About Us
We are a group of local history enthusiasts with a wide variety of skills, led by Dr Jean Morrin. Most of us have our own keen interest which we are able to pursue in depth and detail, helping one another and contributing to the work of the VCH. We research agriculture, industry, trade and crafts, society, entertainment, education and care of the poor, transport, local government and politics, religion (including beliefs, organisation and buildings), and local buildings. Combined, we have a considerable depth of knowledge about our locality and its place in history.
We visit archives and libraries to research particular topics of individual and group interest. Much of our research is done at the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester and The National Archives in Kew, but we also visit university and other repositories. We use online resources such as newspapers and census returns.
We are working towards new Red Books, initially on the Basingstoke area, and we publish draft text on the Hampshire section of the national VCH website. Since 2012 we have worked on a new VCH venture, Shorts. These are written in the VCH style but focus on individual parishes and towns. We have published five of these to date and are working on others. See VCH Hampshire and VCH Publications.
We are a charity and rely on donations and grants alongside sales income. If you would like to donate please Contact us.
We always welcome new members to join us in historical research or to assist with other activities such as technology, photography, marketing or fundraising.
Where we meet
We are based in Basingstoke because of its unique place in the history of Hampshire with its dramatic transformation since the original Hampshire volumes were completed in 1912. We have provided a brief history of our interesting town HERE.
At present we meet fortnightly on Wednesdays in the Basingstoke Discovery Centre . On alternate Wednesdays we meet at Hampshire Record Office in Winchester for group and individual research on our parishes.
In the morning at the Discovery Centre, part of our group transcribes and analyses 16th- and 17th-century wills and inventories for use in economic, social and religious history chapters, and to practise palaeography. In the afternoon we meet as a group to work on and edit current projects and listen to talks. Other group activities include parish walks and visits and running exhibitions.
We come across lots of interesting bits of information and stories, some of which end up in our FREE NEWSLETTER
We have strong links with other history organisations, with whom many of us have membership. Here you will find useful sites for research along with local groups.
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OTHER WORKS page.
Members also follow their own interests and write books, papers and articles outside the VCH. We support and help each other in our individual projects.
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