Do you ever wonder who lived in your house a hundred years ago, or its architectural history? What about the lives of your local ancestors? Are you interested in metal detecting or collecting old bottles or postcards? Do you have ancestors who served in WWI or WWII? What was it like to live in Melksham during WWII?
On Saturday, 5th July, the Melksham Heritage Discovery Fair takes place at Well House Manor on Spa Road. There’s a packed schedule of talks and presentations which includes a book signing of “Evacuee Boys” by author John Forbat who, with his brother, were evacuated to Melksham during World War II and wrote of their experiences through letters to family remaining in London. Kate Bevan from English Heritage will tell you how to explore the history of your home. Researchers will be on hand to help you find your family roots or the best places to metal detect.
The Well House Collection of artefacts, memorabilia, directories, books and documents on the history of Melksham will be on show, with access to more than 1,000 photographs showing life in the town and surrounding countryside for the last 120 years. And the cafe will be open, selling coffees and pastries, strawberry cream teas, and a variety of cakes baked on the premises.
The event opens at 10am and runs through to 2pm. Admission is free. Why not bring your old pictures, postcards and documents along? The team would be delighted to digitally scan them for free.
Programme of events
10:00 Opens … exhibitions stands, documents, directories, books, artefacts on show. Bring in your artefacts for us to see, and your documents for us to scan. Cafe open too.
10:30 “From Brunel to the current franchise – a history of Melksham’s Rail” Illustrated talk. (Warm up act – Graham Ellis, hosting this event at Well House Manor)
11:15 Meet John Forbat / book signing; John is Author of “Evacuee Boys – Letters of a family separated by war” and tells of his evacuation to Melksham & his time in the town during the Second World War.
12:15 Kate Bevan is the cataloguing team leader at English Heritage, and is leading their new initiative “Your Home’s History”. She will be talking on “Discovering the History of a house – who lived in it and when was it built?”
13:00 “I Remember When”. Phil McMullen. Old photographs of the town will be shown, and Phil will lead a discussion on what they show, and how life was at the time. Audience participation welcome
14:00 Anticipated close … but people are welcome to stay on for coffee and to look further at the Well House Collection and continue scanning and talking.
Entry is free of charge.
Details are online at http://melksh.am/history
The Well House Collection, at Well House Manor, 48 Spa Road SN12 7NY is open every afternoon. Please get in touch on 709638 or email info@ twhc.org.uk for details.
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