Genealogy Chat

I dont know about you, i collect anything to do with where my relatives lived. Which mainly are postcards new/old,books etc. The area which covers many places in Kent and some area`s of London. My local W H Smith, had many items which i would help me in my research. However father christmas can not bring you everything, but i did get some items on my wish list. Yesterday i went to W H Smiths and they had a sale on. Iam not talking £2-£4 off,or even half price. Items were no more than a pound! Well as you can guess i had a look and got a few items. Including books on, How to trace your local history. Folklore of Kent. Francis Friths photographic memories . Heraldry. Dregerman in Kent . Hops and hop picking. The three Edwards (which has a few family trees inc). Maps . Places of interest inc maps. There were many more books, but i would be here all day. Thats not all , folders, files, paper, plasitc pockets, ring binders , marker pens, pencils, fountain pens. Blank greeting cards which had views of the local area. Printer cartridges. Anyway i paid about £31 for the whole lot. When i got home i looked at the orig price of some of the stuff. Some of those books would have cost me £25. Anyway the grand total would have cost me £291. What can i say, its a result. I wish my relatives were as easy to find. As some of them ive been waiting to find information on for many years. All the best Sarah

Sarah You sound 'chuffed to bits!!!' Good for you. Kind Regards Sarah.

Well done on your Bargains. Nat

Sounds like a good idea, I know nothing of the area my ancestors were from - I've visited it, but haven't delved into the history at all. I wish I wasn't at work (skiving) now, I'd be straight down Smiths to see what they've got on offer... out of interest, what area of Kent? It's where I now live.

Hi The Smiths i went to was the one in Gillingham Kent. I dont know if others are doing the same. Well this morning (fri) i went in to buy the paper, so i thought i would have another look. There were some more Parker Fountain pens for a £1 and Tipp-Ex pens for 50p. So i got those as well. When i went up to the counter to pay the lady said " oh you were in here yesterday, did you find any use for all your items? I replied yes thanks. She then informed me at the side of the counter were another trolly load of stuff that she had not put out yet. So you guessed it i had another look. I just had to buy the stuff. More paper, Street Master maps, Walks in the Kent Hills, Kent Nature Walks, Kent A shire county guide, Rollerball pens,markers ,Blank A4 Diary for a £1 normally £9.99. The list goes on. I also brought some DVDs £2-£3, Cds £3. I did buy some books and stuff that iam not interested in but others family members are. So they will be getting those for xmas.( i just hope they do not read this message.) She did say to me, the reason for this was that head office had informed them to clear the shelfs of these items. As most were old stock and this was to make way for new stock. Let me know if you find any other Smiths doing the same. Any way good luck to all of you . Sarah

I went into W H Smith this morning, just bought the usual papers and came out again. Think I shall have to have another trip into town this afternoon!!

Blimey Sarah you lucky moo - I never find stuff that I want that cheap always find for others though lol Shame here in N.Ireland we only have the one - yes ONE - W H SMITHS lol in Belfast. Postcards are a must have for family historians I have thousands of them - how places differ in years is amazing. Well done you Sarah Much Happiness Debi

Just back! Bought paper, envelopes, subject dividers and other stuff. Didn't see much in the way of books but ended up paying £11 but.......I did have a voucher for £5 worth of Club Card Points if I spent £10, so in all, it cost me £6. Didn't even pay for car park - the machine wasn't working!!!!! Thanks for the information!!

Oh lord, I can feel a trip to WH Smith coming on tomorrow!!! I'm a sucker for stationery. Just can't resist pens and paper, must be some kind of fetish lmao. Well done to you on your bargains, I always seem to miss sales. Lou

What a lovely idea to collect bits and pieces from where your ancestoes came from, it can only help to understand the places they lived a bit more. I had a lovely experience with collecting bits, we spent the easter weekend in Gt Yarmouth where several of my rellies came from. I found the house where my 3x Gt Granparents lived for almost 30 years and their house was still there, best bit was it had been sold the day before (otherwise I might have been tempted) anyway after taking photos I took a trip down to the estate agents who very kindly gave me the house description sheet which meant so much to me. I also had a look in the local WH Smiths they had a nice selection of local interest books, looks like were all be travelling round the various Smiths branches up & down the country. Michele

Hi One group of my relations came from a small villiage in Kent. Where nearly all the houses there are known by name not a number. Most were farm houses and some have remained there for 100`s of years. So as soon as i see a postcard or book on that area i buy it. Just in case it was one of the houses that my relatives lived in. As you know research is never finished and new names appear all the time. However ive not found a house yet that my relatives lived in. It does help you get a good idea of what the area was like. It can be quite a shock when you see the changes. I dont mean cars, roads etc. There is another area where my relatives lived, is called Water Lane. The chalk stream close by would overflow and go into the lane. (I mean this would happen all the time). There are many pictures and postcards of this with children playing in the dirty water. I oftern wonder if any of those children are related to me. On the end of Water Lane is a place called the MAISON DIEU, ( a Medieval hospital). Which you can still go in to visit. On the ground floor of the Maison Dieu you can see where the water used to come up to ,as there is a tide mark going around the wall. Yet before i started gen i used to drive past this road ,not knowing my relatives once lived there or knowing anything about its history. Iam going on abit here. All the best Sarah

Sarah, It is the little bits of information which put the flesh on the bones of the family tree. I have to admit, I am more interested in where, why and what for, is of greater interest to me than getting a long way back. I know much more about my family and their circumstances that way. I am still thrilled with my bargains from Smiths!! Thanks!!

Sarah, On the subject of local studies books. Some years ago, our local library were doing a display about WW2. They asked for the loan of items and we gave a picture taken at the outbreak of war. It is of the Local Defence Volunteers standing on the Corn Exchange steps, still with no unforms and only a few weapons between them. At the end of the exhibition the local studies librarian asked if he could use it in the book he was writing. You can image my joy when the book appeared and my father was there in the front page! I am really proud to see it still appearing on the shelves in Smiths. What would he have thought if he were still here?

Thats the hardest thing in the world to do....... Convince a woman that even a bargain costs money

Sarah, Sounds like Smiths owe you some commission for all the extra customers you gave them today!! LOL Dawn