New Blog
Dear all,
We have launched a new blog for Hampshire Archives and Local Studies detailing the work we do and the collections we hold. The new blog will be updated weekly and can be found here:
https://hampshirearchivesandlocalstudies.wordpress.com/
This community archives blog will be closed in 1 months time. Please do follow us on our new blog.
Many thanks,
The team at Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
Community archives update, 21/4/2016
The current exhibition on our programme (available until 28 June 2016) is Governor Arthur Phillip and Lyndhurst borrowed from the New Forest Centre. Phillip, who lived and farmed in Lyndhurst, later went on to command the First Fleet carrying convicts to Australia in 1788, establishing what was to become Sydney. He became the very first Governor of New South Wales. Access is free to all our exhibitions with no booking required. Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and every first and third Saturday in the month, 9am-4pm.
Community archives update, 7/4/2016
As a result of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, tithes, which were formerly payments in kind (crops, wool, milk etc) to the church, became straightforward money payments. In order to work out the sums payable a massive survey of landholding and land ownership took place across the country. This resulted in maps and apportionments being produced for each parish, showing the names of owners and occupiers for each plot of land.
If you would like to find out more, a free talk entitled The end of clerical anticipation? by Geraldine Beech will look at tithe commutation and the tithe maps of Hampshire will take place in the Hampshire Record Office cinema on Thursday 28 April, 1.15-1.45pm.
Hampshire Record Office, 21M65-F7-13-2
You can access all the tithe maps and apportionments we hold by visiting the Hampshire Archives and Local Studies search room. Access is free with no appointment needed. Go to www.hants.gov.uk/archives for more information including our opening times, and a searchable version of our catalogue which includes low-resolution digital images of a small section of most tithe maps, generally showing the town or village centre: you can find these by searching the catalogue for a town or village name plus the word tithe.
Long term, our aim is to make all tithe maps available online alongside current and other historic mapping but this will take some time to realise. The first step is the digitisation of all Hampshire’s tithe maps and awards. Over 170 have so far been digitised, supported by grant funding and donations from groups and individuals. To find out if the parish you are interested in has been digitised please contact the Record Office on 01962 846154 or at enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk. Copies of those that have been digitised can be purchased on CD-Rom at Hampshire Record Office or via the online shop. (https://www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home.php?cat=260)
Community archives update, 24/3/2016
We have a date for your diaries. Many of you will be aware that 2016 marks the centenary of one of the most notorious battles of the First World War, the Battle of the Somme. As a Centenary Partner of the Imperial War Museum Hampshire Record Office has been provided with a copy of a ground-breaking archive film, which when it was first released in 1916 was seen by over 20 million people. This historic film of original footage will be shown in the Hampshire Record Office cinema with a contemporary orchestral soundtrack composed by Laura Rossi on Friday 1 July 2016, 6-7.30pm. The screening is free with no advanced booking required.
Community archives update, 10/3/2016
Swanmore Remembers the exhibition which has been on show in the Hampshire Record Office foyer and on the top floor landing since the beginning of the year will be coming down on Wed 30 Mar. The display was produced by Swanmore Village Archive and marks the centenary of the First World War by showing the local perspective of the conflict, primarily the village of Swanmore but also other areas of Hampshire. Work was done with local schools in Swanmore and the results of their projects are also on display including poetry, song lyrics and posters. It has made for an excellent display and has inspired much interest from those viewing it so don’t miss out.
The next exhibition on our programme is Governor Arthur Phillip and Lyndhurst borrowed from the New Forest Centre. Phillip, who lived and farmed in Lyndhurst, later went on to command the First Fleet carrying convicts to Australia in 1788, establishing what was to become Sydney. He became the very first Governor of New South Wales. A free lunchtime talk by Angela Trend on Arthur Phillip will take place to launch the exhibition on Thursday 31 March.
Access to all our exhibitions is free with no booking required. Opening hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9am-5pm, Thursday, 9am-7pm and every first and third Saturday in the month, 9am-4pm. Although we will be closed on Tuesday 15 March until 12.00 noon to allow works to take place. Also from 1 April we will no longer open on Thursday evenings. If in doubt ring 01962 846154 or visit our website http://www.hants.gov.uk/archives.
Community archives update, 2/3/2016
Last week’s Archive Ambassador training day was a great success, fully booked with excellent feedback from those attending. As ever it included information on cataloguing archive collections, the conservation and preservation of archives, digital archives and oral history recording. We received very good ratings for the sessions all round with an overall average of 4.4 out of 5. Those attending described the training as interesting, useful and enjoyable and learnt lots of new knowledge. It was particularly pleasing to see that two thirds of the group went as far as to say they found the training inspiring and possibly more than ever before there were lots of examples in the comments section describing how the training was going to be used for specific projects such as HLF bids, oral history interviews, cataloguing etc. We look forward to seeing the results of this wide range of activities.
The next Archive Ambassador training day is scheduled for 25 May 2016 (Full details at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/record-office/eventdetails-hro?id=300965). You can book a place by ringing 01962 846154.
