The programme, developed by the Herefordshire Council ‘s HARC team, includes a wide range of fascinating expert speakers, and a mixture of talks, workshops and tours, helping you to understand the rich heritage of our county and get to know some of the key people who shaped its history.

Archive Monday Workshops provide a great start to the week – offering the opportunity to take a deep dive into the HARC’s sources for researching local and family history:

• 16 March – 11am-1pm: Parish settlement in the poor law. £10 per person.
• 20 April – 11am-1pm: Exploring Irish records. £10 per person.
• 18 May – 11am-12pm: Understanding the Census. £5 per person.

Fascinating monthly talks on sites and topics of local interest are also scheduled over the coming weeks and months:

• Hear about The Herefordshire Kembles on 27 February at 2pm as former Senior Lecturer in Drama at the University of Worcester Stuart Currie turns the spotlight on the early years of a remarkable family of thespians who took a strolling theatre around Herefordshire and the Marches in the mid-18th century before moving up to hold some of the highest places in English society.
• On Wednesday 25 March at 10am you can find out about Religious Diversity in 19th century Herefordshire. Dr Jane Adams, a former Lecturer at the Open University, specialising in social history, will provide a fascinating snapshot of religious practice in the county in the context of national patterns and longer-term trends across the 19th century. The talk will be followed by a tour of the exhibition (see below).
• The History of Wellbrook Manor in Peterchurch is the topic of John Scrimgeour’s talk on Monday 13 April at 2pm. John will take you on a personal journey to the origins of this unique medieval house and the inhabitants who lived there before him.
• Hereford and District Working Boy’s Home was a classic setting for the application of rigid but well-meaning educational values. On Tuesday 19 May from 2pm, you can hear from local expert Shirley Dalley who has devoted many years to researching the Home and the poor boys who were brought here from across the country.
• Join Kate Andrew, Clerk of Works at Worcester Cathedral, on Friday 14 May from 2pm to find out about the Hidden History of Hereford Castle – once known as the fairest and strongest in all England.
• On Thursday 18 June, you can hear Tales from the Quarter Sessions at 2pm. The Justices of the Peace had an enormous range of powers and responsibilities, from deciding on the allocation of poor relief to sending convicts to the colonies. Professional local historian and researcher with the Archive Service Clare O’Grady will look at what the records can tell us about the experiences of our unfortunate ancestors.

Tickets for all the monthly talks are just £5 per person

Also on offer are regular behind the scenes tours of the Archive and Records Centre, giving visitors the chance to access all areas of this amazing, energy efficient building and see some fascinating documents. Tours are scheduled for Tuesday 10 March and Friday 29 May, running from 2pm - 3.30pm.

HARC’s current exhibition ‘Religious diversity in 19th century Herefordshire’ is on until 10 April. This draws on the religious census of 1851 and local archive collections to explore the people, places and ideas important to non-conformist communities and culture in Herefordshire.

The ‘Echo Landscapes’ exhibition will be open from 14 April to 12 June. Here you’ll be able to view artistic responses to the county’s landscape by clients of Echo (an organisation that supports better lives and offers better choices to people with disabilities in the county).

Herefordshire Archive & Records Centre is located on the Rotherwas Business Park, Hereford HR2 6LA. To attend any of the above activities, or for further information email: archives@herefordshire.gov.uk

Find out more about HARC on our website : 

Jon Chedgzoy, Libraries and Archives Manager at Herefordshire Council, said:

“Herefordshire has a rich and fascinating past. HARC is a place where interest in local history can be stimulated, shared and enjoyed. Through our programme of events we help local people unlock the stories contained within our archives and bring people, places and events to life. We look forward to welcoming everyone interested in Herefordshire’s rich history and heritage.”