Edinburgh City Libraries is hosting a series of free events beginning next week where residents can find out more about the history of their house or area they live.
History of Your House Week will include talks, workshops, exhibitions and taster sessions about how to carry out research using the internet. Experts from the National Archives and the City Archives will be on hand to provide guidance on what resources to use at a drop in session at the Central Library.
A ‘submission day' at Stockbridge Library will also give people the chance to contribute to the Capital Collections website. Librarians will scan in images of houses and record information about the property to form part of an online exhibition whilst at the same time growing the developing archive.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Edinburgh people to access interesting historical information about where they live," said City Libraries Leader Deidre Brock. "Just as exciting is the opportunity to contribute to Capital Collections record which is growing more fascinating by the day."
Events take place in the Central Library (pictured) and Stockbridge Library and start on Monday 29th September.
Events Listing
Mon 29th Sept 11am - 12:30pm
DOWN YOUR STREET: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO HISTORICAL SOURCES FOR BUILDINGS AND STREETS
Venue: City Archives Search Room
Limited numbers, please book via the City Archives on 0131 529 4616
Mon 29th Sept 2pm - 4pm
EXPLORE YOUR HISTORY WITH SCRAN
A hands-on session to explain how this wonderful image resource works, and how you can use it to help you with your local history research
Venue: Learning Centre, Central Library
Please book at the Edinburgh Room, Central Library
Tues 30th Sept 1:45 - 2:45pm
MY HOUSE AND HOME
Workshop with writer and illustrator Julie Lacome and the Royal Mile Primary school
Venue: George Washington Browne Room, Central Library
Event with invited primary 2 class.
Tues 30th Sept 6:45 - 7:45pm
THE TENEMENT
Come and find out about tenement living from Miles Glendinning, author and Director of the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies
Venue: George Washington Browne Room, Central Library
Please book at the Edinburgh Room, Central Library
Wed 1st Oct 6:45 - 7:45pm
THE HISTORY OF YOUR HOUSE
Resources in Central Library and the City Archives
Venue: George Washington Browne Room, Central Library
Please book at the Edinburgh Room, Central Library
Thur 2nd Oct 6:45 - 7:45pm
LOST COUNTRY HOUSES OF THE LOTHIANS
A talk by Ian Gow of the National Trust for Scotland
Venue: George Washington Browne Room, Central Library
Please book at the Edinburgh Room, Central Library
Fri 3rd Oct 1 - 3pm
DROP IN SURGERY
Visit the Central Library for help and advice on finding out about the history of your house.
Venue: George Washington Browne Room, Central Library. Drop in event.
Sat 4th Oct 10am - 12:30pm
DROP IN SURGERY AND SUBMISSION DAY
Visit Stockbridge Library for help and advice on finding out about your house's history. You can also bring along an old image of Stockbridge - either of your house or of the area - to be copied and added to the Capital Collections website as part of an online exhibition.
Venue: Stockbridge Library. Drop in event
To 20th December
STOCKAREE: STOCKBRIDGE IN PHOTOGRAPHS
A look back over 100 years of one of Edinburgh's best loved districts. Photographs from 1880 to the 1960s detail the people and places that make up its history.
Venue: Stockbridge Library.