Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas from all at NWKFHS.

Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas from all at NWKFHS.

Christmas Cards from the past. A small selection of Christmas Cards sent between 1903-1915.

Christmas Card sent 23 December 1903 to Miss E Hall, Cycle Works, Wimbourne Road, Winton Bournemouth. Sent from Agnes L Sheppard.

Christmas Card sent 24 Dec 1903 to Miss W George, 10 Perweeson? Terrace, Redruth, Cornwall. Sent from Kingswear.

Christmas Card sent 24 December 1906 to Mrs. Ellman, Ryde, Isle of Wight. Sent from Rochester Kent.

Christmas Card sent 2 January 1908 to Miss Ethel Murphy, St Johnsbury VT, USA from her aunt Grace. posted in Cowansville, Quebec, Canada.

 

 

Christmas Card sent 22 December 1911? to Miss E. Cousins, Towcester, Northants. From 'Fred'.

Christmas Card sent 22 December 1914 to Mrs. W Turner, Larpit Lane, Whitwell near Mansfield, Notts. Sent from her son Harry to say that he is coming home on leave. 

Christmas Card sent 23 December 1914 to Mme Clementine Godfrey, Queens Road, 41, London, England. Sent from Switzerland.

Christmas Card sent 12 December 1915 to Private F Stratford 3349 no 12 Platoon, C Coy, 2nd Batt 1st Bucks, Chelmsford. Sent by his niece 'little Joy'.

North West Kent Family History journals from 1978-2007 can now be viewed or downloaded Free

North West Kent Family History journals from 1978-2007 can now be viewed or downloaded Free in PDF format from the relevant listings pages.

 

As part of a major revamp of the NWKFHS website it was decided to add this free resource. Some 34 years of the journals published by the Society containing articles, research, indexes, photographs.

 

In 1984 a member wrote to the Editor of the Journal:

 

"In my opinion the North West Kent ,Journal is the most useful in that it consistently prints previously unpublished records from a number of sources, which would otherwise remain unknown to the general searcher. In the last issue of the Journal, for. example, there are lists of residents in the parishes of Downecentury. Browsing through all the past Journals since the foundation of the Society, I have noted many such valuable lists... In the past three years 16 lists have been published, including the Beckenham Census of 1821; Bromley Settlement Certificates; Chelsfield Tax returns of 1771; Cudham M.I's; and N.W.Kent Royalists in 1655. In just 12 Journals, the Society has published  details of 2,700 names covering the period 1450-1821".

 

Since then (1984) there has been another 28 years of further lists etc. In line with the Charitable aims of the Society to further the study of Family History the first 34 years of the Journal is being made available to all who are interested in the subject.

 

The Journals can be found at NWKFHS BACK JOURNALS  By clicking on the Contents page of each Journal you will be taken to an index of the contents and below this is the link to download the Journal. You are welcome to read the Journals for private research, they are still copyrighted by the Society and any enquiries about any other use must be made to the Journal Editor.  

 

Post 2007 Journals are not available to be downloaded, however, by using the index of the contents for the Journals upto 2012 you can order a copy of the any article for £1 plus postage. Details can be found at on the NWKFHS Back Journal link given above.

 

There are also other Datasets that can be searched for free at Searchable Datasets They include Land Deeds & Documents, Ladywell & Brockley Cemetery as well as On-line Articles.

 

 

 

The New Kent History and Library Centre was officially opened on Tuesday 11th December 2012. Historical National Grid (Gas) Photographs.

The New Kent History and Library Centre was officially opened on Tuesday 11th December 2012 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent KG.

 

The official opening marks the final commissioning and acceptance by the National Archives as an approved archive.

 

The Duke was given a tour of the facilities which include research rooms, exhibition area and restoration workshops. NWKFHS was represented by the Society's President David Cufley who was one of three Kent history societies representatives, along with a representative of the TNA, presented to the Duke as he was about to enter the research room.

 

The National Archive acted as advisor to KCC to ensure the standards set for the new building were met and to help with issues such as fire control, atmosphere and methods of storage. The National Archive acted as advisor to KCC to ensure the standards set for the new building were met and to help with issues such as fire control, atmosphere and methods of storage.

 

 

At the end of his tour the Duke unveiled the plaque commemorating the opening of the Centre. This plaque will eventually be put up on the outside of the building.

 

There is also a new exhibition celebrating the opening of the flagship centre for Kent history.
On display together for the first time are a unique collection of documents including letters, diaries and charters linked to some of the most famous people in British history. From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Cromwell to Nelson, a jilted bride and the Gunpowder Plot. 

 

The Manuscript Exhibition includes original documents from the Archives, the National Archive and from the archives at Pas de Calais, France. It runs from Saturday 3rd December 2012 until Saturday 2nd March 2013. Admission is Free. More details can be found at Kent Archives .

Historical National Grid (Gas) Photographs. The Gas REA London HQ Branch has put some 1, 400 photographs, most dating from the old Gas Industry, on its website. They have no captions and thus are seeking help from ex employees and others in identifying them. The Photographs can be found at OLD FLAMES

Thousands of World War I archive records  are to be digitised by the RAF Museum for the 1914-18 centenary.

 

Following a £64,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund The RAF museum has announced that it will digitise, preserve and provide public access to around 300,000 First World War personnel records. They will be part of a new permanent exhibition exploring the 1914-18 conflict.

More details can be found at Cuture 24 

 

The Federation of Family History Societies has announced that The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) that The Federation of Family History Societies has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation.

 

Dr. Nick Barratt, FFHS President has outlined how the FFHS will assist in creating much needed standards for genealogical data around the world.

 

It is hoped that some of the problems that have emerged – incorrect citation of primary sources, confusion about where information was originally created, and issues around referencing personal archives that have been made available on the Internet can start to be dealt with by encouraging and setting standards.  

 

Higham Village History Group. Another village local history group that has a lot of information and photographs of the village. They hold regular talks, Visitors are welcome (there is a £2 charge). If your ancestors came from this area this site is worth exploring. Higham Village HG

 

 

 

 

Crayford. For much of its existence Crayford was a comparatively small village but by the late 1800's it started to grow. Then the Maxim Nordenfeldt Gun and Ammunition Company was formed in Crayford. A decade later Vickers of Birmingham came into the area eventually buying up Maxim Nordenfeldt. From then and into the WWI period Vickers grew and became a major centre of employment.

 

If you had ancestors and their families in this part of North West Kent then Crayford History is a site that is well worth having a look at. You will find photographs, history of the area including of Vickers. 

 

St. Mary Cray Paper Mill. If your ancestors or family were connected with the Paper Mill industry in St Mary Cray you might be interested in this down loadable pdf Bromley Borough Local History paper of the history of the Mill, including illustrations. St Mary Cray Paper Mill.

 

Kent Towns, Villages, and Public Houses. Is an interesting site which states "The idea of the Kent Villages site, is to correctly arrange the Pubs in Kent into a reasonable structure, following the variety of changes in Registration, e.g. Districts, Lathes, Hundreds, Parishes etc". There is a lot of information that can be found.  Kent Towns, Villages and Pubs

 

BBC WW2 Peoples Stories:

 

Between  2003 and 2006 the BBC asked people to contribute their memories of World War Two to a website . This archive of 47,000 stories and 15,000 images is the result. The stories cover the Country including Kent. It is an amazing site that is worth while looking at. 

WW2 Peoples War

 

 

 

 

 

Bexley Historical Society. Changing Times Project. A photographic project started in 2009 using old photos of the London Borough of Bexley from a variety of sources and comparing them with ones taken from approximately the same position today. They are also asking
people who have interesting old photographs of the area, certainly previously unseen ones, to contribute to this ongoing project.

They also hold regular monthly meetings at The Huxtable Hall, St Martin's Church, Erith Road, Barnehurst, Kent DA7 6LE (near Bexleyheath Bus Garage) at 7.45pm for 8pm start.
Talks are free for Members. Visitors are very welcome and the fee is £2 per meeting. Details can be found at BHS

Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre.

At Bexley Borough Photos there are some 3,200  photographs and Post Cards from the Victorian period onwards of Bexley. You can search by date and area and by theme. You are sure to find something that you are looking for.

Bexley war memorials project has several downloadable information sheets about War Memorials in the area. This is an on-going project to record servicemen who are commemorated on Bexley war memorials.

