Lumières, Caméra, Action!

We had a little bit of glitz and glamour at the record office today as the international television cameras started to roll in the Searchroom. The occasion was the filming of part of an episode of ‘Qui étes vous?’ which is the French-Canadian version of our own ‘Who do you think you are?’

Members of the crew prepairing to shoot in the searchroom.

Members of the crew preparing to shoot in the Searchroom

The crew and local expert Patrick Denney spent an enjoyable morning filming for the episode which features the award winning actor Antoine Bertrand. A number of our original documents were consulted but we won’t let on which in case some of our Canadian readers get upset.

The crew from Quis Etes Vous? Along with Antoine Betrand (5th from right) and Patrick Denney (6th from right)

The crew from Quis Etes Vous? Along with Antoine Betrand (5th from left) and Patrick Denney (6th from left)

Do you have any North American connections among your ancestors or does your family history wend its way back to British shores? Either way it can be a frustrating but rewarding obstacle to overcome in the course of your research and hopefully the Essex Record Office and our colleagues in the UK and elsewhere will be able to help you.

Christmas concert at Ingatestone Hall

 Since 1953, the Essex Record Office has been kindly supported by the Friends of Historic Essex. The Friends are hosting their Christmas concert at Ingatestone Hall at 7pm on Saturday 1st December…

Before the frantic run up to Christmas, spend a relaxing musical evening with the acclaimed male voice quartet SongCycle in the wonderful surroundings of  Ingatestone Hall. There will be a mixture of music ranging from Bach to the Beatles, and Christmas music of all kinds in the second half. 

Festive refreshments will be served in the interval.

Tickets cost £10 each. To book tickets please contact Maureen Scollan on 01376 517863 or mjscollan[at]macace.net.

Alternatively, send a Stamped Addressed Envelope to Maureen Scollan at 22 Abercorn Way, Witham, Cm8 2UF enclosing a cheque for £10 per person may payable to The Friends of Historic Essex.

Please note that parking directly outside Ingatestone Hall is restricted, although Lord Petre will allow cars to drop people with mobility difficulties outside the house, before parking in the car park at the end of the drive. 

Ingatestone Hall, John S Turner

Ingatestone Hall, John S. Turner

 

Workers of the world unite!

Recently, we held our Workers of the world unite! day as part of Black History Month. We heard stories from around the county about people from other countries and cultures who have come to live and work in Essex, from those who arrived on the Empire Windrush in 1948, to the community around Tomas Bata’s shoe factory in East Tilbury, to what it was like to arrive in Essex from India and Jamaica.

We were visited on the day by BBC Essex’s Ian Wyatt , who recorded interviews with some of our speakers, which he played on his shows this weekend.

Scroll through to 56 minutes on his Saturday show to listen to our chairwoman Yvonne Howard, and Fred Price from the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yxg74

And on his Sunday show, tune in from 53.58 to listen to poet Jeffrey Porter:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yy4qn

Both shows will be available on iPlayer for the next few days.

The conference was a great day, and we are now busy planning for our next one, A night at the opera and a matinee at the flicks: theatre and cinema in Essex, on Saturday 24 November, exploring the history of theatre and cinema in the county. More details can be found here.

Poet Jeffrey Porter being interviewed by BBC Essex's Ian Wyatt

Poet Jeffrey Porter being interviewed by BBC Essex’s Ian Wyatt

Lunchtime - enjoying our culturally diverse buffet

Lunchtime – enjoying our culturally diverse buffet

This event was kindly sponsored by the Essex Cultural Diversity Project.

Discovery Day

Thankyou to everyone who came to our Discovery Day on Saturday!

Talking to you on the day and reading your comments on our feedback forms it seems like people certainly enjoyed themselves, whether it was attending Nick Barratt’s fantastic talk, getting advice from our expert staff, or going on tours to see how we take care of Essex’s history.

The ERO decorated with Heritage Open Days bunting!

The Friends of Historic Essex bookstall in the local history marketplace 

The ERO Education desk, complete with slates

 Looking at maps for sale

On tour in the Searchroom

On tour in the repositories

Checking out the ERO Treasures!

Dr Nick Barratt, talking about why we still need archives when we’ve got the internet

 In the Conservation Studio 

 

Demonstrating the leaf caster, which very cleverly fills in holes in paper documents with new paper pulp

One of the fascinating things on show – an enormous seal of an enthroned Elizabeth I

Remember that we are open Monday-Saturday every week for you to come and enjoy this fantastic resource, whether you have a specific research question in mind, or just want to come in to have a look around the Searchroom. Find out how to visit us here.

There’s plenty more to enjoy from the ERO over the coming months as our packed autumn events schedule gets under way, beginning with Discover Maps on Thursday 20 September 2pm-4pm, and the first of our autumn conferences, Essex-on-Sea on Saturday 22 September. Find out about all the great events we’ve got coming up on our events page!

Photos 1-3 Hannah Salisbury; 4-15 Edd Harris