Memory Box Reading Group

Do you love reading and history?

Our latest venture might just suit you down to the ground!

The group is not able to continue face to face sessions at present but you can access online readings of some of the Memory Box Reading Group sessions below:

Westbury Cement Works

Westbury Iron Works

Bratton Iron Works

The Mop Fair

Bradford Leigh Fair

The Sheep Fair

Normally, sessions run on the Monday of every month, 2-3.30pm, free entry. It’s a chance for anyone who is at a loose end to come along and listen to extracts of books from our Local Studies Library on a wide range of topics, take a look at a range of documents from the Archives and photographs from our Local Studies Collection, not to mention tea/coffee, biscuits and a chat at the end!

Feel free to join in with any memories of comments you may have, or just enjoy the friendly atmosphere with others and the chance to take a look at many fascinating and little seen items from our vast range of collections.

Topics we have covered so far have been as wide-ranging as Royal Forests, the Workhouse, the Fair, Ironworks, Education, Cinema, 1950s Chippenham and Washday. The extracts mostly cover Wiltshire places but we also find out about the origin of the subjects to add context, covered by our general reference (Heritage Collection) held at the library. The group are also able to suggest subjects of interest for us to cover in future sessions, which is proving to be both successful and interesting to date.

You’ll be amazed by what there is to discover and uncover; we’ve found out about sea eagle bones which were purported to have been used in medieval bird hawking; the common labourer who was writing to tell others of the plight of his follow workers in the 18^th century, the pioneer of the modern-day cinema, based in Salisbury, and much more!

If you have any questions or queries please feel free to contact me This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel 01249 705534

Comments from attendees include “Brings back memories I’d forgotten I had”; “It’s lovely to hear other people’s ideas and learn new things”; “Brings up questions and new things to think about”…

We look forward to meeting you!

Julie Davis

Reading Group Leader and County Local Studies Librarian

Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre