Modern Records Centre; David Hawkings, Author of 'Railway Ancestors - A Guide to Staff Records' and George Yalden, Education Officer, Railway Ancestors Family History Society.

Everyone is invited to bring along details of their studies for display and sharing. We shall have pin boards available and the seminar coordinator will liaise with you beforehand.

Applications are welcome from Guild members, family historians, genealogists and members of the general public with an interest in the subject matter. Further details and to book can be found at GOONS Seminar. Cost for the day is £18, includes refreshments.

(Information from the Editor, NWKFHS Journal)

North West Kent Family History Society Exhibition of pictures telling the history of Parkwood Hall, Beechenlea Lane, Swanley, Kent. 

Dates: 8th September 2011 at our Sevenoaks Branch: Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road.  7.15pm. There is also a talk by Judith Kinnison-Bourke An Oxford Canal Family 1792 - 1945 

1st October, at the Dartford Branch, Dartford Technical College, Heath Lane, Dartford. 9.45am.  There is a talk by John Usmar The History of The Royal Arsenal Woolwich.

12th October at the Society Library, KCC Library, Summerhouse Drive, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE. 10.00am to 4.0pm 

19th November at the Bromley Branch meeting, Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS 9.45am. Plus a talk by Audrey Collins Using the National Archives for Family History research.

An Exhibition of pictures telling the history of Parkwood Hall, Beechenlea Lane, Swanley from its beginnings as a Convalescent Home, to a Fire Brigade Training Centre then to a School in 1971. Visitors are welcome.

In 1890 Peter Reid wrote to the Times with an idea to build a Hospital Convalescent Home to care for patients that were released from Hospital. He funded the purchase of the land at Swanley in the Parish of Horton Kirby. The Architect E. B. L'Anson that designed the building that has survived and is now a school set in 72 acres of land in Beechenlea Lane, Swanley.

Parkwood Hall School, took over the site in 1971 Prior to this it had been the London Fire Brigade Training Centre for young recruits 1968-1970.

During the world wars it was used as a military hospital. In 1917 when the ammunitions factory at Silvertown exploded 287 homeless children and their teachers were housed at Parkwood for 5 months, all at the expense of the Founders.

Visitors are welcome. Please feel free to drop in to any of these occasions to see the pictures of people that lived and worked in these wonderful buildings and to listen to some of the excellent talks. If you know of any people that worked, trained or regained their health at this establishment please let us know and come and tell us their stories.

Presented by North West Kent Family History Society. www.nwkfhs.org.uk