'Sex, Violence and Religion in the Northern Province 1300 – 1858' is the title of a one-day conference presented by the Borthwick institute for Archives at the University of York on 13 November celebrating the launch of the York Cause Papers Database. These records of the cases held in the church courts of the Diocese of York are the most extensive of their type in the UK. Amongst the topics addressed at the conference will be their use for family and local history. For full details see http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/bihr/projects/Mellon/cphone.htm#Conference (or put York Cause Papers in your search engine).

 

Hampshire Archives and Local Studies have been awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, only the second record office to receive it. The scheme recognizes excellence in both learning and safety, and is part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, an initiative to ensure young people have more such opportunities as part of the curriculum. One of HALS’ many activities is a project with disabled students at Treloar College exploring the Treloar Hospital and College Archives at Hampshire Record Office. This is part of Paralympic Region, aimed at recognizing the South East’s role as the birthplace of the Paralymic movement at Stoke Mandeville. http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/hro-news-3.htm

 

 

 An English Heritage funded excavation at Alderley Edge by a team at The University of Manchester produced a treasure trove of over 22,000 household items accumulated between the 1670s and the 1950s. The study charts the ups and downs of products consumed by ordinary families from post-medieval times to the present day.The finds include beer bottles, pipes, toothbrushes, dolls, a jelly mould, umbrella, cake trays, rat trap, cutlery, bowls, dishes, pepper pot -  and even a bed. Michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk

 

From September 2010 the University of Kent will be offering a number of Local History and Archaeology/Classical Studies courses at various centres including its campuses at Tonbridge and Canterbury. Courses form part of the Certificate in Combined Studies which is an open entry programme intended for those who have not previously gained a university qualification. Full details of these and other courses are available on www.kent.ac.uk/cfl/ccs/subject/index.html or in the brochure available from the Centre for Flexible Learning, University of Kent, T: 01227 827647 E: ccs@kent.ac.uk There are also modules that form part of the university’s Certificate and Diploma in Local History: these will also be offered at the Tonbridge University Centre and are similarlyintended for those who have not previously gained a university qualification, T: 01732 352 316 E: tonbridgeadmin@kent.ac.uk.