Oldham’s Family History Festival

DISCOVER your past and trace your ancestors as part of this week’s Oldham’s Family History Festival, until March 29.

Oldham Library

With various sessions taking place across Oldham’s libraries and Local Studies and Archives on how to search through your history, this is an opportunity not to be missed if you’re thinking of building up your family tree.

There will be workshops on how you can trace your First World War ancestors, expert advice on hand for those looking for tips on where to start their searches, and free resources readily available for you to use and to look through, including old newspaper clippings and workhouse records.

At the end of the festival, there will also be a great opportunity for residents to get together and share their discoveries with fellow researchers, including what surprises they may have found along the way.

For a full list of events taking part during Oldham’s Family History Festival, please visit: www.oldham.gov.uk/familyhistoryfestival

-Accessing newspapers online

Thursday, March 28 (2–3pm), Uppermill Library, OL3 6AP.

Discover the British Newspaper Archive which is available for free across Oldham’s libraries. Library staff will be on hand to help you sign up to the service and navigate you through the site, which hosts more than 30 million newspaper pages.

Thursday, March 28 (10–11am), Royton Library, OL2 6QJ.

-Suggestions on how to write and organise your family history and preserve it for future generations.

Friday, March 29 (10–11am), Lees Library, OL4 5DA

Bring along your family history and share it with others, swap stories and tell us your surprises.