Local history is very popular, and learning more about places and communities in Leicestershire can become a fascinating hobby. Some people enjoy doing their own research in their own way, while others find it helpful to meet like-minded people, at least on an occasional basis, to learn more, to pick up tips and to share ideas. Some have no wish to do their own research, but want to be able to listen to knowledgeable speakers talking about those aspects of the county’s history that interest them the most. There are many opportunities in Leicestershire to do one or more of these things, and these web pages can provide you with the links that will help you to explore the rich heritage of Leicestershire in whichever way you choose.
Getting involved with Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust
The Victoria County History (VCH) project will provide an authoritative history of every town, village and hamlet in the county from the first settlers to the present day, and needs the support of more donors (to fund training sessions) and volunteers to help with the research.
We will shortly be starting a new project looking at public health in Loughborough between 1840 and 1930. More information will be made available on our News page when this is about to commence. If you would like to be kept informed about our Loughborough project, you may like to subscribe to our email mailing list.
Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust would also like to hear from anyone with some spare time and the contacts, skills or experience to help with any of the following:
- Administration
- Fundraising
- Publicity and PR
- Social media/blogging/turning research findings into interesting press snippets
- Translating medieval Latin from printed records
- Transcribing and translating handwritten documents in abbreviated medieval (and later) Latin (experience required)
We appreciate no one’s time is open-ended, and we would be happy to agree with you the number of hours you feel you would be able to contribute. If you could help us with any of the items listed above, we would be happy to discuss what is involved. You can contact us by email at leicsvch@le.ac.uk giving your contact details and details of how you would like to help, and we will get in touch.
Learning more about Leicestershire’s history
If you want to do your own research, our research guides on these pages may point you towards records you had not previously considered. They also give a taste of the training that we provide to our VCH volunteers.
If you want to listen to talks about local history, you may want to consider joining the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, which has an annual lecture programme, or one of the many local history societies interested in the history of a specific town or village.
Those who would like a formal qualification in local history or the rigour of an academic course should consider the MA course offered by the Centre for English Local History at the University of Leicester. The Centre has an annual seminar programme and also has an active group of Friends comprising alumni, current students and others with an interest in the subject, who arrange their own programme of conferences, tours and study weekends.
We can also provide talks to local history societies, or single training sessions on a wide range of different topics or themes, and please use the contact form on this site if you would like to arrange one of these for your society.