Thursday 6 December - Boswell's Bexley  Repeat of 'Boswell's Bexley' a talk, first presented on 3 December which has been sold out). 7.15pm-8.30pm at  Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre. Admission: £3.50.

Archivist Lucy Bonner will give an illustrated tour of Bexley using recently digitised images taken from lantern slides made by one of Bexley's foremost local historians and photographers Arthur H. Boswell. Boswell's images captured a changing Bexley as the area transformed from a Kentish countryside to a London suburb. For further details and how to book see Boswell's Bexley

North West Kent Family History Society - Bexley Asylum Minute Books 1901-1939. The Publications and Projects Team has published this CD of the work carried out by Society Volunteers at the Society Library.

 

The work consists of some 12,000 names of staff, patients and contractors who were recorded in the Minute Books. The contractors, staff and patients came from many places, not just from the Bexley area. Lincolnshire, Essex and other places within London are recorded and some even further afield such as America, Canada and Europe. Details can be found at NWKFHS Publications 

 

Other News.

 

British Newspaper Archive reaches the 6 million page mark on its first birthday. The target is to have 40 million fully-searchable pages by 2021, this 10-year project is the biggest digitisation of newspapers to take place in the UK.

 

The on line Archive can be searched at British Newspapers The website is free to search, but there is a charge who would like to view the paid for content.id-for content. Access to the resource is free to users of the British Library’s Reading Rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

North West Kent Society 2nd Free e-Newsletter is available to download.

The second of the NWKFHS Newsletters can be viewed at  NWKFHS e-Newsletter The editor is keen to develop the Newsletter if you have any ideas or would like to contribute please contact the editor at NWKFHS Editor

Ladywell and Brockley Cemetery Memorial Inscriptions Free database. 

If any of your ancestors or their family lived in the area covered in the area covered by Ladywell and Brockley area of South East London (Formerly N W Kent) and you are looking for any of their burials in might be worthwhile having a look at the Free database. It is free to search and to view the results. 

The information as originally recorded doesn't contain the full text of each inscription, but nonetheless retains most of the genealogical information including relationships of people on each gravestone. The database can be found at Ladywell and Brockley MI's

Gift membership to the NWKFHS.

Looking for an unusual present, for Christmas, a birthday, anniversary or some other special occasion? Why not give your friend or family member a gift of Society membership. Gift membership delivers fully paid membership of the Society until the end of the calendar year, for the same fee as a standard membership. Details can be found at NWKFHS Gift Membership  the form can be found at NWKFHS Gift Form

Elsewhere in Kent.

Barham Village Genealogy website.

This is another example of a website set up and operated to provide information about the area and free family history records including births and baptism from 1700-1908. Barnham Village.

Hastingleigh, Kent is an another such site, it contains early photographs of the area, cemetery inscriptions and much more. Hastingleigh

 

Public Libraries News.

If you are interested and concerned about your local Library and of Libraries in the future you might interested in Public Libraries News It will keep you up to date with what is happening, what the Councils, including Kent, are up to. There are also reports from different groups such as Volunteer libraries: Third Sector article sets cat amongst pigeons once more You can also subscribe to a regular Newsletter.   History of Public Transport in, South East London, and North West Kent. This is a fascinating site with lots of information and many photographs of various types of public transportation in our area 50 or 60 years ago, some even further back in time. There is a lot to explore on this site and if you had family or lived in the area in the past you are sure to find something of interest.    History of Transport-SE London and NW Kent.    The Mills Archive - Directory of Kent Mill People. Was one of your ancestors or one of their family connected with a Mill in Kent? If so you might wish to have a look at Kent Mill People from various sources of people at various Kent Mills.   Hasted's History of Kent-1797. Though written over 200 years ago it is one of the most detailed account of Kent. Covered in 12 volumes it provides information about and gives a history of all the parishes in Kent. Normally you would have to go to a Library or Archives to consult these volumes but all 12 volumes can be read at British History on Line. Some news of Archive closures.

Birmingham Archives and Heritage. 

Closure of Search room from Monday 26th November 2012 until 3rd September 2013
in preparation of the move to the new Library of Birmingham.  The last day the archives search room will be open is Friday 23rd November 2012. For more information see BAH

 

Suffolk Record Office.

