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Upcoming Exploring Archives workshops – Duck thieves and naughty pupils

  • 15th April 2014

Duck thieves, secreted needles, stressed teachers and missing pupils are among the stories we’ll be bringing to light in the next two workshops in our Exploring Archives series on Quarter Sessions and School Records.

Quarter Sessions – Wed 14th May 10am-12pm

Quarter Sessions were a court and a forerunner of the County Council. As a court is stood between the Petty sessions, for the minor crimes, and the Assizes, for the most serious. They also dealt with all sorts of other matters, including removal orders, road maintenance, application to build railways and the running of the county. A wealth of stories are contained here, including Thomas Hemmings, duck thief, and two ladies convicted for stealing acorns. Despite their value and containing thousands of names, they are an underused resource, so we’ll be explaining how to use the indexes and make the most of these in your research as well as uncovering some fascinating stories.

School Records – Wed 18th June 10am-12pm

Schools have kept a wide range of records over the years to assist them in their running, and many people come to us to have a look for family history, investigating the history of their town/village or to help with other research. In this workshop we’ll explain the main types of sources, including logbooks, punishments books, photos, newspapers, plans and correspondence, and how to locate them.

Places cost £6 each, and to book your please ring us on 01905 766352, email explorethepast@worcestershire.gov.uk or call in at the Explore the Past desk on level 2.

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