National Family History Fair
Archived content from 2005 - 2014
For a number of years this was the official website for the National Family History Fair at Gateshead and then later when it was held at Newcastle. There were major exhibitors from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Overseas.
Content is from the site's 2005 - 2012 archived pages providing a glimpse of what this annual fair offered its visitors.
Take a nostalgic trip back and give a special thanks to Robert Blatchford and Roger Kay who promoted these events.
2005
THE NATIONAL FAMILY HISTORY FAIR 2005
Gateshead International Stadium
Saturday 10th September 2005. 10am to 4.30pm.
The fourth National British Fair for Family and Local History will held on 10th September 2005 at this major North East venue.
The National Family History Fair builds on the overwhelming success on The Great North Fair which attracted over 104 exhibitors and nearly 2000 visitors in 2004 (why the name change?).
Why the name change?
It has always been the aim of the organisers of the Great North Fair, that the event should be recognised as premier event in the family and local history fair calendar. This could only be achieved by staging a large, well-organised fair which brings together exhibitors and visitors from the whole of the British National, thus being truly national.
The Great North Fair 2004 achieved this aim, building on the success of the Great North Fair in 2003.
It was therefore decided to change the name of the Great North Fair to the National Family History Fair to reflect the it's achievements and prevent any potential confusion with similarly named events.
The fair is now the largest of its type to be held in the British Isles and the only fair to be easily accessible from all parts of the British Isles.
It is The National Family History Fair!
We are updating our website as comments on the Great North Fair 2004 come to us. If you would like to add your comments visit our guestbook.
Visitors to the fair will have access to:
- 1837 online -the first website to put the indexes to the complete sets of Births, Marriages and Deaths in England & Wales from the 1837 to 2002 and British Nationals Overseas from 1761 to 1994 online. Previously, the only way to perform such a search would have been either to travel to the Family Records Centre in London or to visit certain record repositories & libraries. The indexes searched are scans of originals enabling you to view a piece of history from your own home.
- The National Archives - with its main family history fairs team will feature their online catalogue and provide expert advice on the family stories located in the files that fill 100km of shelves at Kew. Visitors also be able to learn how to get the best out of the Archives’ massive catalogue and have direct access to many other documents.
- A million online wills
- Imperial War Museum - will provide help and advice on researching your military ancestors
- The Society of Genealogists with FREE advice from this National family history society
- The Scottish Genealogy Society and other organizations from Scotland will provide advice and help in researching Scottish ancestry.
- All the major national publications will be present including:* Family History Monthly * Family Tree Magazine * Ancestors Magazine * Your Family Tree * The Family and Local History Handbook * other booksellers
- Exhibitors from all over the British Isles offering products and services including * Record Offices * Libraries * Museums * Special Collections * The Napoleonic Wars * Black Sheep Research * Major Indexers – Such as Stepping Stones, S&N Genealogy, Leeds Indexers and Seaham Super Index plus many others.
- BBC Newcastle will be on hand all day giving out information and carrying out interviews.
2006
THE NATIONAL FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
Gateshead International Stadium
Saturday 9th September 2006. 10am to 4.30pm.
Admission £3.00, accompanied Children under 15 free.
The National Family History Fair in 2006 will be even better!
“We are planning to hold a range of special talks on different aspect of Family and Local History Research, and have had many offers from potential speakers” – Robert Blatchford, co-organiser.
The addition of talks to the event will provide an all round experience for the family historian.
Tracing Your Ancestors at the Family Records Centre
Gerry Toop Education & Outreach Manager Family Records Centre
Gerry is the Education & Outreach Manager at the Family Records Centre in Islington, London. The Family Records Centre is the Central London Reading Room for the National Archives. Gerry has worked at the National Archives since June 1972. He has a keen interest in genealogy since first delving into his own family history in 1977.
Introduction to Irish Genealogy
Ulster Historical Foundation
Born in Ireland
Ulster Historical Foundation
Births, Marriages and Deaths on the Internet
Ian Hartas of UK BMD
Talks may be repeated in the morning and afternoon. Programme is subject to change
Space will be limited and allocated on a first come-first served basis.
Building on the overwhelming success of the 2005 Fair, the 2006 Fair plans to include talks on a number of interesting topics in the fields of Family and Local History research. Click here to find out more.