 

Due to changes being made the microfilm room at Ipswich will be closed from 6th December to 15 December 2012 to allow for some additional shelving to be installed. This will then house the SFHS library as well as material from the collection, which is currently housed in the strongroom.

There will be no access to the film and fiche during this time, nor will they be producing originals instead. See SRO for further information.

The West Sussex Record Office.

Will be closed for stocktaking  Monday 3 December to Saturday 15 December inclusive, reopening on Monday 17 December 2012. The Record Office will also be closed on 25 and 26 December, reopening on Thursday 27 December. It will also be closed on Tuesday 1 January 2013, reopening on Wednesday 2 January 2013. See WSRO  for more information.

 

North West Kent Family History Meetings for December 2012.

Dartford Branch. Dartford Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford.   The meetings room is the New Auditorium. This should be open from 9.45am with the meeting proper starting at 10.30am.There is plenty of parking. Visitors are Welcome, a Donation is appreciated.

Saturday 1st December 2012. Dr Colin Chapman Christmases Past: Some Festive Customs and Traditions.

Sevenoaks Branch. Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road (at junction with Crampton Rd.), Sevenoaks, at 7.15pm. There is plenty of Parking. Visitors are Welcome, a Donation is appreciated.

Thursday 13 December 2012. Bob Ogley In the Wake of the Hurricane.

There are Bookstalls and advice about Family History available at all NWKFHS Branches.

Please check the website or this blog before travelling to any meeting to ensure that there are no changes to the programme.

NWKFHS Branch Newsletters for Dartford and Sevenoaks can be viewed or downloaded Free at Society Meetings.

NWKFHS Society e-Newsletter can be viewed or downloaded free at NWKFHS

Other Society Meetings in Kent.

Bexley Historical Society.  The Huxtable Hall, St Martin's Church, Erith Road, Barnehurst, Kent DA7 6LE (near Bexleyheath Bus Garage) at 7.45pm for 8pm.

Monday 10th December 2012. A Personal History of Belvedere, by Ken Chamberlain. More details can be found at BHS Meetings 

Societies in Kent.

Blackfen Past and Present is a website with information about Blackfen in the Borough of Bexley, Kent. There are photographs website and anyone with an interest in Blackfen is encouraged to share their memories and thoughts.

Other News.

War Memorials Online This site brings together  information on the UK’s war memorials held by the leading experts. It  provides an unprecedented opportunity for the public to upload images of war memorials and log concerns for the conservation of these important community and historical sources for future generations.

 

The aim is create a complete picture of war memorials across the country. To do this the public is asked to help to ensure there are records for all of the UK’s war memorials. The Public is also asked to help ensure at risk memorials can be found before it is too late to save them. Anyone and everyone can get involved in discovering and registering war memorials for future generations.

 

The Project is a collaboration between War Memorials Trust, IWMs  War Memorials Archive (formerly UK National Inventory of War Memorials) English Heritage and members of the public.

The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) has anounced a new project of Key WWI records MH 47 record series: First World War Military Service Tribunals. 

 

The National Archives, the Friends of The National Archives and the Federation of Family History Societies have started on a joint project to digitise and transcribe these records. Funding is being provided jointly by the Friends of The National Archives and the FFHS.

 

The files consists of minutes and papers from the Central Military Service Tribunal and Middlesex Appeal Tribunal as well as some papers of the Veterinary Tribunal and a printed set of minutes from the Central Medical War Committee. Some 10,000 surviving records of men who wished for a variety of reasons to be exempted from Military Service during WWI. 

 

They also concern men who were troubled about taking part in the War by conscience and religious convictions.  They were often unfairly vilified as cowards but equally there were outstanding displays of courage and personal sacrifice by conscientious objectors working under fire as medical orderlies and stretcher bearers.

 

Further details and some examples of the records can found at National Archives   a research guide on Conscientious objectors and exemptions from military service can be found at NA Research Guide

 

Find My Past the TV show is to return to TV.

 

A further 10 new episodes start on Tuesdays at 9pm, 30 October 2012 on the Yesterday channel: Freeview channel 19, Sky 537, Virgin Media 203. Chris Hollins of BBC Breakfast, Watchdog presents the show.

 

Further details can be found at FmyP TV Show

 

 

 

North West Kent Family History Society's new e-Newsletter.

 

The Society has launched a new Society e-Newsletter which is available to download from the NWKFHS website. The Newsletter will be published on a regular basis and it is intended to provide more news and information on a regular basis. .

 

It is available to all, members and non members. Eventually it is hoped you will be able to subscribe to the news letter so you can have it delivered direct to your e-mail. 

 

The e-Newsletter is being edited by The Society's Journal Editor and if there is anything that would be of interest to readers that you would like to be considered to be included in future editions please contact the Editor by e-mail at NWKFHS Editor  

 

The Society is also in the process of looking at further resources being available on the website.  

 

A mental health history including asylum and community care periods from 1377 to the 1940's. A Middlesex University Resource.

 

If your ancestors or members of their families worked or were patients in an asylum or under community care during this period this site offers a lot of information. The site can be found at History Timeline

 

The site includes  The asylums index  which lists and gives details of asylums (paupers in 1844) In England and Wales and much more.

 

Ancestry.com is being sold:

It is being reported that Ancestry.com is to be sold to a European private equity firm called Permira. Both Ancestry and Permira have stated that investment in new records will continue to help expand the site.

Local History Societies have been in existence for many years and they form an important role in whether they are covering a village or an area of a now larger conurbation.

 

Kent has many such Local History Societies, many working away and producing a vast resource that is also of interest to Family Historians. As Family Historians have increasingly looked to details of their families, how and where they lived what factors in their lives developed their character or why they may have left a village or town and Local Historians are producing more details about records of the inhabitants of their area it is clear that there is a great overlap of interest.

 

If you have ancestors and family from Kent it is worthwhile checking out a Local History Society to see what information that they have. Some Village LHS have carried out 'Village' projects effectively producing records not only of the history of the Village but the inhabitants as well.  

 

Some well known examples are the Farninham and Eynsford LHS the Marden History Group which has information free on its website as well as further information that can be obtained for a comparatively small amount of money. Many such as the Plaxtol Local History Society the  Wrotham LHS  the Margate LHS The Brenchley and Matfield FHS also have early photographs of the Area.

 

Nearly all LHS produce publications about their area which can be purchased for a reasonable amount. Joining a LHS can provide many benefits such as access to more records or histories and to be able to attend talks about the village.

 

Some have limited presence on the web, but are well worth investigating. A list of Kent Local History Society with contact details and much more can be found at localhistoryonline

 

North West Kent Family History Society's Free Family History afternoon on 10th November 2012 at Dartford, Kent is fast approaching. It is open to all who are in the early days or would like some advice on how to further their research. Some one to one sessions are also available, if booked in advance  on a first come basis. There will be experienced family historians on hand to help.

 

It is entirely free, as part of the Society’s aims and objectives in promoting the study of family history. Both members of the Society and non-members are welcome to attend. You will have the opportunity to discover what records can help you and how to access them.

 

Pre booking is essential. More details and how to book can be found at NWKFHS Free FH Afternoon.

 

 

Kent Ancestors who may have gone to British Columbia, Canada in the 1840's and 1850's or later. BC Archives, Vital Events Records. Vancouver Island GenWeb Project. Automated Geneaolgy: Free Canadian Censuses. Library and Archives Canada. North West Kent Family History Society Meetings for November 2012

Kent Ancestors who may have gone to British Columbia, Canada in the 1840's and 1850's or later.

James Conner toured England between 1847 - 1853 using a stage coach to advertise the benefits of going to North America.  He visited many small towns so there was a lot of information available to people who were looking to better their lives. 

In BC  Hudsons Bay  established a fort, at Victoria in 1843. Steam Ships were being built and becoming more common and they needed coal.  coal was also needed for the Company blacksmiths' forges. Discovery of coal at the north end of Vancouver's Island led to Fort Rupert being built in 1849. However,  Fort Rupert was not successful and this failure was responsible for the development of  Nanaimo.

During this time many people came to Vancouver Island from all over the British Isles, including Kent. British Columbia has available many resources to search for records of your Kent Ancestors or family who may have gone to BC during this period and the good news is that much of it is free. 

BC Archives, Vital Events Records (Births, Marriages and Deaths). Family Search Canadian Records.

