Chance to buy rare history books

A limited number of antiquarian and rare books are up for grabs as Hertfordshire opens up its historical archives.

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) is holding a grand book sale and open day on Sunday, 18 May from 10am to 4pm.

HALS says a vast range of general, local history and family history titles covering, not only Hertfordshire, but also the whole of the British Isles, will be on show.

The books, the likes of which HALS says rarely come on the market, date from medieval times to the present day.

The book sale is just part of an open day that will include displays, exhibitions, tours of the archive strong rooms and conservation laboratory, and demonstrations of the new computerised parish index.

The event will also mark the launch of a new book, ‘Tracing Family History in Hertfordshire’.

According to the University of Hertfordshire Press, which publishes books on behalf of the Hertfordshire Association for Local History (HALH), the new book will be in real demand.

"There has long been a need for a thorough new guide to the resources available, both at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) and elsewhere in the county, of use to family historians," a spokesman said.

"It will cover a very wide range of sources, with details of where to find them and how to use them in Hertfordshire. This guide will meet a real demand and is expected to be bought by researchers around the world as well as in the United Kingdom."

The HALS archives are housed on more than four miles of shelving and include official council documentation, diocesan and parish records, and personal letters and effects donated by local families. Some original documents date back to 1060.

For further details you can contact HALS at Hertfordshire County Hall, Hertford, SG13 8EJ (01438-737333)

This site has more than a dozen complete history books thanks to the North Mymms Local History Society. Click here to view the history section index.

You can discuss education issues in the history section of this site's forum.

28 February 2003

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