ACTIVITIES

The Club actively engages in the following activities:

  • promoting research into subjects related to its aims, and publishing it.
  • co-operating with various voluntary and professional bodies sharing its aims.
  • encouraging the publication and accessibility of documents concerning the history of the area.
  • undertaking surveys and making maps, plans and drawings of sites and areas of historic interest.
  • hold meetings*, lectures and displays to inform the public about local history.
  • allying itself with various other organisations to promote the cause of Local History in the area.
  • encouraging the teaching of Local History in schools and other places of learning.
  • monitoring planning applications with a historic content.

information collected from oral interviews
Project Discussion

PROJECTS

Working Group

The Society has recently completed a two year Local Heritage Initiative funded project to study the Landscape History of the town. This has led to the publication of a comprehensive volume of the findings which can be viewed in the County Record Office, Northallerton, and the Reference Section of Northallerton Library.

Continued interest by members of the Group has led to the formation of a Working Group which meets every Friday at the County Record Office between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.15 pm. It is open to members of the public interested in undertaking Local History Research. There is an admission charge of £2.00 per day to cover the cost of the accommodation.

Site visit - Motte and Bailey
Site visit - Northallerton Motte and Bailey

Most of the current group are conducting research into the history of Northallerton but others are interested in the surrounding villages. The structure is free format so that members can undertake individual research or work with others on common topics. The expertise and resources of the group are available without charge to all participants.

On the last Friday of each month there is a Luncheon Club which includes a talk by an experienced practitioner in research. Linda Turnbull of the Record Office gave the first two talks which included researching property records. The programme is now well advanced and will continue into 2009. For those attending the lecture only there will be a separate admission charge of £2.00.

If you would like to join the Group please contact John Sheehan on 01609 771878. Consideration will be given to setting up a similar Group to meet on a Wednesday evening to take advantage of the late opening of the Record Office for those unable to take part in the daytime sessions.

Community Archive

The society has computer facilities to build a collection of local documents, especially photos and illustrations of the town and district with accompanying narratives. Have you any we could copy? Can you help with the computerisation of this data?

Historic Buildings and Sites

Attempts are made to preserve and protect old buildings and sites. Part of this process is the review of planning applications on a regular basis - would you like to help with this?

Population Studies

Extensive work has (and is) being done by committee members on the transcription and digitisation of census and birth, marriage & death records.

Property Records

Projects are under way to catalogue and analyse deeds and probate records.

Distinguished Families

Work is being undertaken on researching the Lascelles family who were pre-eminent in this area before the move to Harewood. Other local families such as the Smithsons (now Dukes of Northumberland) need researching.