At BC Archives you can search and obtain the details of marriage and death registrations date from 1872, birth registrations from 1854 (pre-1872 births registered after 1872). Colonial Marriages from 1859 to 1872 and baptisms from 1836-1888. They can also be searched on the Family Search site at FS Canada. For some you can even obtain copies of the original certificates for free. You can also access many of the Canadian Censuses from 1851 free.

Vancouver Island GenWeb Project - Links To The Past. 

This site is essential if members of your ancestral family were or may have gone to this part of the world. There are four indexes of some forty-five thousand summarised transcripts of articles in newspapers published on Vancouver Island between 1858 and 1932. The period between 1858 and 1910 have been digitised which you can access from the results. 

Vancouver Island GenWeb  To Search the newspapers BMD before 1872 Vancouver Island Pre 1872 BMD or to search all (you can search by name as well) see Historical Victoria Newspapers 

Unlike the UK you can also access most of the Canadian censuses: Indexes/Transcripts for free, including images of some of the censuses. Nor do you need to subscribe to Commercial sites.

Automated Genealogy  has several projects to index Canadian censuses. Library and Archives Canada has digitised their microfilms of the original census forms for several of the Canadian censuses and Automated Genealogy has organised volunteers to produce indexes to the people enumerated in these censuses. There is a link to the LAC image of the original census page at the top of each transcribed census page.

The 1911 census is complete and the 1901 about 70% complete. There are many other projects linked to this site.

The Library and Archives site also enables you to search many of the censuses by name or you can carry out an ancestor search at LAC Ancestor Search

There are many Family History Societies in Canada who have a wealth of knowledge and publications that can help you in your search for your family who went to Canada. Archives Canada's Directory of Selected Genealogical Resources is a good place to start.

North West Kent Family History Society Meetings for November 2012. Visitors are welcome, a donation is appreciated.

Bromley Branch: The main hall, Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS. There is free parking at the church, access is from College Rd. and from North St. The hall opens at 9.45am, the meeting proper is due to start at 10.30am.

Saturday 17 November 2012. Chris Jupp The Queen's Own West Kent Regiment in WW1

Dartford Branch: Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford, DA1 2LY. There is plenty of parking at the new site. The meetings room is the New Auditorium. This should be open from 9.45am with the meeting proper starting at 10.30am.

Saturday 3 November 2012. Christopher Bull An armchair walk of Swanscombe

Sevenoaks Branch: Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road (at junction with Crampton Rd.), Sevenoaks, at 7.15pm.

Thursday 8 November 2012. Mrs Sheila Boyd Georgian Times

Branches have help desk for assistance with research and publications etc for sale. Please check the Society website or this blog before you travel for any last minute changes.

North West Kent Family History Society Free Family History Session: Saturday 10th November 2012 at Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. The Future of our Heritage - Plymouth- Plymouth Guildhall on Monday 29th October 2012. Freed back asked for The New National Archives Discovery Catalogue. THE GENIE GAZETTE 1996-2005: Irelands Genealogical Gazette-Free to download and read.

North West Kent Family History Society Free Family History Session: Saturday 10th November 2012 at Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. 1.30pm – 4pm

North West Kent Family History Society is holding another Free Session where those in the early days of their research or have started their research and are looking for help and advice and the opportunity to discover what records can help and how to access them.

After a successful Session in August the Society will be holding its last one of the year at Dartford Science & Technology College. It is open to Members and Non Members and is  entirely free as part of the Society’s aims and objectives to promote the study of Family History.
There will also be a limited number of one-to-one sessions (booked on a first come, first served basis) to help you get started.

Pre Booking is essential. To book or for more information please e-mail Free Family History Afternoon or see the link under Latest News on the  NWKFHS Society Website

Around the Country and other Countries:

The Future of our Heritage - Plymouth- Plymouth Guildhall on Monday 29^th October 2012.

A Consortium Conference support for the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office. Free to attend but pre booking is essential. See Devon FHS News

Freed back asked for The New National Archives Discovery Catalogue which is still under construction and replaces the old searches such as Your Archives and Person Search facilities.  The National Archives are asking for feedback to improve the Catalogue. See Discovery Catalogue

THE GENIE GAZETTE 1996-2011: Irelands Genealogical Gazette-Free to download and read.

