Sheffield Family History Society

The 'Hidden Messages' in the Portraits at Hardwick Hall
2023-10-16 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Join us to hear Maureen Taylor talk about how the 16th century saw an explosion in portrait painting, which mainly started during the reign of Henry VIII and his promotion of Hans Holbein. Only the very rich could afford to have their portrait painted and as wealth was demonstrated through them, people would have worn their best and most fashionable outfit, together with their most expensive lace and jewels. The symbolism used in the portraits became talking points and this was the intention – to get people talking!

A Yorkshire Year: Folklore, Customs and Traditions
2023-11-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
To accompany her new book, Catherine Warr delves deeply into Yorkshire folklore, customs and traditions, discusing what it is, how it was collected and what it tells us about the people who lived in the past. Going beyond simply listing old traditions, the talk explores the very topic of folklore and traditions itself.

Lost Sheffield: Portrait of a Victorian City
2024-02-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
The Sheffield city centre which was familiar to our Victorian predecessors has largely been lost to us. Through the work of Sheffield Victorian Photographers, Peter Machan recreates the experience of a walk through the city centre as seen through the eyes of our great grandparents.

Inspector Hopkinson's Discovery
2024-03-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
And now for something completely different! Ian Morgan presents the sad and tragic tale of one night’s events in 1895. You are the jury in this true story of murder. Was Henry Wright guilty of calculated murder, or was he insane? Was Jack the Ripper at large once more? See if you agree with the original jury – guilty or not…… and what happened next?
This talk will be preceded at 2:00pm by the Annual General Meeting.

Sheffield's Ancient Suburbs - Part 2
2024-04-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
David Templeman returns to talk about some more of Sheffield’s oldest suburbs dating back as far as the Domesday Book (1086)

Sheffield Cathedral - 800 years of Sheffield history in one building
2024-05-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
A talk by Janet Ridler which looks at how Sheffield has developed from Saxon times up to the present day and how the City’s history can be traced within the walls of the cathedral.

Curiosities and Connections (Derbyshire and South Yorkshire)
2024-06-17 14:00
Accompany John Taylor exploring the strange, happy and tragic coincidences of history and circumstance. This talk provides a unique look at some of the locations we take for granted, linking underlying themes to places, names, events and historical fact.

Sheffield Cutlers' Company Records
2024-10-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Following our enjoyable and informative visit to the Cutlers’ Hall last year, Dr Joan Unwin, Archivist, Company of Cutlers’ in Hallamshire, will talk about the Cutlers’ Company records, the Sheffield trades and families who worked in the trades and who were represented in the Company’s archive.

Sheffield Quiz
2024-11-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Think you know Sheffield? Test your knowledge by coming to our quiz for an (early) bit of festive fun! Hosted by Sheffield’s own ‘Big’ Ron Clayton.

Paupers and Vagrants, Life in the Sheffield Workhouse
2025-02-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Join us to hear Mary Garside’s talk which explains why people were in the workhouse, and how they were accommodated according to whether they were considered ‘deserving’ or ‘undeserving’. Mary also gives an insight into how paupers and vagrants spent their days and how they were provided for by the guardians of the poor.

AGM followed by 'Bishops' House, 500 years of a Derbyshire farmhouse'
2025-03-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
The AGM will be held at 2 pm, directly followed by ‘Bishops’ House, 500 years of a Derbyshire Farmhouse’, a talk by Ken Dash on Sheffield’s best preserved timber framed building and museum.

“Life, Times and Heritage of J.G. Graves”
2025-05-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Ken Beaumont will give his talk on J G Graves, the successful entrepreneur and public benefactor. Born in 1866 in Lincolnshire, he became Lord Mayor of Sheffield and an Alderman in 1926, and given the Freedom of the City in 1929.
He gave generously to Sheffield throughout his life, including establishing Graves and Concord Parks, as well as securing the future of Ecclesall Woods. The Graves Charitable Trust also forms part of his legacy.

Sand between the toes
2025-06-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
In this talk, Anne Featherstone takes us down memory lane to remember sunshine, sea and sand.Childhood holidays and recollections of a 60’s family holiday in Skeggy are recalled.

Sheffield's Ancient Suburbs - Part 3
2025-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Join us to hear David Templeman give Part 3 of his series of talks about some of Sheffield’s oldest suburbs, dating back as far as the Domesday Book (1086)

AGM followed by Sheffield Ancient Suburbs - Part 4
2026-03-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
The AGM will take place at 2 pm and will be followed by David Templeman giving the fourth in his series of talks about the ancient suburbs of Sheffield.

STRANGE SHEFFIELD - THE CITY CENTRE
2026-04-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Join us to hear Adrian Finney, Sheffield Ghost Walks and author of several books, shed light on some of the City’s ghostly legends, folklore and stories that shaped Sheffield.

Three Families, Three Houses - the story of Wentworth Woodhouse
2026-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Join us to hear Dr Julie Banham’s talk on the fascinating story of the families connected to the grand stately home of Wentworth Woodhouse.

Loxley: Wanderings in a Curious Valley
2026-06-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Aizlewood Business Centre, Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Today, we welcome back Peter Machan to talk about some of the curious happenings in Loxley Valley.
