We get a great many visitors passing through our doors, honing in on those invaluable parish registers, wills, non-conformist records etc. Some venture further, taking a look at what else the History Centre has to offer, but for many, little do they realise that they are missing out on some essential information – the contextual evidence that brings life to those ancestors they are searching so long and hard to find.

The Wiltshire Local Studies Collection is a unique resource available at the History Centre which can do just that. I have searched the shelves to give you just a taste of what is on offer if you have a little extra time to look whilst you are here. If not, many of our books are available to loan via your local library, all you need to do is put in a request.

Memoirs

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Some months ago an enquirer brought to my attention an unusual addition at the front of one of our parish registers. It was an 18^th century cure for mad dog bites, along with a receipt for the bite of a mad dog, ‘Brought from the East-Indies by Sir George Cobb Bart.’, dated 9^th July 1759. I found it fascinating and wondered what other weird and ‘not quite’ so wonderful cures and remedies were hiding away in our collection. I found the subject so fascinating that I have waxed lyrical, and I hope you will find it so, too!

‘An Infallliable Cure for the Bite of a Mad-Dog’ in the Beechingstoke Parish Register, 1738-1812

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Inspired by a recent display on Eddie Cochran at Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre this blog entry is all about Wiltshire’s links past and present with the world of rock and pop.

 
Eddie Cochran

To commemorate 50 years since the famous rock and roll pioneer died in a car crash on Rowden Hill in Chippenham, earlier this year Chippenham museum put on a display of Eddie Cochran memorabilia. 'Read more' to find out how many other pop stars have been associated with Wiltshire over the years...

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