Press release issued on behalf of the South West Heritage Trust. 

A series of great-value lectures and talks, from the South West Heritage Trust, is shedding new light on the stories and people of the West Country.

An evening lecture programme takes place at the Museum of Somerset, with all talks also available to join online.

The series begins on 15 February with a lecture by Tom Mayberry who will talk about the remarkable life of the artist Sarah Biffin (1784-1850). On 22 February there is a chance to discover more about the region’s links to slavery in a lecture by Dr Richard Stone. Prof Carenza Lewis talks about how community archaeology can throw new light on history on 29 February. On 7 March local author Helen Pugh will talk about the unsung women of Somerset from pre-Roman to modern times.

The evening lecture programme is supported by Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation scheme. Tickets are £10 in person or £8 online.

The Museum of Somerset is also hosting a series of afternoon ‘Talk and Tea’ events. There is a chance to discover the life and work of folk music collector Cecil Sharp (1859 – 1924) at a talk with local author David Sutcliffe on 12 April. Tickets are £5.

A series of online talks provide an opportunity to learn how to access and use archive collections to explore family history. They begin on 23 February with a general look at resources for researching family history. On 5 March attendees can discover more about resources available at Devon and Somerset Heritage Centres for researching West Country criminals, and on 19 April learn about settlement papers and other documents that can provide information on the poor. Tickets are £5.

Booking is required for all talks via swheritage.org.uk/events.