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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · 2d

A great afternoon with #media students from #WiltshireCollege (Chippenham campus) and their tutor Kate Samways. The young film makers were learning about research methods & using the many #localstudies, #archive & #ephemera resources available at the History Centre.

#archives #ExploreYourArchive

Four students - two partially hidden - filming with digital cameras on tripods, looking at newspaper pages on microfilm readers. Watched by their tutor, foreground right. In the background are rolling stacks - shelves - of the Performing Arts Library.

Close-up image on the left of a student's hands adjusting a digital camera to film a microfilm reader showing the front page of The Wiltshire Times newspaper. From the right is the hand and arm of another student adjusting the microfilm reader.

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Reposted by Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre

Athelstan Museum @athelstanmuseum.bsky.social · 5d

Malmesbury Wessex Week is nearly upon us once again.

Here are the talks and other events for this year between the 18th and 25th of October.

Tickets are still available on the website,
wessex-week.org
or from the Tourist Information Centre in Malmesbury Town Hall.
#events #history

Saturday
Bradley Hopper: Coinage and the
18th October
Making of England
Malmesbury Town Hall - 7pm - £10 Sunday
19th October
Campbell Ritchie: Guided Walk: The visible
Influence of King Alfred the Great on Malmesbury
Malmesbury Town Hall - 10.30am
£7 Adult, £3.50 U16 Tuesday
21st October Liam Wilson: Roman Settlement and After in the Malmesbury area: New evidence from
excavations by Cotswold Archaeology
Malmesbury Town Hall - 7pm - £10 Wednesday
22nd October
Tony McAleavy: Malmesbury and
Alfred the Great
The Old Bell Hotel garden room
Talk - 7.30pm - €10
2 Course dinner and talk- 6pm - £40 Friday
24th October Tony McAleavy: Lull: the monk from
Malmesbury who converted Germany
Rausing Building - 3pm - £10 Saturday
25th October Andrew Ziminski: Church going
around Wessex
Malmesbury Town Hall - 7pm - £10
Full details of each event and tickets on the website
www.wessex-week.org
Tickets also available from the Malmesbury Tourist Information Office.

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · 19d

Sir Christopher Wren, Arts & Crafts #architect Detmar Blow, Augustus Pugin & James Wyatt - aka 'Wyatt the Destroyer' - all feature in our displays for #HeritageOpenDay tomorrow Saturday 20th @heritagewshc.bsky.social Join us from 10am to celebrate all things #architectural

#architecture #archives

Poster for the free open day at Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre which runs from 10am to 4pm Saturday 20th September. Conservation Labs also open from 10am to 1pm. Other attractions include displays of architectural themed items from the archive & local studies collections. There is also a pop-up Heritage Cafe.

A photo of St Paul's Cathedral in London showing the dome and the south side of the building.

A photograph of the west end of Salisbury Cathedral on a sunny day with a cloudless blue sky in the background and shadows on the grass in the foreground from trees.

Postcard showing Stonehenge from the early 1900s when it was undergoing repairs. Some of the stones are propped up and there are people standing around the stones.

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · 22d

Join us this Saturday 20th for our annual #heritageopenday this year celebrating all things architectural from our #archives & #localstudies collections. Meet the experts on #househistory & #familyhistory and why not drop in for a cuppa at our pop-up Heritage Café. See poster for more details.👇

Poster for Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre’s “Architecture in the Archives” Open Day on 20 September, 10am–4pm. Includes event details: archive displays, behind-the-scenes tours, conservation lab visits (10am–1pm), and a pop-up café. Poster includes photo of the History Centre plus logos for Wiltshire Council, Heritage Open Days, and Swindon Borough Council. A pink banner reads “FREE TO EXPLORE.”

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · 22d

Another great review for 'Treasures from History' created and run by Community History Advisor Gianna Torchia. These sessions are held every first Saturday of the month, so please do join us to #ExploreYourArchive

#archives

melonypatch.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/i...

Inspiring talk on the woollen industry (with fantastic woollen samples!)

