30/05/2026
Would you like some tips on reading ?
If you would like to find out how to read the handwritten documents you may encounter when researching family or local history, why not come along to our next on-site 'Reading Old ' session, on Monday 15th June, 6pm-7.30pm?
This time we will focus on parish records, such as parish registers and account books kept by parish officials including the churchwardens and the overseers of the poor. We will look at some typical formats of document that you may find from the 16th to 19th century, and we will see common ways of writing particular letters, standard abbreviations, and typical phrases.
No experience needed! There will be a chance to try reading some extracts; you are very welcome to take a turn or not as you prefer. Cracking the code can be great fun and very rewarding, and we will make this an informal and, we hope, enjoyable session.
Booking required, £15 per person: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/archives/events/reading-old-handwriting-150626.
The illustration shows part of the accounts of the Chawton churchwardens for 1715 (1M70/PW1).
