We are really pleased to bring you our spring/early summer programme, which includes a mixture of in-person and online events.
Upcoming Events
- History Talks
- Around the World in 80 Documents
- Reliving the Baedeker Raids
- Reading the archives
- Research Workshops
- Adult Craft
- Archive Ambulation: A History of Norwich
- Mindful Mondays
History Talks
Our talks last for approximately 30 minutes, with time at the end for questions. Many are hybrid talks, with the chance to either listen online or in-person, with a small number online only.
‘The Generous Emulation of Friends’: The Social Avenues for Female Education in the Eighteenth-Century
By Hana Hill
Wednesday 9 March, 1pm
Evidence from the letters of some of the city’s most important historical figures invites us to examine the link between eighteenth-century teaching and the public sphere, a time when the opportunities for women’s higher education, though more informal, and far less extensive than those which men might have enjoyed, enabled their public participation in ways that might not have been possible in previous centuries.
Booking required, please use the links below.
Unlocking our Sound Heritage
Wednesday 23 March, 1pm
Over the past 3 years a team of 7 people and over 100 volunteers have been working on digitising sound recordings from across the East of England. Discover more about their work, the recordings they uncovered and what will happen next in this round up of the project.
This talk is presented by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage East of England (UOSH), a national audio preservation project chaired by the British Library and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. As the East of England UOSH hub, Norfolk Record Office is one of ten heritage organisations across the UK working to digitally preserve rare and at-risk audio archives, safeguarding them for future generations, and making them accessible to the public.
Booking required, please use the link below.
The 1920s in Norfolk
By Karen Gaffney
Wednesday 13 April, 1pm
At the time of the 1921 Census, the UK was still recovering from the First World War and the Spanish flu pandemic.
With the release of the 1921 Census online, we discover what makes this census special and explore original documents held by the Norfolk Record Office to find out what was going on locally and how they relate to wider events in the 1920s.
Booking required, please use the link below.
The Excavation of Seahenge
By Neil Moss
Wednesday 11 May, 1pm
In 1999 on the north Norfolk coast the enigmatic timber circle known as Seahenge was excavated sparking both interest and controversy. Neil Moss brings you a talk about the hows and whys and some recollections from this extraordinary site excavated under extraordinary circumstances.
This event is inspired by ‘The world of Stonehenge’ exhibition at the British Museum from 17 February, featuring Seahenge, on display for the first time outside Norfolk. #TheWorldOfStonehenge
Get the Children out! Unsung heroes of the Kindertransport
by Mike Levy
Wednesday 22 June, 1pm
At a time when governments refused to help, ordinary people took up the mantle, often risking their lives in the process. These heroes helped to save roughly 10,000 children. Mike Levy uncovers all these stories, and many more, paying attention to the role of numerous women, in, what until now, has been a largely male dominated historical narrative. in addition Mike will talk through his latest research into a Kindertransport hostel on an estate at Cockley Cley, Norfolk, for the UK Holocaust Map.
Mike’s book Get the Children Out! in support of child refugee charity ‘Safe passage’ is out now.
This talk is organised by Norfolk Record Office in partnership with Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary as part of the educational initiative, A Day of Welcome.
Booking required, please use the link below.
Around the World in 80 Documents
Sessions will run throughout the year, starting with
Australia and Antarctica
Wednesday 4 May, 10am
Discover a Norwich firm’s connection to Antarctica, hear some of the stories of convicts arriving in Australia, and find out about the voyage and experiences of those who chose to emigrate down under.
Asia and the Arctic
Wednesday 15 June, 10am
View some highly detailed paintings from an expedition to the Arctic, uncover what was being imported from India and find out what it was like to visit or serve in areas of Asia.
Reliving the Baedeker Raids
Wednesday 27 April, 2pm
Using the Baedeker Guide book to find historic towns and cities in England, the Luftwaffe bombed Norwich on 27/8 April 1942. For the 80th anniversary of the raids we bring together a number of local documents and speakers to look into what happened. During our 90 minute event Daryl Long will explore the tales of a local firewatcher in Norwich, Frank Meeres will explain how we can find out more about the Beadeker Raids through the archives, and we will explore the street where the bombs hit. There will also be a rare chance to see the enormous Norwich bomb map, measuring just over 180cm square, and Wally Emm’s cycling map from the Norfolk Heritage Centre.
Booking required, please use the link below.
Reading from the Archives
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Wednesday 13 April, 10am
Join us for around 30 minutes of stories and letters from children in their own written voice. This family friendly event centres around the lives of children over the past 2 centuries, looking at their experiences on holiday, being evacuated during the Second World War and talking about daily life growing up in the countryside.
