The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.48 No.3 | December 2021

Local Group Programmes

The Poor Laws Act of 1834 created workhouses whose voluminous registers recorded not only individuals in great detail, but the administration and running of the buildings. The same applied to schools where admission and log books and MH inspector reports were filed. Printed resources are easier to read and were updated at intervals. So electoral rolls from 1889 show qualifying male voters. Trade directories, published regularly from the 17th century, provide information about towns, services and the available tradesmen although these were mainly for advertising purposes. Local newspapers might be available on film – these are not indexed so browsing is required. More recently, books provide information about places, people, regimental history, the clergy – the list is endless! HRO has a large map collection. It’s possible to find old hand-drawn maps of strips of land with the tenant’s name recorded. These will not necessarily be to scale. Land surveys exist too and tithe maps from the 1830s record how land was apportioned. Tithes were historically a 10% levy paid in animals or crops – mostly found in rural settings - which was latterly replaced by a money payment. Later OS maps provide all sorts of accurate detail including the physical landscape, roads, property and public buildings. At HRO, we are also lucky to have the Wessex Film and Sound Archive which houses a variety of film and photographs depicting formal occasions but also providing glimpses into family life. For the amateur researcher, Jan certainly demonstrated there is no shortage of resources. Forthcoming Meetings:

Christmas Meeting (In-Person)

9th December 7:30 pm

2022

No details available

Basingstoke Meetings normally commence at 7. 30 p.m. and are held on the fourth Wednesday every month (except August and December) at St Michael’s Church Cottage Hall, Church Street. Contact: Email:

basingstoke@hgs-online.org.uk

Notes by Elaine Bye (August) Guided Walk Around Alton.

A group of us met up in Alton on a lovely Wednesday afternoon with Jane Hurst, our guide. Jane is an acknowledged expert on Alton and this certainly showed as she took us on a gentle stroll around numerous places of interest. We quickly learned that not all the plaques, Blue or otherwise, we saw on our route were to be believed! Jane also demonstrated that the backs of old buildings often told a more interesting story than the facades. We finished with tea and cakes in the beautiful garden of the Allen Gallery which opened especially for us. (September) Dad’s Army Fact & Fiction – Steve Roberts. Steve gave a very entertaining presentation comparing the real Home Guard with the fictional

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