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.