ABOUT THE SOCIETY

Sedbergh & District History Society was founded in 1980 and now has members throughout the world. Its aims are to study, research, publish and stimulate interest in history but mainly in the history of the local area. Winter lectures are held on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. From Wednesday 2nd October 2019, meetings  will be held in St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh. Summer outings vary from local walks to full day excursions.

The society runs a series of lectures, visits and events as well as undertaking research, including surveys and archaeological digs. In 1994 the society was runner-up in the Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Award for its survey of lime kilns in the area.

In addition to the above the society archives are kept in a room that is open to the public. The archives hold copies of parish registers, tithe maps and schedules, censuses, land tax returns, deeds and wills, as well as an extensive collection of photographs dating from about 1858 onwards. Trinity College, Cambridge has contributed many documents concerning St Andrew's Church, and Sedbergh School has provided the surviving governors' minutes up to 1874 when it ceased to be the Free Grammar School of King Edward VI In Sedbergh.

There is a History Society room in the Community Office. Items available include:

• Parish registers for Sedbergh, Garsdale, Dent and Howgill.
• Censuses for Sedbergh, Dent and Garsdale.
• Graveyard recordings for Sedbergh, Dent, Garsdale, Cautley, Frostrow and Hawes

In order to help people researching their family histories there are files with information on many properties and families. The society has copies of books and articles on the area and relevant documents such as poll tax lists, muster rolls, lay subsidies and Charity Commission reports. Finally the society publishes three newsletters each year In addition to Its annual journal, The Sedbergh Historian.

 

For more information contact:

Sedbergh & District History Society
The Community Office
72A Main Street
Sedbergh
Cumbria LA10 5AD 
 
email:sedberghhistsoc@aol.com

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OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY