By taking a little time out of your modern life in order to step back into the past, you are able to discover something of your own heritage. If you delve into your town’s history some revealing facts may be unearthed; the home you now reside in could have its foundations on the site of a monumental historical building, or perhaps you discover a relative on your family tree that helped change the course of local history.
There is no better time to engage in your heritage than during this year's Local and Community History Month. Visiting your community library and council web pages should highlight all the events that pertain to the Local and Community History Month of May.
The Historical Association is integral in encouraging library exhibitions and local lectures on a plethora of really interesting topics. You may be interested in visiting other areas of the UK that have different events on their calendar at this time and a great way of travelling around fairly seamlessly is by rail.
There are a number of ways to book cheap train tickets during this special month. Advance fares are usually cheaper than buying tickets on the day of travel. Some rail booking sites will advertise various promotions to enable the intrepid explorer to take advantage of special events throughout the course of May.
If you take a trip to London for a bit of historical culture, see the past brought to life with a visit to the Soho House Museum. The Soho House belonged to industrialist Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809. His Georgian home shows off carefully restored period rooms complete with wonderful paintings, furniture and silver. Wandering through the different areas in this great house, you will begin to absorb the ambience of a meeting-place that used to cater for the gathering of forward-thinking people of the 18th century.
Matthew, one of the founding fathers of The Lunar Society, would ‘brain-storm’ with his colleagues here. His peers were an esteemed group of inventors and philosophers; including people such as Joseph Priestly, Erasmus Darwin and Josiah Wedgewood. The 31st May showcases ‘History on your doorstep’ with an exclusive Soho tour from 1100 to 1230 with a £6 pre-booking fee.
Alternatively, if you are up in Scotland, wander down to beautiful East Lothian and visit the John Gray Centre. This is based in Haddington and features a museum as well as housing the East Lothian Archives.
Nottingham City Libraries also have a great programme of events and offer a chance to get involved in the local history, uncovering Luddites to Gargoyle.
You can also elebrate in South Tyneside as they highlight the Borough’s rich heritage with a month-long programme of special events as part of Local History Month. From railways, photography, shipping and life in the 60’s, there will something to suit everyone’s interests. Many of these events will offer free admission but pre-booking is advisable. Local poets and writers will be showcasing their work through readings and book-launches.
Thus, you can use Local and Community History Month as an opportunity to encourage your family and friends to join you in a quest to understand more about your local community and how it came to be.
Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
