News & Information

October has started with the reopening of the Weston Library in its new premises in the Town Hall in Weston and our Help Sessions have resumed on the 1st and 3rd Saturday afternoons of each month.  There are some changes in the procedures for these sessions and if you are a member of the Library it will help if you have your Library ticket available when you come but as before if you are new to the area or live elsewhere you will be asked for some other means of identification.

You do not have to be a member to come on a Saturday - just an interest in Family History - as we have computer access to censuses etc. your family does not have to originate in Weston-super-Mare - all are welcome.

The Weston and Worle News has been added to the local newspapers which are accessible on film in the library.  The earliest Weston newspapers are from the 1840/50s so if you do have an interest in Weston and district from that time they are well worth a visit.  There are also some newly available tithe maps of the area and the files of printed information which had previously been held at Weston Museum are now in the Library.  If you are in the area please visit the new library to see for yourself what is available for people researching their families in North Somerset. More details here.

While I'm talking about books etc. in libraries - have you tried the Internet Archive which is a digital library of free books, movies & music?  If you limit your search to "Text" there is an amazing number of old books (out of copyright) which have been digitalised - such as some printed transcriptions of parish registers and old guide books to areas which can be useful in filling in the backgroud to your research.  As an example try searching just for "Parish Registers" or just enter the name of the place in which you are interested.

October 13th is the last Saturday opening of the Cemetery Chapel for this year - the open afternoons organised by the Friends of Weston Cemetery will start again in the Spring.

We are still looking for new volunteers to assist with checking the parish transcriptions which are now a major part of this web site - please contact Graham Payne if you would like more details.

Looking forward to November, the last visit to Weston Library for 2012 of the North Somerset Archivist is on Thursday, November 1st - so if you wish to consult original documents which are held at the Somerset Heritage Centre do plan ahead and put in your order by contacting Jane de Gruchy - see Somerset Heritage Centre or our Forthcoming Events for more details.