September is turning out to be quite a cultural month for me, with visits to local museums and exhibitions, giving me the opportunity to learn more about local social history, all with a link to te…

melonypatch.wordpress.com

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Sep 4

A reminder that we are open on the first Saturday of every month. We are also running free "Treasures from History" sessions. The search room is open from 9.30am and the "Treasures" session runs for an hour from 11am.
#ExploreYourArchive #archives

A bundle of leaflets advertising Treasures From History sessions at the History Centre with the sub heading Get Hands-on and Explore, Discover, Do!

Page from the Treasure From History leaflet including information about the sessions and feedback from an attendee who said: "It is like being shown a hidden world, and it's amazing to know how to engage with the History Centre..."

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Aug 18

There's a full day of expert speakers lined up for Wiltshire Buildings Record Study Day on Saturday 18th October on topics as diverse as Model Farms, historic racecourses, William Morris, Quaker architect Brightwen Binyon, & Victorian architectural ornament:
wshc.org.uk/the-age-of-i... #architecture

The Age of Innovation – Building in the 19th century - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Expert speakers at Wiltshire Buildings Record's Study Day on 'The Age of Innovation' will cover diverse topics including Model Farms, historic racecourses and William Morris.

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Aug 5

#Salisbury so easily could have been a #university city of learning in the #medieval period.

Elaine Treharne @etreharne.bsky.social · Aug 5

University of Paris might’ve been in England in the 1230s, if it had taken up Henry III’s kind offer to choose any town for its new location! Riots & a strike in Paris led to its petition to move. Just working through @bodleian.ox.ac.uk’s charters (Bodleian, Oxford Univ. Archives WPBeta/E/4, 1229)

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Aug 5

Read our latest blog to discover why this is the year of #MagnaCarta - the definitive charter issued by Henry III, confirmed by his son Edward I. And the contemporary copies that can be seen @heritagewshc.bsky.social

#medieval #history #lacock

wshc.org.uk/the-year-of-...

The year of Magna Carta - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Exploring the Magna Carta documents held at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre with work experience students

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Jul 21

Find out how Community History Advisor Gianna got on sampling a historic knitting pattern from an 18-19th century family recipe and commonplace book in our latest blog wshc.org.uk/a-brief-look... #Archives #ExperimentalHistory

A brief look at Wiltshire knitters - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Community History Advisor Gianna shares some particularly tactile archives and recreates patterns from history!

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Jul 8

One of the many intriguing aspects of Sherston's fascinating and underexplored archaeological heritage is the bank and ditch earthworks which comprise Sherston's only Scheduled Monument. Assistant County Archaeologist for Wiltshire, Tim Havard, investigates... wshc.org.uk/sherstons-en... #Wiltshire

Sherston’s Enigmatic Scheduled Monument - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

The archaeological history of Sherston reveals some intriguing possibilities. Wiltshire's Assistant County Archaeologist investigates...

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Jul 1

A fascinating, if rather grim, read! You just never know what you might find in the #archives.

#ExploreYourArchive

Dr Louise Ryland-Epton @lrylandepton.bsky.social · Jun 29

My latest blog for @wiltshistory.bsky.social began life in a pauper letter at @heritagewshc.bsky.social
The picture makes sense when you read the text!
www.wiltshirehistory.org/news/from-ch...

From Chippenham to Covent Garden: Sarah Hudson's Medical Crisis in Georgian London — Wiltshire Victoria County History

In September 1762 Sarah Hudson wrote a letter to her home parish of Chippenham from London. She was ill, unable to work and desperate. She needed help. Sarah had a terrible affliction ‘that god is p...

www.wiltshirehistory.org

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · Jun 2

Hidden details about the history of the familiar Odeon building in Salisbury have been revealed at a recent conference of the Wiltshire Buildings Record:
wshc.org.uk/wiltshire-bu... #VernacularArchitecure #HistoricBuildings #WiltshireBuildings

Discoveries from the Vernacular Architecture Group Conference in South Wiltshire - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Off the back of the successful Wiltshire Buildings Record conference on South Wilts buildings held at Sarum College we have been able to advance our knowledge about some of the buildings visited. One ...

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 8

Pupils at #Melksham Lowbourne enjoyed another holiday on 11 May so the school choirs could compete in the Mid Somerset Musical Festival. The seniors came 2nd, just one point behind the winners. Competition was also close for the juniors who came 4th - 5pts behind the winners.
#VEDay #VEDay80

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 8

At #Melksham Lowbourne pupils gathered on #VEDay for a thanksgiving service, then "assembled in front of the school where the Union Jack was hoisted. After singing the National Anthem the children were dismissed until Thursday a.m."
#VEDay80

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 8

#OTD 1945 the headteacher of King William Street school, #Swindon notes that May 8 & 9 were public holidays. May 10 was Ascension Day & pupils gathered to march to church. "The attendance was not so good... on account of the after effects of the celebrations the previous day."
#VEDay #VEDay80

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 8

Not content with a two-day holiday, the school logbook reports Melksham St Michael's mothers providing a Victory tea. Youngsters enjoyed jelly, ice-cream & cakes. "...there was sufficient food left to take cakes to the absent children still in quarantine for mumps or measles." #VEDay80 #VEDay

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 8

"This is VE Day. The school assembled in full force, and with many parents, went to a Children's thanksgiving service in the Church." So wrote the headteacher of Melksham St Michael's school #OTD 8th May 1945. Hymns, psalm & anthem were all practised in school ahead of the service.
#VEDay80 #VEDay

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 7

#OTD in the early hours 7 May 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender. #Churchill declared 8 May #VEDay. Brig. Jack Parham, with the British 2nd Army in Luneberg travelled to the Baltic sea port of Travemunde. His pocket diaries form part of his #archive held at the History Centre. #VEDay80

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 7

To mark #VEDay80 our latest blog delves into our collections to see how Wiltshire people on civvie street & in uniform marked this momentous occasion. #archives #localstudies
Also check out #localhistorymonth talks, events & displays in #libraries across the county.
wshc.org.uk/vedayinthear...

VE Day in the archives - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Ruth, Heritage Education Officer at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre digs into the archives to find record of VE Day including Edith Olivier, Jack Parham and Siegfried Sassoon.

wshc.org.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 5

It's #localhistorymonth which means a host of events, talks & exhibitions in #libraries across #Wiltshire, promoting local history. As we mark #VEDay80 many events have a wartime theme. Check out the Wiltshire Libraries website for more information. libraries.wiltshire.gov.uk/-/local-hist...

A crowd of cheering women workers at Hadens factory in Trowbridge stand either side of Queen Mary who visited the factory during the Second World War. In the background three women look out from a first floor window. Queen Mary is wearing a long coat with a fir lined collar and is wearing a hat.

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 5

Always a pleasure to welcome @yourbenpraters.bsky.social to the History Centre. He recorded 4 segments with our education officer Ruth Butler on #VEDay80 as seen through the #archives & #localstudies collections. Today's piece is 2hrs 22mins 48secs into the show.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Ben Prater - Early May Bank Holiday (05/05/2025) - BBC Sounds

Trusted local news and information, great music, updates and stories to make you smile.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 5

As you say Sassoon's letters are full of detail. This letter mentions Keynes' visit plus news of Sassoon's wife Hesta & son George. If you are ever in Chippenham please do pop in to the History Centre where you can read the various letters from Sassoon to Edith Olivier.

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 4

#OTD 4 May 1945 the Salisbury & Winchester Journal reports on preparations for the end of war in Europe. Civil Defence is disbanded, local churches prepare for special services & #bellringers look forward to ringing celebratory peels after almost 6yrs of silence.
#VEDay80 #churchbells #peace

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Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre @heritagewshc.bsky.social · May 3

Despite peace being so close, families continue to receive news of the death of loved ones. Writing to Edith Olivier #OTD 1945, with Germany's surrender just days away, Siegfried Sassoon reports: "Poor Mrs Hancock's eldest son has been killed in Germany."
#VEDay80 #archives #exploreyourarchive

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