Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
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heritagewshc.bsky.social
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
@heritagewshc.bsky.social
Home to 11 miles of archives & local studies collections, charting the history of people, places and events across Wiltshire & Swindon.
Join us and the Wiltshire Family History Society this Saturday (1 Nov) for our Family History Day with talks, displays & expert advice. Whether a novice or seasoned researcher, there's something for everyone.
Runs 10am to 4pm. No need to book.
#familyhistory #genealogy
October 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Looking for something different to do? Why not drop into the History Centre for this year's Teen Takeover event. Doors open 10am (Sat 18th). Your chance to get hands on with #history, handle original documents, go #behindthescenes & discover just how many famous people feature in your #archives.👇
October 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
A great afternoon with #media students from #WiltshireCollege (Chippenham campus) and their tutor Kate Samways. The young film makers were learning about research methods & using the many #localstudies, #archive & #ephemera resources available at the History Centre.

#archives #ExploreYourArchive
October 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Sir Christopher Wren, Arts & Crafts #architect Detmar Blow, Augustus Pugin & James Wyatt - aka 'Wyatt the Destroyer' - all feature in our displays for #HeritageOpenDay tomorrow Saturday 20th @heritagewshc.bsky.social Join us from 10am to celebrate all things #architectural

#architecture #archives
September 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Join us this Saturday 20th for our annual #heritageopenday this year celebrating all things architectural from our #archives & #localstudies collections. Meet the experts on #househistory & #familyhistory and why not drop in for a cuppa at our pop-up Heritage Café. See poster for more details.👇
September 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A reminder that we are open on the first Saturday of every month. We are also running free "Treasures from History" sessions. The search room is open from 9.30am and the "Treasures" session runs for an hour from 11am.
#ExploreYourArchive #archives
September 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Pupils at #Melksham Lowbourne enjoyed another holiday on 11 May so the school choirs could compete in the Mid Somerset Musical Festival. The seniors came 2nd, just one point behind the winners. Competition was also close for the juniors who came 4th - 5pts behind the winners.
#VEDay #VEDay80
May 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
At #Melksham Lowbourne pupils gathered on #VEDay for a thanksgiving service, then "assembled in front of the school where the Union Jack was hoisted. After singing the National Anthem the children were dismissed until Thursday a.m."
#VEDay80
May 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
#OTD 1945 the headteacher of King William Street school, #Swindon notes that May 8 & 9 were public holidays. May 10 was Ascension Day & pupils gathered to march to church. "The attendance was not so good... on account of the after effects of the celebrations the previous day."
#VEDay #VEDay80
May 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Not content with a two-day holiday, the school logbook reports Melksham St Michael's mothers providing a Victory tea. Youngsters enjoyed jelly, ice-cream & cakes. "...there was sufficient food left to take cakes to the absent children still in quarantine for mumps or measles." #VEDay80 #VEDay
May 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"This is VE Day. The school assembled in full force, and with many parents, went to a Children's thanksgiving service in the Church." So wrote the headteacher of Melksham St Michael's school #OTD 8th May 1945. Hymns, psalm & anthem were all practised in school ahead of the service.
#VEDay80 #VEDay
May 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#OTD in the early hours 7 May 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender. #Churchill declared 8 May #VEDay. Brig. Jack Parham, with the British 2nd Army in Luneberg travelled to the Baltic sea port of Travemunde. His pocket diaries form part of his #archive held at the History Centre. #VEDay80
May 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It's #localhistorymonth which means a host of events, talks & exhibitions in #libraries across #Wiltshire, promoting local history. As we mark #VEDay80 many events have a wartime theme. Check out the Wiltshire Libraries website for more information. libraries.wiltshire.gov.uk/-/local-hist...
May 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
#OTD 4 May 1945 the Salisbury & Winchester Journal reports on preparations for the end of war in Europe. Civil Defence is disbanded, local churches prepare for special services & #bellringers look forward to ringing celebratory peels after almost 6yrs of silence.
#VEDay80 #churchbells #peace
May 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Despite peace being so close, families continue to receive news of the death of loved ones. Writing to Edith Olivier #OTD 1945, with Germany's surrender just days away, Siegfried Sassoon reports: "Poor Mrs Hancock's eldest son has been killed in Germany."
#VEDay80 #archives #exploreyourarchive
May 3, 2025 at 10:35 PM
After almost six years of war people are preparing for #peace, but feelings are bittersweet. #OTD 1945 poet Siegfried Sassoon, who fought in the First World War, writes: "... I can't feel emotionally excited by it. Merely thankful..."
#VEDay80 #archives #letters
May 3, 2025 at 10:35 PM
#OTD 3 May 1945 #poet Siegfried Sassoon writes to Edith Olivier with a mix of personal news & comments on impending peace in Europe. "What a week of wild news! I suppose nothing more extraordinary is likely to happen in so few days during the next 100 years!"
#VEDay80 #archives
May 3, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Sign up for Saturday's (May 3) "Treasures from the Archives" session starting at 11am. Community History Advisor Gianna will be leading the session looking at traditional recipes. Register your interest at archives@wiltshire.gov.uk
#exploreyourarchives #archivetreasures #archives
April 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Join us at the History Centre Monday (28 April) for the first script in hand performance of Fire & Milk. Performance begins at 12noon & is free to attend. The play from SHOUTING Softly Swindon project is inspired by the women of #Swindon.
@artscouncilengland.bsky.social @primetheatre.bsky.social
April 23, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Colleagues Terry, Julie & Ian setting up for today's @cilip.bsky.social Local Studies Group conference. Julie & Ian presenting on @heritagewshc.bsky.social #outreach & #wellbeing programmes.
#libraries #localstudies
April 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
A call for papers from the West of England and South Wales Women's History Network annual conference!

This year's theme is Historical Perspectives on Women and Food on Saturday 11th October 2025 to be held at the University of Exeter. #womenshistory
March 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Please note that week commencing 24th March there may be some noise affecting the searchroom due to redevelopment work taking place in an adjacent room. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes during your visit.
March 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
A wonderful Wednesday celebrating our fantastic #volunteers with Cllr Sven Hocking @wiltscouncil.bsky.social A special shout out to Wiltshire Family History Society who've completed transcribing the county's parish registers. #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #heritage #cake
February 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
A fantastic start to the week: a packed house for the latest in @wiltshistory.bsky.social lecture series + annual visit from Bath Spa University's #Heritage Management MA students (pictured) + Wilts Record Society meeting. All in a day's work.
#archives #exploreyourarchive #history #localstudies
February 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Make 2025 the year of discovery & join our new *Treasures from the Archives* group. These informal sessions, led by Community History Advisor Gianna, are an ideal introduction to the #archives & work of the History Centre. Join us for the first session on 1st March at 11am.
#exploreyourarchive
February 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM