Blog Archives

Irish Catholic Parish Registers live

15/7/2015

The long awaited release of Irish Catholic Parish Registers is live at http://registers.nli.ie/

This website contains images from the NLI’s collection of Catholic parish register microfilms. The registers contain records of baptisms and marriages from the majority of Catholic parishes in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 1880.

0 Comments

LFHHS Interview with Blackpool Museum Project

14/7/2015

0 Comments

LFHHS Interview with Blackpool Museum Project

Publicity officer, Rowan Bridgwood, had the pleasure of meeting with Rachel Sykes of Blackpool Council to discuss plans for a fascinating new museum in Blackpool centered around the topics of heritage, community, and memory.

Can you tell us briefly what the project is all about?
Blackpool Museum will tell ‘The Blackpool Story’- the story of a seaside town that became the world’s first mass tourism destination and the UK’s most popular entertainment venue. This will be no conventional museum – it will be a dynamic and celebratory space - a blend of museum, visitor attraction and theatre, filled with artefacts, film, music and performance. It will be immersive, participatory and inclusive. It will have a strong personality with a memorable and distinctive take which is true to the lively spirit of Blackpool.

What was the impetus to begin the Blackpool Museum project?
Blackpool’s heritage is currently untold. The urgency is to tell the stories, gather artefacts and recognised historic buildings which evidence and celebrate Blackpool as the world’s first working-class seaside resort and its contribution to British popular culture from 1870s to the present day. Blackpool was a product of the world’s first industrial revolution, a playground for northern manufacturing towns and an international centre for popular culture. In its heyday the entire town was a place for performance, from the beach and the pier to the opera house, the theatres and the amusement parks.

Our project intends to draw together the nationally significant historic collections and places them in the Winter Gardens, the earliest, most ambitious and most complete Victorian entertainment complex in the country.

You have taken the project outside of Blackpool to visit local areas. What advantages have you encountered in taking a heritage project such as yours out to the community?
The Museum team took the decision to engage with the wider audience and visit those towns that had traditionally come to Blackpool in the wakes weeks. The days in Bolton, Bradford and Glasgow enabled us to establish the historical attraction of the town from a visitor’s perspective, whilst highlighting areas of popular remembrance as well as those things that are long forgotten.

Preservation of history is a clear benefit of the Blackpool Museum Project, do you think there are therapeutic effects for those sharing their memories?
Reminiscence has been a major contribution factor to our oral history collection. It has enabled us to underpin the desk based research adding context to the various themes that are present within the town. These testimonies are essential for us to identify the social history that has gone before us whilst allowing people to recall and reminisce. The focus of reminiscence is highlighted through partnership working with dementia groups and institutions. The Museum team recognised the benefit of reminiscence prompted by historical artefacts and objects. Memory sessions have been welcomed by care homes and day centers prompting recollection through the use of the memory boxes and allowing their service uses to remember happy times and share conversations with family and staff members.

Blackpool has been a traditional holiday destination for Northern families for generations. What do you think is the timeless appeal of Blackpool?
Blackpool is renowned for its iconic landmarks such as the Blackpool Tower and the Trams. These unique memories stay in the minds of those who visited as children, their experiences and recollections create an appeal for generations of families to retrace their Blackpool holidays, enabling them to share their experiences with their own families.

Finally, could you share a favourite Blackpool Aspect of your own?
The Blackpool Museum Project team consists of a variety of people who were born in Blackpool, those who came to live here many years ago and these who have moved here for the project.

As quick survey of our favourite aspect of the town has resulted in:
Belinda –Project Director-The Sea/Tide/Promenade
Kerry-Community Engagement Manager- Signage
Rachel –Community Engagement Assistant- Dance Festival
Emma- Curator- Tower
John-Learning and Skills Manager-‘Normal’ things that happened in Blackpool that didn’t happen anywhere else.
Deborah- Finance and Admin Manager- Diversity
Tracy- Admin officer- Pleasure Beach

More information on the plans for Blackpool Museum can be found at www.blackpool.gov.uk, facebook.com/blackpoolmuseum or on Twitter @blackpoolmuseum.

0 Comments

1901censusonline.com closing down

8/7/2015

0 Comments

From  The 1901 Census Online team

Since launching the 1901 Census in 2002, this record set has become available on a number of websites including Findmypast. To make sure everyone can take advantage of the search improvements and new features Findympast offers that make searching the 1901 Census easier than ever before, we’ll be closing down 1901censusonline.com on 23 July 2015.

As of today, you can no longer buy new credits on 1901censusonline.com, but if you have any remaining credits you can use them until 23 July.< /p>

When 1901censusonline.com shuts down, you will no longer be able to access your saved records – please remember to download your saved records to your own computer before 23 July.

You can still access the 1901 Census on Findmypast. Credit bundles start from £6.95 allowing you to search millions of UK records including BMDs, military collections, parish records, historical newspapers and more. Visit Findmypast.co.uk for more information.

  Thanks,

  The 1901 Census Online team

0 Comments

Society Lunch at Waddow Hall

7/7/2015

1 Comment

From Mike Coyle, Society Chairman

Just a reminder that the Society Lunch will take place at the beautiful Waddow Hall on Sunday 6 September, 12.30 for 1pm. .

There is a Booking Form and further details on the Society Website www.lfhhs.org.uk

If you haven't booked by now, please do. Its going to be a lovely event.

See you there, Mike

1 Comment

Visit to Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe,

6/7/2015

0 Comments

From our friends at the CFHS

CATHOLIC FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY - NORTH WEST REGION
(In association with NW Catholic History Society)

Hi, The following note may be of interest.

Visit to Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9BZ
Saturday August 1st 2015
Guided Tour of the College & Library commencing at 2pm

Pre booking essential - £6 for College Tour

Transport from Sale & Preston Station can be arranged.

Lunch available from 12.30. at nearby Bayley Arms (Optional)

Full information available from:
Diana Henaghan [email protected]
Or Maureen Fitzgibbon 0161 903 9567

0 Comments

Irish Catholic Parish Registers live

LFHHS Interview with Blackpool Museum Project

1901censusonline.com closing down

Society Lunch at Waddow Hall

Visit to Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe,

Author

Archives

Categories