Explore Your Archive
Celebrating local and national heritage and the rich diversity and interconnectedness of local, regional and national documentary heritage.
Events
Join us for a week of celebrations, highlighting the fantastic resources the Local Studies Library and Archive holds.
Local Studies 'Behind-the-Scenes'
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in Local Studies? How do you ensure that a 500 year-old document doesn’t fall apart? How do you find the right book when there are thousands to look through? Do you really have to wear white gloves? This workshop will shed light on what we do behind-the-scenes and will include the chance to see inside a working archive store.
- Date: Tuesday 20 November
- Time: 2.30 to 3.30pm
- Location: Local Studies Library and Archive
- Price: £5
Researching your house: A beginner's guide
Have you ever been curious about the people who lived in your house before you or what your house looked like originally? Join Heritage Assistant, Lara Bond, in a workshop designed to guide you through the resources available in the Richmond upon Thames Local Studies Library and Archive.
- Date: Wednesday 21 November
- Time: 2.30 to 3.30pm
- Location: Local Studies Library and Archive
- Price: £5
Family history: A beginner's guide
Using a worked example of a local family, Jane Baxter, Local Studies Manager, will guide you through the resources available in the Richmond upon Thames collection. She will demonstrate how to follow clues to discover information in unexpected places. The Etherington family lived in the area for over 200 years. Jane will demonstrate how the pieces of the jigsaw fit together to build up a picture of their lives.
- Date: Thursday 22 November
- Time: 2.30 to 3.30pm
- Location: Local Studies Library and Archive
- Price: £5
Beyond the white flag
As the final workshop in the 'Follow the Drum 2014–18' programme, Local Studies Assistant Patricia Moloney reflects on how the last phase of the First World War impacted on the daily concerns of the local community here in Richmond upon Thames. At long last stability was within reach post-hostilities. Themes such as victory, peace and the significance of the Armistice are considered using sources available from the archive. Were we prepared and able to move on at that moment in time?
- Date: Friday 23 November
- Time: 2.30 to 3.30pm
- Location: Local Studies Library and Archive
- Price: £5
Find out more about the Explore Your Archive campaign.
Up to: Local Studies Library
Updated: 05 June 2026