Research Workshops
We have four workshops showing how to carry out research into particular topics using archives. They include:
- A talk on how to use Norfolk sources for your research
- A chance to ask questions
- A workbook containing workshop notes and a practical activity
- A chance to view some of our Website Tutorials explaining how to use various websites to locate and access the documents mentioned (these are also available via our YouTube channel)
The online workshops are completely free of charge and focus on sources that you can access from home. Click on a date below to book.
Introduction to Family History
We will talk you through using personal papers and interviewing relatives to make a start on your family history. Next we will show you how to use census records, civil registration, and parish registers to continue with your research.
Bookings required, using links below
Advanced Family History
If you have already attended our family history session or have plenty of experience of tracing your family tree but don’t know where to go next, this session is for you. We delve into electoral registers, marriage licence bonds and tithe documents. A number of the items included are only available in the Norfolk Record Office searchroom in person.
Booking required, using links below.
Introduction to House History
Find out how to trace the history of the fabric of your building using historical maps and modern maps before using census returns, trade directories, and wills to find out about your properties previous owners and occupiers.
Booking required, using links below.
Tracing First World War Ancestors
With the release of the 1921 census the impact of the First World War may be shown greater than ever before. Initial reports state that a greater proportion of widows were recorded than in 1911, and 730,000 children were recorded with ‘Father dead‘. Whether the census indicates that an ancestor may have been been killed in action, or that they would have been at an age to fight, this session will help in your research. We will look at how to access and use the census, absent voter lists, medal cards and attestation papers.
Booking required, please use the links below:
Adult Craft
Making a Notebook
Tuesday 17 May, 10am
Learn decoupage to create a beautiful cover for a notebook in this 1 hour session. Towards the end of the session you will learn how to sew your notebook together using a simple book binding technique developed by staff based on traditional book binding carried out by conservators at the Norfolk Record Office.
Booking required, please use the links below
Craft and Chat
Thursday 19 May, 2pm
After the success of our last craft and chat event we are back with a new one. Bring your current craft and a drink of your choice to your electronic device and join us for an hours chat while sharing your skills with like-minded individuals while you craft along.
Booking required, please use the link below
Archive Ambulation: A History of Norwich
Wednesday 18 May, 10am
Walk in the footsteps of previous Norwich citizens as you join us around the centre of Norwich using some of our archives to find out what life was like in the past. Feel free to bring your tablet or phone and scan our QR code to see the documents bringing the the past to life as we walk (if you don’t have a suitable electronic device paper copies will be available during the walk).
The walk takes approximately 90 minutes- we ask that you wear sensible footwear and come dressed for the weather.
If you are unable to join us, a self-guided version will be available after the event.
Booking required, please use the link below.
Mindful Mondays
Join us for 45 minutes of relaxing colouring in whilst chatting to others. All colouring sheets containing images from our archives are provided in advance, you just need to bring the colouring pencils! Feel free to drop in and out at any point during the session.
Booking required, using links below.
Becoming an Norfolk Record Office Research Blogger
The Norfolk Record Office blog was viewed over 46,000 times in 2021 alone. This is in part thanks to a small group of volunteers who research Norfolk’s documents and create many engaging and interesting blog posts. This opportunity allows you to join our team of bloggers for 2022 and learn how to contribute your own blog posts. You will receive a volunteer role description and agreement detailing the opportunity and the chance to attend one or both of our training sessions.
In order to sign up as one of our 2022 bloggers you will need
- Access to a computer or tablet
- Access to a camera (mobile phone cameras are fine)
- To be willing to write at least one blog post during 2022
Session 1- Writing for the Blog
Thursday 5 May, 2pm
This 90-minute training session gives an overview of the role of a research blogger, including:
- An introduction to our blog
- How to research Norfolk’s archives
- Writing for an audience- blog post dos and don’ts
If you are unable to make the date/time but would like to participate please contact us to find out about our bloggers toolkit.
Booking required, please use the link below.
Session 2- Using WordPress
Wednesday 8 June, 11am
If you are interested in finding out more about using WordPress for blogging this session is for you. Although we won’t show you how to create your very own blog, this session will help you to familiarise yourself with using WordPress in general. In this 45-minute session, we will demonstrate how to contribute to the Norfolk Record Office’s blog, including:
- Using block editor
- Adding images and captions
- Submitting your final work
Booking required, please use the link below.
Norfolk Record Office 