History enthusiasts in Copeland will be able to find out more about their heritage at a series of events to mark Local History Month in May.
A host of activities organised by Cumbria County Council at libraries next month, reflect the growing interest in local and family history.
Throughout the month, libraries will be hosting a variety of local history displays. In Egremont, library goers will be able to see what the library looked like when it was used as a school.
In Seascale, a special window display will be produced with memories and memorabilia provided by library users and the village's local history group.
Whitehaven's Daniel Hay library will holding special taster sessions on a range of historical subjects including how to decipher old writing, starting a family tree, oral history and publishing local history research.
On Saturday 28 May, the library will also be holding a series of talks entitled:
- 'Common Gate Farm and history' by Harry Harper;
- 'Workhouse: the juicy bits' by Robert Baxter;
- 'Ironworks of the Whitehaven district' by Philip Ashforth.
John Holmes will be popping into the library on Saturday 12 May to talk about the origins of the distinct west Cumbrian dialect - with examples.
Kells library will be showing photos and artefacts from the Haig Mining Museum, and Kells, Cleator Moor, Frizington Thornhill and Gosforth libraries will all be putting on local history displays.
Other branches delving into the past next month include St. Bees library which will be displaying local press cuttings collected over the years; Mirehouse library where people will be able to see a display on how the area has changed over the decades; and Distington library which will be helping people polish up on the history of High Duty Alloys.
All Copeland libraries will be offering family history hunters free taster sessions on a new library internet service - Ancestry.co.uk - with the chance to uncover valuable facts about their forebears' lives and times.
Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for Library Services in Cumbria, said: "Copeland's libraries are putting on an array of interesting events for Local History Month.
"This is a great opportunity for library users to learn more about the history of their local community."
For more information on events taking place in Copeland libraries during Local History Month, people can contact their local branch or visit the county council's website at www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries
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