What’s On.

Local History Research, A Series of ‘How To . . .’ Workshops

Ten workshops to be held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Cocklebury Rd, Chippenham SN15 3QN fortnightly on alternate Monday mornings, 9.30 – 13.00.

Each workshop will divide into two sessions with a refreshment break. Tutoring and discussion will be led by historians from the Victoria County History and University of the West of England in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Open to all, from beginners to experienced researchers, £10 per workshop. The programme is printed below (but may be subject to minor changes).

24 Feb: WORKING LIVES OF MEN AND WOMEN: farming the land – rural and urban trades and industries – sources for women’s history – restoring the balance between male and female work.

10 Mar: THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION: ubiquity of the medieval church – monasteries and chantries – effect of the reformation – puritans and nonconformists – Victorian religiosity and its aftermath.

Please note. There may need to be minor changes to this syllabus as the course progresses.

Participants will be notified as early as possible. You are welcome to attend some or all workshops.

Prior booking is recommended, with limited tickets available on the day. Email archives@wiltshire.gov.uk for more information.

MILLIONAIRE SHOPPING: THE COLLECTIONS OF ALFRED MORRISON OF FONTHILL 1821-1897

Wednesday 21 May 2025, 7.30pm

A talk by Caroline Dakers

Alfred Morrison was one of the most important and unusual collectors of the nineteenth century in Britain. He amassed not just one but a number of major collections: engraved portraits; Chinese porcelain; contemporary paintings and sculpture; Old Masters; coins and medals; exquisite and elaborate pieces of virtu made for him by European craftsmen; autograph letters. His London and country houses had interiors of unusual and striking design by Owen Jones and across forty years he collected and commissioned regardless of cost.

Cost: £10 per screen. All proceeds to the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust. Booking: essential via ONLINE link below.

THOMAS HENRY WYATT, VICTORIAN ARCHITECT IN WILTSHIRE

Wednesday 11 June 2025, 7.30pm

A Talk by Julian Orbach

T.H. Wyatt (1807-80), eminent Victorian, was President and Gold Medallist of the RIBA. More than a quarter of his 400 known works are in Wiltshire, including the Assize Courts at Devizes and the Italian church at Wilton. His work should be better known.

Cost: £10 per screen. All proceeds to the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust. Booking: essential via ONLINE link below.

THE SEARCH FOR MAUD HEATH

Wednesday 1 October 2025, 7.30pm 

A Talk by John Chandler

Maud Heath's Causeway is a well-known feature of the North Wiltshire countryside, running for more than four miles from Bremhill Wick to Chippenham. On the way it crosses parishes covered in the forthcoming VCH volume, and so it seemed sensible for VCH researchers Louise Ryland-Epton and John Chandler to delve into the legend of the mysterious founder, to try to discover who she was and what was the purpose of her causeway. In doing so they have overturned traditions that had built up through the centuries, and in this lecture John will explain how they went about it and what they found out.

Cost: £10 per screen. All proceeds to the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust. Booking: essential via ONLINE link below.

SHELBURNE AND SIDMOUTH - TWO WILTSHIRE PRIME MINISTERS

 A Talk by Micheal Hodges:

 The Whig Anglo-Irish 2nd Earl of Shelburne (1737-1805), later 1st Marquis of Lansdowne, owner of Bowood House outside Calne, was Prime Minister from 1782-3. The Tory Henry Addington (1757-1844), MP for Devizes 1784-1805, later 1st Viscount Sidmouth, was Prime Minister from 1801-1804. In spite of their various qualities, neither was an outstandingly successful Prime Minister. Why?

Cost: £10 per screen. All proceeds to the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust. Booking: essential via ONLINE link below.