Research Workshops

You can’t help wanting to know more about the history around you when you’re living in or close to a World Heritage Site. That’s why we hold our very popular Research Workshops. We’ll also share any videos or digital resources from the days here.

Whether it’s for personal interest, or a group project, you might feel a little overwhelmed about how to get started.

Our Research Workshops will help you to understand what information is out there and how you can access it. You’ll be able to hear stories from others on how they got started. You’ll also hear some of the pitfalls to avoid and problems you can overcome.

You’ll learn what’s available online, and how to explore archives. There will also be information on how to use the World Heritage Site Research Framework and how to archive your research.

They are a chance to share ideas and find out more about how to uncover historical facts.

Our last workshop was the 25th March 2025. Thanks to all those who attended. We’ll update here when our next workshop is scheduled.

Useful videos:

The importance of research for a World Heritage Site from 2024:

Architecture of the World Heritage Site, Barry Joyce, from 2022:

How to read old handwriting, Sarah Chubb, Derbyshire Record Office from 2022:

Case Study: Hospital Archives, Bath Rawson, Emma Bailey, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton from 2022:

Learning to read maps relating to the Derwent Valley, Adrian Farmer, from 2022:

Historic Environment Record, Dr Dana Campbell, HER Officer Derbyshire County Council from 2022:

Reading Buildings, Dr Adam Menuge, University of Cambridge, from 2022:

Reading Landscapes, a brief introduction to landscape and environmental history, Paul Elliott, University of Derby, from 2022:

Online research for family and local history from 2020: