Blog
From our blog
Thoughts from BALH digital workshop: Community Created and Curated Collections
Published: 11th August 2021
The Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG) joined BALH for this workshop at the end of June. Here we share thoughts about the importance of conversation within group interactions as we begin to move forward out of the pandemic. You can also find slides of the two projects featured in the workshop; Rainbow Street, Gloucester and 100 Homes, Plymouth and links to practical resources.
From our blog
Report for July’s Local History Hour: Marginalised Lives in Localities
Published: 10th August 2021
From our blog
Report for June’s Local History Hour: Public Libraries in early modern England and the case of Thomas Plume
Published: 2nd July 2021
For June’s Local History Hour we were joined by Dr Helen Kemp and Anna-Lujz Gilbert for a look into public libraries in early modern England.
From our blog
Repatriation of a Motor Company Heir
Published: 9th June 2021
While many will be aware of the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) abroad, they may be less familiar with the work of the Commission on British soil.
From our blog
Report from Local History Hour ‘Burberry - Local Draper to International Fashion Brand’, 27th May
Published: 1st June 2021
We were joined for May’s Local History Hour by Dr Mike Winstanley and Dr Barry Shurlock for Burberry - Local Draper to International Fashion Brand.
From our blog
Adam of Newmarket and the Jews
Published: 26th May 2021
Adam of Newmarket (c.1226 – c.1291) was a Lincolnshire knight and, during the baronial revolt of the 1260s, a leading supporter of Simon de Montfort.
From our blog
Beyond Micro-histories of Poor Relief
Published: 19th May 2021
While many will be aware of the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) abroad, they may be less familiar with the work of the Commission on British soil.
From our blog
Notes from our Digital Webinar: How To Self-publish Your Local History Research
Published: 14th May 2021
Fresh from our webinar on self-publishing, John Chandler offers some further thoughts and useful information.
From our blog
The Industrial Heritage of Leyland and Farington - The Story So Far
Published: 12th May 2021
The last official guide and industrial handbook produced by Leyland Urban District Council in 1970’s before the creation of South Ribble, states that “Leyland is a highly industrialised town where some 18,000 people are employed. Of these, over 8,000 travel in daily from the surrounding districts”.
From our blog
The Future of Local History Events
Published: 9th May 2021
As the BALH Web Manager, I am frequently asked for advice in running talks and events online. As we tentatively return to the outside world, what does the future look like for local history organisations, their meetings and events?
From our blog
Report from Local History Hour ‘Women's Lives in Early Modern Documents’, 29th April
Published: 8th May 2021
April’s Local History Hour was a beautifully blended joint lecture on the lives of early modern women in the south west of England presented by Sarah-Jayne Ainsworth and Imogene Dudley. They explored the various types of ‘transactional’ texts that can be used to explore the lives of women from different social groups, which also tell stories of local gentry families and the people who worked for them. We were very pleased to welcome 141 listeners.
From our blog
New interest in local black history
Published: 7th May 2021
One of the recent outcomes of the Black Lives Matters campaign is an increased interest in local black history.
From our blog
Report from Local History Hour: The English Civil War in the Localities
Published: 19th April 2021
In March’s Local History Hour we were joined by Dr Charlotte Young and Tim Hasker. We loved welcoming them along to share some of their research with us and over 180 attendees. Their talks contained lots of information on the period ranging from how to find and use records to stories taking us across the county to settle last of all in Tim’s study of Northampton’s response to the Regicide of King Charles I.
From our blog
Whittington’s Gift: The Lost Common Library of London’s Guildhall (A new project)
Published: 22nd March 2021
Between 1423-5, John Carpenter, common clerk of the city of London, oversaw one of the most significant elements of Whittington's legacy, a 'nova domus sive libraria' (a new building or library) to house a collection of theological works for the use of Londoners, and especially for those serving the cures in the city.
From our blog
Report from Local History Hour ‘Rebellion in Medieval Kent’, 26th February
Published: 13th March 2021
In February’s Local History Hour we were joined by Dr Gillian Draper and Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh. It was a pleasure to welcome them along for a session with a phenomenal turnout of over 200 attendees.
