Webwatch

www.cumbrialocalhistory.org.uk is the new website of the Cumbria Local History Federation. Founded in 1992, the Federation has gone from strength to strength, much of the time under the chairmanship of Jill Wishart. In the absence of an identified successor, Jill launched a wider campaign and, much to the delight of the Federation, netted experienced local historian Richard Brockington, who told members at their Annual General Meeting on 16 September 2006, that he would work with them and other organisations to promote local history and heritage studies in Cumbria. The website is in the early stages of development, but already has a pleasing look and is easy to navigate — all too many websites hit you with blasts of bright colours and less than friendly fonts which leap from the screen, so you never get any further than the home page!

www.communityarchives.org.uk has been launched by the National Council on Archives to showcase ‘community archives’ already on the internet, many of which have links with local libraries and museums, although some are independent projects, such as the fantastic www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk website. What unites them all is their community involvement and there is plenty to keep you looking for hours. If you or your society have a website related to the community in some way, then you can probably be added to the site’s directory. It’s a lovely simple design and easy to navigate.

www.englandspastforeveryone.org.uk is part of the Victoria County History and now has eight counties and two other areas on its links page. At the present time not a lot is happening, but as the project progresses more useful information should come on line, which makes it a site worth visiting from time to time if you live in one of the areas covered (Bristol, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Exmoor, County Durham, Herefordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Sussex and Wiltshire).

www.henrytudor.co.uk is a website created by the Henry Tudor Drama Company which for the past two years has been giving live performances in schools and at public events dressed in period costume and re-enacting the life and times of Henry VIII. Through the website the company provides a wide range of free, downloadable, kits and files ideally suited to work with children. It also publishes an e-magazine called The Tudor Dynasty Magazine and has another five Tudor related sites being developed.

www.actsofachievement.org.uk/blackhistorytrail is a website which celebrates and promotes Black History in Manchester and Salford and has five downloadable walks. Points of interest are marked along each trail which then link to more information made viewable through an on-screen drop-down box containing a photograph and background text. A great way to explore an important aspect of local history and to ponder the possibility of adapting this imaginative approach for your own locality.

Robert Howard