If you had Irish ancestors or family you might be interested in the Genealogical Society of Ireland's newsletters, The Genie Gazette from 1996-2005 that are now free to download and read.  The Gene Gazette  there is also an index of the newsletters. For Newletters from 2006-2011 Gene Gazettee 2006-11

Durham Home Guard records 1939-1945- Some 50% of the records will not be able to be released into the Public Domain. The Archives Hub: New Regional Search Available. Ancestry is offering free access to 1911 census until 2 November 2012.The British Library and Qatar Foundation unveil project to digitise half a million pages of archive material.

Durham Home Guard records 1939-1945.

There are over 80,000 records of people who served in the Home Guard in the County of Durham only, between 1939 and 1945. You can search the entire Durham Home Guard collection.

However, they have run across a problem in that many who served in the Home Guard were younger than expected, thus  if the date of birth is less than 100 years ago the records may not be available to download. If this is the case you may be able to gain access to the records by making a Freedom of Information request. The National Archives pilot project has revealed that 50 per cent of the records selected for the project, were of men under the age of 27, with 28 per cent of the men aged 18 or younger. This means  half of the records from the pilot cannot be released into the public domain, because for data protection reasons they are subject to a closure period of 100 years from date of birth.

The question has to be asked how will this affect the original plans to digitise the rest of the Home Guard records with Partner organisations. Will commercial companies wish to take part in an expensive digitisation if such restriction apply to many of the records?

The record search page and more details can be found at Durham Home Guard

The Archives Hub: New Regional  Search Available.

The Archives Hub is a gateway to thousands of archives in the UK. Representing over 180 institutions across the country, the Archives Hub is an effective way to discover unique and often little-known sources to support your research.

To make it easier to search for archives held in particular parts of the country, you can now search by pre-defined regions. There is also a search area box that can be moved by manipulating the corners, so researchers can customise the area.

In addition to the regional search, the results list, which now includes the title and dates, and also a display, which includes a new utility bar, designed to enable us to add functionality over time, such as various links, output option, social networking widgets and information about digital content.

Ancestry is offering free access to 1911 census until 2 November 2012.

All you need to provide is a name and e-mail address for access.

The British Library and Qatar Foundation unveil project to digitise half a million pages of archive material.

Though first announced in July it is worth repeating due to the importance and scope of the project. British Library and Qatar Foundation will digitise more than 500,000 pages from the archives of the East India Company and India Office, in addition to 25,000 pages of medieval Arabic manuscripts - all of which will be made freely available on line for the first time.

This material could only be consulted by visiting the British Library’s Reading Rooms in London. Once digitised and uploaded onto a dedicated on line platform, it will be freely available to researchers across the UK, throughout the Gulf and around the world.

More details can be found at The British Library and Qatar Foundation Project

Other Events in and around Kent.

The Workhouse a exhibition held at London Metropolitan Archives from 24 September 2012 - 10 January 2013 is FREE. Inspired by Dickens and his desire to reveal the horrors of nineteenth century poverty, the LMA have 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.

Workhouse: Dickens and Philanthropy. A morning of talks, document discovery and an introduction to the new exhibition on life in the workhouse to be held at London Metropolitan Archives on Friday 26 October from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm is £10

 In the afternoon there is a guided walk around Clerkenwell will focus on Dickens and philanthropy.  (bring a picnic) Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851. See Visitors information

October and November 2012: North West Kent Family History Society Volunteers will be at Bromley Local Studies, Bexley Village Library and New Ash Green. Bromley Museum, The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, BR6 0HH has an Exhibition from 8 October 2012 - 16 November 2012: Smog and Birdsong: A Travellers Tale Exhibition. Suffolk Family History Open Day: NWKFHS Stand. 20th October 2012. Surrey Heritage Celebration - Open Day at Surrey History Centre 6 October 2012. Hastings & Rother FHS Family History Fair Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road, Hastings. Sunday 14th October 2012

October and November 2012: North West Kent Family History Society Volunteers will be at Bromley Local Studies, Bexley Village Library and New Ash Green.

NWKFHS volunteers will be at Bromley Local Studies on the 27th October 2012 to offer Free advice and help to visitors about family history. Details of opening hours and location can be found at Bromley LS

Bexley Village Library. NWKFHS volunteers from Dartford Branch will also be on hand on the 27th October 2012 to offer free advice and help with family history. For details about location and opening hours see Bexley Village Library

New Ash Green Library, Lance Croft, New Ash Green DA3 8QT. NWKFHS free Drop-in session 24th November 2012. Volunteers will be on hand to help and advise about family history. Details of opening hours and location can be found at New Ash Green

Suffolk Family History Open Day: NWKFHS Stand. 20th October 2012.