The National Family History Fair at Gateshead - report
SUNDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2008 | scottishancestry.blogspot.com/
Well I'm back from Gateshead, and the National Family History Fair, and I am aching all over, but haven't had so much fun in ages. The event is run by Bob Blatchford, who produces the annual Family and Local History Handbook, and I went down to help him and his team, including his wife Liz and son Charlie, as well as Maurice, Sue, David, Martin and others. We spent Friday setting up inside the stadium, had a great meal that evening, and then got well and truly stuck in for a great day from early on Saturday morning.
Find my Past helping the genealogical masses
The hall was packed with some of the great and the good, including S&N Genealogy Supplies, FindmyPast, Ancestry, Your Family Tree, ABM Publishing, Family History Monthly, Family History Partnership, and others, and unlike WDYTYA Live, there was also some serious Scottish presence, including the Aberdeen and NE Scotland FHS, Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS, the Scottish Association of Family History Societies, the Scottish Genealogy Society, Scotland's People and the University of Strathclyde.
The show was sponsored by S&N Genealogy Supplies, and the company's MD Nigel Bayley gave two talks, with other speakers also including Ian Hartas, Amanda Bevan, Sarah Paterson, William Roulston, Doreen Hopwood and Kevin Connelly.
Ken Nisbet on the Scottish Genealogy Society stand.
As well as catching up with many people I had spoken to at WDYTYA Live, I also spoke to some of the smaller vendors. There's an interesting new website on mining being launched soon, for the north east of England, but which will have some limited overlap with the Borders region of Scotland. Called NEEMARC (North East of England Mining Archive and Resource Centre), and produced by the University of Sutherland, the website is currently under construction at http://www.neemarc.com/ , but may well be a useful parallel for the Scottish Mining Villages website at http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/ , so worth keeping an eye on, particularly if you have connections to mining in the north of England. The Family History Partnership are another name to watch out for, publishing new and interesting family history books like demons possesed, with over eighty titles already since their creation last year!
At one point I also spoke to a vendor who sold old postcards, and was shocked to learn that much of her collection had recently been stolen by a rival vendor who had attempted to flog the lot on eBay. Fortunately the buyer had alerted the police and the thief was caught, the goods returned, and the thief is now being prosecuted. But it surprised me to think that there is a criminal underworld in the world of postcards! Fortunately the good guys won the day here...!
Her boyfriend showed up to help out wearing the coolest Batman t shirt I've ever seen. Apparently it's a new printing process called sublimation, which captures the details and colors in amazing detail. He showed me the website where he bought his and I'm definitely going to take a look when I get back home and have some time. The site is moonatmidnight.com and they have the largest individual displays in addition to their great products - they also carry some vintage designs from the comic book days. My little brother is a huge Batman fan so I'll probably shop for his birthday present at this Batman shirt store. If you're into Batman, take a look.
I also managed to meet some new faces - Annabel who has just taken over publicity at Ancestry, Sue Barbour who is working on a theatre archive project with the British Library, the North East War Memorials Trust team, the UKBMD team, many new faces from the SoG and others.
A huge thanks to Bob and the team for allowing me to help out, it was a lot of fun, and I'm already signed up for next year! See ye there!
Chris
The National British Fair for Family and Local History was held on 10th September 2005 at Gateshead International Stadium.
Over 2200 visitors attended the event viewing over125 stands, who exhibited a vast range of products and services to aid the research of family and local history.
If you visited this year's fair and have any comments or questions please visit our guest book.
The fair is now the largest of its type to be held in the British Isles and the only fair to be easily accessible from all parts of the British Isles. 20% of visitors surveyed by the National Archives had travelled over 100miles to attend! One couple came all the way from Australia.
Here is what some of our exhibitors and visitors had to say:
"The National Family History Fair goes from strength to strength and is now firmly established as the event for family historians. For exhibitors the facilities, organisation and access are first class. For family historians, both old and new, this event is the chance for you to get expert advice and help from organisations from across the country. Don't miss it next year" - John Wood National Archives
"May I take the opportunity to thank you (Bob),Roger and your team of helpers for orgainising such an enjoyable and successful NFHF. The event must have taken a massive amount of planning and PR over a long period, the result being a superb showcase for the local and family history in the north of England. I was pleasantry surprised how far some of my customers had travelled in order to attend; and also seeing so many exhibitors from all over the UK. I very much look forward to attending in 2006!" - Brian Elliot, Elliot Books
"Was the National Family History Fair in Gateshead a worthwhile trip for the Society of Genealogists Bookshop and the two Society help desks? Well it certainly was!
