Look to Warwickshire County Council Heritage and Culture team this October for everything from Family History to a special Murder Mystery evening.
On Monday 1 October 7pm to 9pm, Life in the Madhouse: Warwick County Lunatic Asylum as part of Warwick Words Festival. The history of the Hatton Asylum provides an insight into how the Victorians treated the mentally ill.
The Hatton records are kept at the County Record Office and include admission notes, case books and photographs. Learn about this intriguing collection and view some of the original documents at this illustrated talk by archivist Susan Parsons. Cost: £7.50 and must be booked in advance by calling 01926 776438.
Family History: From Cradle to Grave on Monday 15 October 10am to 12pm offers a chance to find out about how the church used to care for its parishioners and how the records created by the parish can help family historians. Includes a look at wills, inventories and parish poor law records. Cost: £6.00, concession £5.00.
Ancestry.co.uk is on Saturday 20 October 9.15 am to 12.15pm. The ‘Ancestry’ website is a vital tool for family historians. This hands-on course by family historian Jennifer Cranfield provides an in-depth look at the online resources. Cost: £12.
How Do We Know About Warwickshire’s Jurassic Past? will take place on Saturday 20 October at 2pm. Participants travel back 200 million years to when Warwickshire was a shallow subtropical sea and explore the variety of sea-creatures that used to live here. Evidence for this seascape is preserved in Warwickshire’s landscape and quarries, and Warwickshire Museum’s collections of rocks and fossils, will be explained by Jon Radley, Curator of Natural Sciences at Warwickshire Museum. Tickets for this event cost £6.00 (concessions £5) and must be booked in advance by calling 01926 738959
A history day on Monday 22 October 10am to 4.15pm looks at Warwickshire Before the Norman Conquest. The session will review the evidence for life in Warwickshire before the Norman Conquest. The session will look at the Romans and early Anglo Saxons, including their cemeteries, and how Warwickshire changed in the late Anglo Saxon period, including a look at Anglo Saxon churches. Cost: £15.
Family History on the Internet on Saturday 27 October 9.15am to 12.15pm will help people get the best out of the internet by improving research skills. Cost: £12.
The Auction’ – Murder Mystery evening at St John’s Museum, Warwick on Saturday 27 October 7pm for a 7.30pm start – 11pm. Following the suspicious death of Baroness Audry von Muchen, the fabulous von Muchen relics are to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. In the absence of a legal heir, it looks like all the proceeds will go to her favourite charity – unless a claimant comes forward at the last moment.
What is the truth behind the Baroness’ death? There is only one way to find out! Tickets £12 each. Not suitable for children, there will be a bar available. To book tickets or for more information please telephone Heritage and Culture on 01926 412069.
Unless otherwise stated all of these workshops take place at Warwickshire County Record Office, which is located at Priory Park, Cape Road, Warwick, CV34 4JS. Call ahead to book your place on 01926 738959.
More information at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cro.