Everywhere’s History: The Wiltshire VCH, Past, Present and Future

TALK: The Victoria County History project, as its name suggests, originated in the 19th century, although work towards publication only began in Wiltshire following a meeting in 1947. Since then five general volumes of county history, and thirteen volumes of parish histories have been published, with three more in progress and another four or five projected but not yet started, in order to complete its coverage of the county. Marlborough, Ramsbury, Aldbourne and the surrounding parishes were covered in a volume (12) published in 1983, and have proved of great value to historians of the area as a reference tool for more than forty years.

SPEAKER:  John Chandler has been involved with the history of Wiltshire all his working life, and has published books on the Marlborough area, Vale of Pewsey and many other places. He is also the proprietor of local publisher Hobnob Press.  He has worked in a freelance capacity as researcher and editor for the  VCH for the past twenty years, in Wiltshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and will describe the project’s background, rationale, and its value for local historians.