Overall the organisation and pre-event publicity were of a high standard. The Fair attendance satisfactorily reflected the preparation put in by Bob and Roger especially as we had to compete with Michael Owen coming to town! Overall though a very well planned show and I look forward to coming back to next year's Fair and to meeting once again the very hospitable Gateshead and Newcastle people". Michael Bunting SoG
"Family Historians from all over the world descended on Gateshead to attend the largest family history fair in UK. Visitors came from afar: Mr and Mrs Bernard Mclver had travelled all the way from Perth, Australia, others from Christchurch, New Zealand. Disaster nearly struck for one more local visitor, Patricia Cunningham from Hull, who left behind her precious research material at the fair. However, using detective skills honed by years of research, the organisers were able to reunite Mrs Cunningham with her papers before she had even noticed that they were missing!" FHM
It is The National Family History Fair!
2009
The National Family History Fair 2009
Gateshead International Stadium
Saturday 12th September 2009
10.00a.m - 4.30p.m
Admission £4.00
Accompanied Children under 15 Free
Talks 2009
Numbers are strictly limited and all talks prove extremely popular and are usually full.
It is possible to reserve talk tickets by email.
Tickets cost £3.00 per talk per person
Tickets must be collected at least 15 minutes before the start of the Talk
Tickets that have not been collected will be resold
Gateshead College Building - Gateshead International Stadium
Room 1.2
Tickets cost £3.00 per talk per person
Births Marriages & Deaths on the Internet - Ian Hartas - ukbmd.org.uk
Getting Started in Irish Research - Dr William Roulston - Ulster Historical Foundation
Using the 1911 Census Online - John Hanson
John Hanson is well known as one of the Census Detective Team.
He has produced an in-depth guide to using the 1911 census
Family History Research and the Imperial War Museum
- Sarah Paterson - Imperial War Museum
Born Ireland – Where Next? - Dr William Roulston - Ulster Historical Foundation
Each talk lasted approximately 45 minutes including a short question and answer session.
Gateshead College Building - Gateshead International Stadium
Room 1.7
10.30.a.m. to 3.30.p.m.
Admission Free
Presentations
Rootsmagic - Nigel Bayley
Learn about the advantages of using the UK Edition of RootsMagic. How to create large wallcharts with ancestors
and descendants, dozens of customisable reports, family history book, website and shareable CDs.
The Genealogist - Nigel Bayley
Find out about the unique facilities of TheGenealogist and why searching on this site offers more flexibility
and access to a wider range of resources than other sites.
Gateshead College Building - Gateshead International Stadium
Room 1.7
10.30.a.m. to 3.30.p.m.
Admission Free
Presentations by Enneclan
2012
The National Family History Fair 2012
Saturday 8th September 2012
10.00.a.m - 4.00.p.m
Tyne Suite, Newcastle Central Premier Inn
Newbridge Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8BS
Admission Price: £3.00
We are sorry but we are unable to provide Advance Ticket Sale
for either admission to the Fair or the Talks.
We hope to introduce this facility for 2012
The Newcastle Central Premier Inn
is in the heart of Newcastle city centre with excellent transport links, this hotel makes an ideal base from which to explore the local surrounds.
Just a short walk from the historic Quayside, as well as great shopping, galleries, museums and theatres.
Find out who you are at the family history experience
Help and Advice from all the Experts!
Genealogy Advice
Doreen Hopwood
Talks and Presentations
Tickets cost £3.00 will be available at the Fair.
Directions
The Newcastle Central Premier Inn is a short walk from Newcastle Railway Station
and the Monument Metro Station
Road Directions to The Newcastle Central Premier Inn:
From South: Exit A1 onto A184 slip road towards Newcastle. Keep in left hand lane,
at roundabout take 2nd exit Gateshead. Over Tyne Bridge exit A167M take the 2nd exit.
From North: Towards the Tyne Bridge on the A167M, exit at the junction with the A193.
At roundabout, take 3rd exit onto Durant Road, left at traffic lights, left at lights again, then 1st left.
Car Parks
Full Details about Newcastle Council City Centre Car Parks can be found at
www.newcastle.gov.uk
The Nearest Car Parks are:
Newcastle City Council Car Parks
Saville Place, (Surface Parking) Durant Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8DQ – Pay & Display
Oxford MSCP, Newbridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8BS – Height restriction 6 feet
Pay & Display. Blue Badge Holders have free parking provided the Blue Badge
is displayed at all times in the vehicle whilst it is in the Car Park.