Society volunteers will be at the NWKFHS stand at the Suffolk Family History Open Day at Needham Market Community Centre on 20th October 2012.

Besides offering Society publications for sale the volunteers are more than happy to talk about family history and offer advice. More details can be found at Sufolk FHS

Bromley Museum, The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, BR6 0HH has an Exhibition from 8 October 2012 - 16 November 2012: Smog and Birdsong: A Travellers Tale Exhibition produced in partnership with Sevenoaks Museum.

The Exhibition is free. Details can be found at Smog and Bird Song or by e-mailing Bromley Museum

Details of Meetings, Talks and Events at which NWKFHS is holding or attending can be found at NWKFHS Events  Please check the various events websites and the NWKFHS website before travelling to an event, meeting or talk to ensure there have been no changes.

Around the Country:

2012.

Open Day at Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 6ND. Saturday 6 October 2012. A day of free events at Surrey History Centre. Including children’s craft activities, a family history helpdesk, behind the scenes tours of the award winning archive. The ‘behind the scenes’ tours will be at 10.30am and 12.30pm.  Places are limited, details on how to book can be found at Surey Open Day

The day will also include our Surrey Heritage Annual Lecture: 'Valuing the Past: Why Heritage Matters in the Modern World' by Dr Joe Flatman Head of Central Casework and Programmes, English Heritage. 2pm - 3.30pm.

Hastings & Rother FHS Family History Fair Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road, Hastings. Sunday 14th October 2012, 10:00am-4:30pm.

Entrance fee: £2.00 - Talks: £2.00 each or 2 talks plus entrance to the fair £5.00 or 3 talks plus entrance to the fair £6.00. Details can be found at Hastings and Rother FHS Fair 

Swanley Library-North West Kent Family History Society display on show until 27 Septemeber 2012. Other Talks/Events in Kent: Gravesend Historical Society. 8th October 2012 The History of Sissinghurst Castle and its Garden. Plaxtol Local History Group: 9th October 2012, 8pm - THE RENAISSANCE GARDEN IN KENT, a talk by Sally Berkeley. Tunbridge Wells Family History Society: 23rd October The Acid Bath Murders- David Briffett.

Swanley Library-North West Kent Family History Society display on show until 27 Septemeber 2012.



NWKFHS Display at Swanley Library. 

NWKFHS has a display at the Kent County Council Library at Swanley, London Road, Swanley, BR8 7AE. The display will remain at the Library until 27 September 2012.

For opening hours and how to get there see Swanley Library

This is one of many KCC Libraries in the NW Kent area that the Society has displays or has had displays available for the public to see. They have a lot of information about family history in the area and what can be found. 



NWKFHS Display at Dartford Library.

A Free NWKFHS exhibition was also available throughout the week of 10 September - 17th September 2012 at Dartford Central Library, Market Street, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1EU.

NWKFHS volunteers also assisted at the Federation of Family History Societies stand at Bluewater, Kent 6th -9th September, 2012.

NWKFHS were on hand to answer questions, distribute free leaflets and guides, not just about NWKFHS but other family history societies as well.

NWKFHS Volunteers and Display at FFHS Stand Bluewater, Kent 6-9th September 2012.

Further Events that NWKFHS will be at can be found at NWKFHS Fairs and Events

Other Talks/Events in Kent:

Gravesend Historical Society. 8th October 2012 The History of Sissinghurst Castle and its Garden-Susan Pope. Details can be found at GHS Events

Plaxtol Local History Group: 9^th October 2012, 8pm - THE RENAISSANCE GARDEN IN KENT, a talk by Sally Berkeley.

Visitors are welcome, there is a £2 visitors charge. Further details can be found at PLHG Meetings.

Tunbridge Wells Family History Society: 23rd October       The Acid Bath Murders- David Briffett. Groombridge Village Hall 7.30pm. Further details can be found at TWFHS 

Please make sure that you check the relevant site for full details and any information before travelling to a meeting or talk.