With 2000 years of history, London is likely to figure in the family history of many people. As the seat of government and the largest city in the United Kingdom (and Europe for many centuries), it was a magnet for internal and foreign immigration. It’s grown rapidly in the last millennium to a population of nearly 9 million today. Prior to 1965, what we now call Greater London included the City of London (which contained 109 parishes in its ‘square mile’), the City of Westminster, the county of Middlesex and parts of the counties of Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire - an area that today is roughly encircled by the M25 motorway.
The London Discussion Circle meets monthly to share information about research resources, learn about our ancestors’ lives in London and perhaps even break down some brick walls. Depending on member interests, presentation and discussion topics might include: specific suburbs or areas, local occupations and businesses, migration, maps and gazetteers, civil registration, church records, probate, census, electoral rolls, taxes, land records, military, criminals, civil and ecclesiastical courts, poor laws, school records, newspapers, apprentices, guilds and freemen, archives and other repositories, family history societies, key and new digital sources. Members are encouraged to share their reviews of journals, books, databases, websites, blogs and other resources available to members in the GSV library and elsewhere.
Who may join?
Only GSV Members may attend the London Discussion Circle. There is no additional fee; it is included as part of the annual subscription. New members are very welcome as the broader the collective research experience of the Circle membership, the greater the benefit for individual members.
Meetings
The Circle meets on the fourth Thursday of each month except December for 60 minutes (10.30-11.30) via Zoom.
How to join
Just come along or email the convener, Vicki Montgomery at london@gsv.org.au to join the mailing list for information about future meetings.
More information is available from the convener or GSV admin: phone 9662 4455 or email gsv@gsv.org.au