Looking for an unusual Christmas gift for the amateur historian in your family?
Durham County Record Office is now offering gift vouchers for history courses and taster sessions running in the New Year.
Two Palaeography Taster Sessions in January will give people the chance to pick up hints and tips on reading old handwriting and understanding historic documents.
Taking place from 10am to noon on Friday, 29 January and Saturday, 30 January, the sessions will cover how letter forms have changed and how documents are structured.
There will also be the opportunity to try reading Medieval Latin. Sessions cost £10.
The popular Beginners’ Family History course also returns in January, with advice on how to trace your family tree and how to use the record office and its archives to support your quest.
Sessions run on the following dates from 10am to noon and 6pm to 8pm and the course costs £30:
• Thursday, 21 January – Parish registers and civil registration
• Thursday, 28 January – The census
• Thursday, 4 February – Military records
For those who have already mastered the basics, the record office also runs Branching Out sessions. Each is an hour-long talk followed by time to browse the records and take advantage of one-to-one advice.
Sessions, cost £10 each and take place on the following dates:
• Education
Tuesday, 17 November – 6pm to 8pm
Thursday, 19 November – 10am to noon
• The workhouse
Monday, 22 February – 6pm – 8pm
Thursday, 25 February – 10am to noon
• Criminal ancestors
Tuesday, 15 March – 6pm to 8pm
Thursday, 17 March – 10am to noon
• Hospitals (including asylums)
Tuesday, 26 April – 6pm to 8pm
Thursday, 28 April – 10am to noon
For more information or to book a place, call 03000 267 619 or email [email protected]