Community archives update, 17/2/2016
Next week (Tuesday 23 February, 6-8pm) we have a Family History for Beginners evening at Hampshire Record Office. The session will offer practical advice and help in starting your family history research. You can discover the main sources available and how to use them and access material on microfiche/film with staff on hand to answer any questions. It basically will give you everything you need to know to begin investigating your family tree and the confidence to take your research forward. The session costs £13 per person and advanced booking is required so please ring 01962 846154 to secure your place.
For more information about the events we run go to http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/whatson-hro.htm
Community archives update, 11/2/2016
Notification of Thursday evening closure from 1 April 2016
Hampshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) at Hampshire Record Office currently offers free access to visitors during the following hours:
– Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
– Thursday evening, 5pm – 7pm
– 1st & 3rd Saturday per month, 9am – 4pm
The average number of Thursday evening visitors (based on a customer headcount at 6pm) has declined from an average of 7.5 visitors in 2012/13 to just 4.3 visitors for April to December 2015. Currently 3 staff members cater for evening visitors.
An effective service
Providing 3 staff members for an average of just 4.3 evening customers is not an effective use of resources. The County Council needs to ensure that resources are used effectively to deliver best value for Hampshire residents, particularly as it faces on-going budget pressures from reduced levels of Government funding. Ceasing evening opening hours will result in a more effective use of staff time in delivering HALS services.
Therefore, from 1 April 2016, Thursday evening opening hours from 5pm to 7pm will cease.
Online information available
The County Council makes available nearly one million catalogue entries via our online catalogue representing well over 90% of our records. Many entries include detailed descriptions to help customers with research before visiting HALS. Document descriptions are being added continually to the online catalogue.
Open longer than most of our neighbouring counties
Opening hours for HALS will continue to be higher than those of most central southern counties – remaining open 174 hours a month (four-week month) – compared to 158 hours in Wiltshire, 156 in Oxfordshire, 143 in Dorset, 143 in Surrey and 142 in Berkshire.
Community archives update, 29/1/16
Many of you will be aware that we run a monthly programme of talks and sometimes film shows called the Last Thursday Lectures. They are so called because they take place of the last Thursday of the month from 1.15-1.45pm. Topics are very varied but will always be connected to the history of Hampshire in some way. We have both outside speakers as well as Hampshire Record Office staff. All are welcome to attend and there is no charge although donations are always welcome.
The forthcoming talks include:-
25 Feb: Charles Miller: the man who took football from Banister Court to Brazil by Mark Pitchforth
Amazing to think, but Brazil, the country now so synonymous with the beautiful game, didn’t even play football until little more than 100 years ago and it was Charles Miller, having learnt to play in Hampshire, who started the revolution. This talk will cover Miller’s time at Banister Court School, Southampton and his role in setting up football teams and leagues on his return to Brazil. As a bonus there will also be film clips from Wessex Film and Sound Archive on Banister Court and Southampton Football Club, one of the teams Miller represented during his time in England.
31 Mar: Governor Arthur Phillip and Lyndhurst by Angela Trend
On 26 January 1788 the British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sailed into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Arthur Philip, who became the very first Governor of New South Wales, had previously lived and farmed in Lyndhurst, Hampshire.
28 Apr: The end of clerical anticipation? Tithe commutation and the tithe maps of Hampshire by Geraldine Beech
As a result of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 tithes, which were formerly payments in kind (crops, wool, milk etc) to the church, became straightforward money payments. In order to work out the sums payable a massive survey of landholding/ownership took place across the country. This resulted in maps and apportionments being produced for each parish showing the names of owners and occupiers for each plot of land. We hold them for nearly every Hampshire parish, dating between the late 1830s and early 1850s and they are very useful to local and family historians.
26 May: The Queen and Hampshire: marking the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II by David Rymill
The Queen has made many visits to Hampshire during her lifetime. At Hampshire Record Office we have material about many, although by no means all, of these, in the form of photographs, films, newscuttings, and administrative files. This talk will highlight a few of these visits.
30 Jun: Capability Brown: marking the 300th birthday of the landscape architect and gardener by Sally Miller, Hampshire Gardens Trust
Lancelot Brown more commonly known as Capability Brown, is remembered as the last of the great English 18th century artists to be accorded his due, and England’s greatest gardener. He designed over 170 parks and gardens, several of which can be found in Hampshire.
For more information about the events taking place at Hampshire Record Office visit our website at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives.
Community archives update, 13/1/16
The latest exhibition on show in the foyer and on the top floor landing of Hampshire Record Office is Swanmore Remembers. It has been produced by Swanmore Village Archive and marks the centenary of the First World War by showing the local perspective of the conflict, primarily the village of Swanmore but also other areas of Hampshire. Work was done with local schools in Swanmore and the results of their projects are also on display including poetry, song lyrics and posters. The exhibition will be available until 30 March 2016, access is free with no booking required. Opening hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9am-5pm, Thursday, 9am-7pm and every first and third Saturday in the month, 9am-4pm.
Community archives at Hampshire Record Office 