NCP
Newcastle John Dobson NCP, John Dobson Street Newcastle NE1 8HL Tel: 0845 050 7080
Height restriction 6ft 6 inches. Directions from Premier Inn – Turn Right Market Street;
take first right onto John Dobson Street. The NCP Car Park is on the left a short distance
past the Newcastle Central Library - a 4 minute walk.
Newcastle Carliol Square NCP (Surface Parking) Carliol Square Newcastle NE1 6UF
Tel: 0845 050 7080 – No Height restriction.
Directions from Premier Inn – Turn Right Market Street; take second left onto Carliol Street.
Turn left into Carliol Square. The NCP Car Park is on the right.
The National Family History Fair 2012
2014
The National Family History Fair 2014
Saturday 13th September 201
10.00.a.m - 4.00.p.m
Tyne Suite,
Newcastle Central Premier Inn
Newbridge Street,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8BS
Admission Price: £3.00
Tickets for Entrance and the Talks
will be available at the Fair Entrance
The Online facility for Advance Ticket sales will be available from July 2014
Admission Ticket included a chance to Win one of ten Platinum Subscriptions to GenesReunited (6 months) Worth £49.95
The winners are:
- Edwin Bell of Wallsend, Tyne & Wear
- John Case of Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
- Frances Corbett of Ayr, Ayrshire KA7 3J
- Helen Dinning of Crofton, Thursby, Cumbria
- R B Donkin of Sheffield, Yorkshire
- Angela McCullough of North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- C A Ryan of Boldron, Barnard Castle, County Durham
- Christine Sweet of Birstall, West Yorkshire
- C M Thompson of Chester le Street, County Durham
- Leanne Tonge of Preesall, Poulton Le Fylde, Lancashire
There was also a Free Draw for all Visitors to Win one of 15 copies of Family Tree Maker Deluxe worth £39.95 and included 3 months 'Essentials' access to Ancestry.co.uk - worth £30.00
Courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk
The confirmed winners are:
- James Battla of Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
- R Ditchburn of Morpeth, Northumberland
- H M Eggleston of Seaham, County Durham
- Doreen Elcox of Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wea
- Mrs N Gray of Birtley, Chester le Street, County Durham
- Sandra Hails of Shiremoor, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
- Mrs Sheila Horner of Perth, Scotland
- Mrs J M Kennedy of Goodwood, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Julie Knighton, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham
- Pamela Mason of Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
- Mrs P McLay, of Dunsville, Doncaster
- Lesley Moore of Shiremoor, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
- Mrs M Richardson of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
- Ann Roddam of Washington, Tyne & Wear
One winner from Cumbria is still to confirm
Talks
Talks were given on Researching Irish Ancestry with Dr William Roulston and Using the Society of Genealogists Website & Library with Mike Wood
Details of talks for 2014 will be confirmed shortly. Places are Limited to 80 places.
Tickets are £3.00 each available at the Fair.
The Online facility for Advance Ticket sales will be available from July 2014
The Newcastle Central Premier Inn is a short walk from Newcastle Railway Station or use the Metro to Monument Metro Station for a shorter walk
Road Directions to The Newcastle Central Premier Inn:
From South: Exit A1 onto A184 slip road towards Newcastle. Keep in left hand lane, at roundabout take 2nd exit Gateshead. Over Tyne Bridge exit A167M take the 2nd exit.
From North: Towards the Tyne Bridge on the A167M, exit at the junction with the A193. At roundabout, take 3rd exit onto Durant Road, left at traffic lights, left at lights again, then 1st left.
Car Parks
Full Details about Newcastle Council City Centre Car Parks can be found at www.newcastle.gov.uk
The Nearest Car Parks are:
Newcastle City Council Car Parks
Saville Place, (Surface Parking) Durant Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8DQ – Pay & Display
Oxford MSCP, Newbridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8BS – Height restriction 6 feet
NCP
Newcastle John Dobson NCP, John Dobson Street Newcastle NE1 8HL Tel: 0845 050 7080
Height restriction 6ft 6 inches.
Newcastle Carliol Square NCP (Surface Parking) Carliol Square Newcastle NE1 6UF
Tel: 0845 050 7080 – No Height restriction.
The Newcastle Central Premier Inn
is in the heart of Newcastle city centre bookings can be made at www.premierinn.com
