Events & Exhibitions

Bedfordshire & Luton Archives Events –details will be updated frequently so please revisit soon!

2013

22 March 2013 – 23 June 2013: Exhibition - One For the Record, Wardown Park Museum, Luton|. Normal opening hours.The first of two major exhibitions we are putting on this year showcasing our varied collections, from the everyday to the extraordinary. Along the way it will tell the Record Office's own story and how it protects our documentary heritage, be it on 12th century parchment or the latest computer file. Contact us.|

June 2013: Display - BLARS & BHRS centenary banners, Sandy Library|.

5 June 2013: Talk -  Dr Nick Barratt|, historian, broadcaster and Editor in Chief of 'Your Family History' magazine, will talk to us about the future of history. Wardown Park Museum| 12.30 - 1.30 pm. Free.

18 June 2013 Talk – Railways.  Olney & District Historical Society|, Olney Centre, 7.30 pm, small charge for non-members.

19 June 2013 Talk - Luton Works: what the archives of Luton Businesses can tell us about the development of the town. Wardown Park Museum| 12.30 - 1.30 pm. Free.

19 June 2013  Bill Grant is giving a free calligraphy demonstration at our exhibition at Wardown Park Museum |10-12 – come and have a go.

30 June 2013 Paths to Crime guided walk. To mark the end of our two-year project to catalogue the 19th century Quarter Session Rolls we are planning a guided walk in North Bedfordshire. Details are still to be finalised but we are hoping to walk around Harrold and Odell in the morning and then continue to Sharnbrook in the afternoon– telling stories uncovered from the archives as we go. It should be possible to join us for the morning/the afternoon or the whole day. If you would like further details as they become available please contact us|.

12 July 2013: Talk - Manorial Documents| 2. To mark the end of the MDR project, Sarah Charlton will tell us what she found and what she didn't. Archives Service |Borough Hall, 1-2 pm. Free.

July 2013: Display - , BLARS & BHRS centenary banners, Biggleswade library|,

18 July 2013: Talk -  Family History, Biggleswade library|, 2.30pm. Free.

30 July 2013: Childrens Activity Day. Who stole the ducks? A fun family day of Victorian crime and detection. The Higgins|, Bedford. 11 am - 3pm drop in. £2 per child.

August: Display - BLARS & BHRS centenary banners, Dunstable library|,

6 August 2013: Talk -  Delectable Documents: a stroll through 800 years of Bedfordshire History with Bedfordshire Archives, Dunstable Library|.10.30 - 12.00 noon. Free.

7 August 2013: Children's Activity Day. Telling Tales. Storytelling and other activities on Victorian crime and punishment for children, young people and families. 11 am - 3 pm drop in, storytelling on the hour. Bedford Central Library|. 

14 August 2013: Talk - Crime & Punishment (for children), Dunstable library|, 10.45 - 12.00 noon. Free.

14 September 2013 Open Day at the Archive Service| - come and look behind the scenes, have a go at one of our activities or just take a guided tour as we open our doors as part of Heritage Open Week. 10 am - 4 pm. Free.

17 September 2013: Talk -  Crime in Bedfordshire, Willington Local History Group|, Willington Methodist Chapel. 7.30 pm, small charge for non-members.

19 September 2013: Talk - Zoologist to Antiquarian, a backward glance at the founding of the Bredfordhsire Record Office. Carlton & Chellington Local History Group, Carlton Village Hall|. 7.30 pm, small charge for non-members.

September 2013: Display - BLARS & BHRS centenary banners, Leighton Buzzard library|, 

24 September 2013: Talk -  Community Archives, Leighton Buzzard library|, 10.30 am. Free.

28 September 2013: Medieval Manor Merriment. Willington Stables & Church 1-5 pm. To celebrate the completion of the Bedfordshire Manorial Documents Register join us and Willington Local History Group| and the Bedford National Trust Association| as we look at life on a medieval manor. Free event suitable for all ages. Teas available in the church.

October 2013 Display - BLARS & BHRS Centenary banners Ampthill Library|

12 October 2013 - 5 January 2014 : Exhibition - For the Record Too. The Second of our major exhibitions of the year, this time with exhibits more to suit the northern half of the County, but tackling the same themes of the varied collections we hold and how we have looked after them for the last 100 years. Venue: The Higgins|, Bedford.

12 October 2013: Display stand - Luton Hoo Pumpkin Gala.

17 October 2013: Talk - Patience, Jigsaws and Other Games Archivists Play. Ever thought how nice it would be to work with historical documents, or why some documents survive and others don't? This talk will explain what archivists (and conservators) do all day, why we do it and why a love of history is definitely not the only criteria for the job! The Higgins|, Bedford 1.00 - 1.45 pm. Free.

30 October 2013: Children's Activity Day - A Date in your Diary. Come along to make a diary to take home. Diaries can be important records of what life was like in the past; start your own diary my making a little book to record your day. Sessions will be repeated throughout the day 11 am - 3 pm starting on the hour. Suitable for children aged 6+. All children must be supervised by a parent or carer. £2 per child. The Higgins|, Bedford.

November 2013 Display - BLARS & BHRS Centenary banners, Shefford Library|.

6 November 2013: talk - The Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment  Bedford Central Library| 2.30pm.

7 November 2013: Talk - Bedford Works: a look at what the archives of Bedford businesses tell us about the development of the town. The Higgins|, Bedford. 1.00 - 1.45 pm, small charge.

28 November 2013: Talk - How we used the archives: Project leaders and community groups share their experience of using the archives.The Higgins|, Bedford. 1.00 - 1.45 pm, small charge.

December 2013: Display - BLARS & BHRS Centenary banners, Stotfold Library|.

3 December 2013 : British Records Association| annual one-day conference. This years theme is travel and we are delighted that the BRA will be travelling to Bedford to hold their day of presentations.

19 December 2013: Talk - Harpur's Bedford. The Higgins|, Bedford. 1.00 - 1.45 pm, small charge.