David Wright is Principal of the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies). He started his family research as a boy and is now the author of several books on genealogy including ‘East Kent Parishes’ which many members will have used in their research. He is in the 48th year of membership with Kent FHS and also with the Society of Genealogists. He said he was looking forward to free membership which SoG offers for those who have been members for 50 years.
David started by saying that he should first stress that the IHGS is not a Family History Society and has not ever intended to be one. The IHGS is an educational body, a registered charity and receives no central funding. Its purpose has always been education and its vast collection was set up to help genealogists and heraldists of all levels from getting started to gaining a professional qualification. The IHGS has offered a correspondence course for over a half a century and now offers distance learning, zoom tutorials etc. for those getting started through to professional qualifications. The correspondence course being modular and can be completed at a student’s own pace over a 3 to 5 year period.
The IHGS came about because of the vision of Julian Bickersteth, Archdeacon of Maidstone who was a great educator and thought of ‘the family’ as the cornerstone of life. Bickersteth was the godfather of Cecil Humphrey-Smith who in the 1950s took up his godfather’s quarterstaff and started the IHGS at 58 Northgate, across the road from the current IHGS buildings. The Bickersteth Memorial Medal is now given in memory of Julian Bickersteth to persons who have made notable and exemplary contributions to family history studies in the judgement of and at the discretion of the Trustees of the IHGS.
In 1981 Humphrey-Smith purchased the leases of numbers 79, to 82 Northgate the buildings the IHGS now work from. David showed photos of the lovely old building in which the IHGS is situated. It is in fact two buildings each occupying a double plot. One building was originally a hall house for pilgrims arriving after the city’s nearby Northgate (demolished in the 19th century) was closed for the night. The other was a merchant’s house. The buildings were remodel in the Georgian era with a double shop front and mathematical tiles on the top floor. The top floor being jettisoned reveals the medieval origins of the building. As the IHGS is self-funded a quarter of the building has had to be put up for sale to release funds. Being a listed building it requires a certain level of care.
The building houses 7 libraries holding over 40,000 items. The library started with Cecil Humphrey- Smith’s own collection and has been added to over the years with donations and purchases A visitors can find a wealth of information comprising of a range of reference material covering many aspects of genealogy and heraldry, church, medical, school registers etc. One of the 7 libraries is a county library, another houses street and trade directories and is possibly the best collection of those directories in the country. There is an extensive section of antiquarian, history, genealogy and heraldry Journals. The Heraldry library has the best overseas collection. Other items included Gretna Green Marriage licence, Maps which are indispensable in family research. There is a second-hand bookshop on site for personal callers which eventually will be going online via the IHGS shop.
The IHGS has many items on the website and is hoping to add more including an index to the library. They would like to recruit volunteers to help with indexing and other roles. Please contact them via their website for details.
They are happy to be contacted to discuss courses or ask about their resources and zoom talks etc. The centre is open to the public on two days each week but at present parts of the building are being refurbished. However, it is always best to make an appointment in advance of your visit so as not to waste a journey. Regular visitors using the IHGS libraries and resources will find it economic to take out membership of IHGS. Otherwise, a half day visit to use the libraries costs £5 and an all day visit £10.
Details of all things mentioned in this report is on the IHGS website.
Report by Tricia Baxter
Speakers Secretary for Kent FHS