Society’s Annual History Fair 2019

Harwich’s annual history fair has become a firm favourite on the calendar of local events and the 4th Harwich History Fair will take place in the 1912 Centre in Cow Lane, Harwich on Saturday 26th October and Sunday 27th October between 11AM and 4PM.

Entry is free of charge and the combined talents of the Harwich Society’s archive team and Harwich Town Council’s honorary archivists have put together a fascinating insight into Harwich’s history and they will be on hand to talk to visitors and to bring it to life.

An extensive range of old photographs, old copies of the Harwich and Manningtree Standard and a continuous big screen slide show of days gone by will be available to see and there will be the opportunity to have your old slides and negatives digitalised if you bring them along on the day.

It is also hoped to use the event to expand the ever growing oral history of Harwich by lining up volunteers with memories of Harwich for interviews over the coming months. The history fair has gained a well earned reputation for interaction between those putting on the fair and those attending it to further increase the information and knowledge about Historic Harwich.

Harwich Society archivist and vice chairman, David Whittle, says, “We have been delighted by how the annual Harwich History Fair has grown and how everyone attending it feels part of the event. Harwich is the gift that keeps giving as there is always something new to learn. The Harwich History Fair is a great opportunity to share information and knowledge and add to the wealth of Harwich’s history.”

This year’s History Fair will commence with the launch of the Victoria County History’s new book, ‘Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston in the 19th century’ which will be on sale at a discounted price of £12.

This will be followed at 11.30AM with an illustrated talk by David Whittle titled ‘How the Victorians developed Dovercourt’.

David Whittle has become well known for his illustrated talks on various local subjects and he will present a further two talks on the Sunday of the history fair.

At 11.30AM on the Sunday morning he will be showing a recently digitalised copy of an 8mm film shot by Roy Went in 1973 featuring the redoubts at Eastbourne, Dymchurch, Harwich and Felixstowe Languard and at 3PM on Sunday he will present ‘The lights that lead into Harwich Harbour’.

Refreshments will be available throughout.

“Everyone is looking forward to staging the event and excited by what we will see and hear from those attending the Harwich History Fair,” continued David Whittle. “Each year, photographs are brought along that we have never seen and stories are told that we have not previously known about. The Harwich History Fair is a real sharing experience which is what makes it so special.”

For further information please contact:
David Whittle on 01255 506183
Garry Calver on 01255 551940