Past events and sessions with The Family History Group
Our meeting on the 27th March 2025 was a visit to Gateshead Library and Archives for our education and enlightenment!
A 'baker's dozen' of us went and thoroughly enjoyed the morning. Emma, the librarian, was showcasing documents about the 1831 Cholera Epidemic in Gateshead which of course was UK wide outbreak. Nearby Sunderland had been the first place reporting occurrences of the quickly spreading disease. Emma kindly displayed documents and trade directories for "old" Washington and information relating to the "new" town. The archive has recently been refurbished and the area enhanced with research facilities such as; computers, interactive map and photograph digital display screens and a variety of unique important documents related to family history research. An excellent place for local and family history historians alike. We all enjoyed the session and the wonderful resources rounding off our visit with a "cuppa" in the cosy cafe and some time for a browse in the Library shop.
Well worth a visit...
Thanks to Emma and all the staff for an interesting and enlightening session.
Address: Gateshead Library, Prince Consort Road, NE8 4LN.
Family History Group: Spring 2024 - deeply engrossed in research...and coffee!
Family History Group Visit to The Story
November 2024
Thursday 28th November 2024 we visited 'The Story' which is where the new County Durham Archives and Durham Light Infantry (DLI) collections are housed.
There was a fabulous exhibition "Children's Yesterday/Tomorrow" which highlighted children of industrial Britain and "Changing Landscapes of Durham" which was very interesting to see the physical changes to the county over time.
We visited the research area and discovered digital maps and host of computers to carry out research. The staff and volunteers were extremely helpful and we all gained something from the visit...
There is ample parking there including disabled and EV bays. There is also a cafe on site. Well worth a visit and don't forget to view the display wall outside!
Anne & Hilary
Address:-
The Story
Mount Oswald
South Road
Durham, DH1 3TQ
Mapping our Ancestors September 2024
"our blend of storytelling"
Our focus is on our ancestors, where they lived, and the distances between the places they lived. It is a way to help understand the history of our past by presenting our information in a visual way.
Along with other documents and evidence that we have collected individually we have a unique record of people, industries and places that do not exist anymore. For example: pits, shipyards, potteries, farms etc. and we can compare our lives today by reflecting on cultural and social trends of times gone by and understanding how we came to be who we are.
Liz Donkin - Group Member
Family History Open Session: 27th April 2023
Well, what a interesting and enjoyable meeting at the Family History Group open session. Fifteen group members and five guests; all cosy in the front room of the Washington Arms. Frenetic research was the order of the day with the addition of great stories, hints and tips; which gave an insight to what goes on at our meetings. It’s not just tea and biscuits…although this is generally how we start!
Anne's photos speak for themselves...
We certainly laughed a lot, and we all learned something new…and hopefully we’ll live a lot longer, so we can continue to research our family trees!
Note: We would like to thank the Manager of the Washington Arms, and her team who were very accommodating and helpful on what was a very busy day for them.
Memorabilia Day 30th June 2022
Well the session was full of wonderful items from the past.
Memorabilia included; cricket hat with trophy and assorted and interesting photos...a hooky mat making tool, carpet cutting tool both with full instructions. And from the 1930s, a hand written police log, driving licence and corresponding employee letter. Moving to WW2, a first hand account of Dunkirk evacuation operation. From the years around the turn of the 20th Centaury an Indian soldiers ceremonial dagger with links to India and South Africa...and closer to home a Durham pit disaster commemoration glass. Linked to Royal Jubilee; a Chronicle newspaper from June 1953 reporting the coronation events, and to go with that theme a story related to the Bishop of Durham, who was present in Westminster Abbey who blessed our Joe at the age of 11, a few years beforehand.
An informative, interesting and enlightening session looking into the past. Wonderful memories.
Photographs by Joan Molloy
