From 2019 to 2021, Steven Guilbeault served as Minister of Canadian Heritage. On Tuesday, he was sworn in again, this time as Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada, and Quebec Lieutenant.

He first assumed responsibility for the portfolio, which includes Library and Archives Canada, on 20 November 2019. That term coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which shaped and limited many aspects of the government’s work during that time.

As Prime Minister Carney signals an activist approach, it remains to be seen how Guilbeault will align with that direction. His new responsibilities include Parks Canada, an area he previously oversaw as Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2021 to 2025.

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

New on Ancestry

London, Ontario, Canada, Catholic Orphanage Records, 1852-1924
17,035 records from Catholic orphanages operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, Ontario, Canada. Types of records available may include admissions records, applications for adoption, and certificates of relinquishment. Many are handwritten, but newer records may be printed.

UK, Postal Establishment Books, 1691-1979
Over 1,6 million records for employees in the higher grades, most of whom were clerical workers. However, you will also find records of postmasters and possibly some records of postmen. You may find name, date of birth, age, occupation, date of employment, place of employment, employment history,
length of employment, retirement details, salary, and date of death.

UK, World War II Audio, 1939-1945
As far as I recall, this is the first time Ancestry has posted audio files. While there are only 47 files, they paint a picture of the life and times.. Most worked in the Women’s Land Army, although there are also accounts from female civilians. There’s a searchable outline of the subjects covered..

Researching your Essex and East London Ancestors

From Legacy Family Tree webinars, free through May 16, 2025

Researching Great Brooke Street with Gemini Deep Research

Great Brooke Street in Duddeston, Birmingham, was given as the home of Sarah Davis Bennett, nee Northwood, when she married Jeremiah Macklin Allcroft in September 1837. They had both lost their first spouses and were independently wealthy.  Checking Google Street View showed the street today to be a mix of industrial and middle-class residential properties, with a park on one side. I wondered how much the area had changed since 1837, so I asked Gemini Deep Research to look into “Great Brooke Street Redevelopment History.”

It took a while, showing in mind-numbing detail the process it followed. The end result follows, less the list of 30+ sources used in the report, and even more read but not used.

I’m impressed. The description is consistent with it being a street where the well-to-do would live in 1837.  As always, I can’t rule out hallucinations.

The History of Great Brooke Street and its Redevelopment in Birmingham, England

1. Introduction:

Great Brooke Street, situated in Birmingham, England, initially formed a key thoroughfare within the Ashted Estate, a late 18th-century development located near the town centre.¹ Over time, as Birmingham expanded, this area became integrated into the broader district of Aston. This report aims to provide a comprehensive historical analysis of Great Brooke Street, meticulously tracing its origins, its multifaceted transformations across different historical periods, the significant landmarks and residents that have shaped its character, the profound impact of urban renewal initiatives, and ultimately, its place within the larger narrative of Birmingham’s urban development. The story of Great Brooke Street serves as a compelling case study, reflecting the wider patterns of urban growth and the dynamic forces of change that have shaped the city of Birmingham over centuries.

2. The Foundation of Great Brooke Street (Late 18th Century):

• 2.1. Birmingham in the Late 18th Century: A Town in Transition:The latter part of the 18th century marked a period of significant growth and transformation for Birmingham. The town was rapidly emerging as a crucial manufacturing hub, fueled by the nascent stages of the Industrial Revolution.3 Birmingham’s burgeoning metalworking industries, coupled with a spirit of innovation, positioned it as a key player in Britain’s economic landscape. This economic vitality spurred a substantial increase in population, creating an urgent need for new residential areas to accommodate the influx of people seeking opportunities in the town beyond the confines of the increasingly congested town centre.3 This period of rapid economic and demographic expansion directly contributed to the emergence of Great Brooke Street, as the demand for housing outside the traditional urban core created a fertile ground for speculative development ventures.
• 2.2. The Ashted Estate: Conception and Design:The initial conception of the land that would encompass Great Brooke Street began in 1771 when Dr. John Ash, a wealthy Birmingham surgeon and one of the founders of the General Hospital, leased approximately 10 hectares of land situated less than a mile from the town centre from Sir Lister Holte.2 Dr. Ash intended to build a prestigious, classically styled house for himself near the junction of what would later become Barrack Street and Great Brook Street. However, he never occupied this residence, as he relocated to London by 1787.2 In the same year, the estate, along with an additional 20 hectares, was acquired by John Brooke, a Temple Row attorney and the County Coroner, who financed the purchase largely through loans from three affluent investors.1 Brooke’s acquisition was driven by a clear intention to capitalize on the growing demand for housing by developing the land.1 His venture was explicitly speculative, aimed at attracting Birmingham’s burgeoning class of entrepreneurs seeking residence in a more salubrious environment outside the established town.2 The planned layout of the Ashted Estate, developed by Brooke, featured a structured grid of streets. The design included a primary thoroughfare, which he named Great Brooke Street, and a crescent known as Ashted Row.1 This formal layout, with its emphasis on a main street and a defined crescent, was characteristic of Georgian-era town planning, often employed to create an impression of order and attract a more affluent clientele. The naming of the estate after Dr. Ash, a figure of local prominence, further suggests an intention to imbue the development with a sense of prestige and appeal to a discerning market.2
• 2.3. Early Residents and Social Aspirations:John Brooke’s development strategy for the Ashted Estate, and particularly Great Brooke Street, involved constructing substantial houses intended for lease to wealthy middle-class residents.2 Brooke actively encouraged these initial lessees to further invest in the estate by either subletting their properties or purchasing additional land, thereby fostering a sense of community and investment in his speculative venture.2 In contrast to the grander houses along Great Brooke Street, the side streets within the Ashted Estate were allocated for smaller houses, which were leased to builders who, in turn, erected dwellings to attract tradesmen and the artisan working class.2 Furthermore, the development plan included the construction of back-to-back courts situated behind the main streets. This deliberate differentiation in housing types within the Ashted Estate clearly indicates a planned social hierarchy, with Great Brooke Street positioned as the most prestigious address, catering to the aspirations of Birmingham’s expanding middle class who sought more refined and healthier living conditions away from the industrial heart of the town.

3. The 19th Century: Industrialization and Social Transformation:

• 3.1. The Tide Turns: Industrial Encroachment:Despite the initial aspirations for the Ashted Estate to remain a tranquil residential enclave, the relentless industrial expansion of Birmingham throughout the 19th century gradually began to encroach upon the area.4 The very factors that had propelled Birmingham’s growth ultimately undermined the hopes of escaping the smoke and pollution associated with industry. A crucial development in this transformation was the opening of the Digbeth Branch Canal in 1799.2 This new waterway, a vital artery for Birmingham’s burgeoning industries, ran through the eastern side of the town, including the Ashted area, significantly altering its character.2 Along the canal’s banks, an increasing number of factories and wharves were established, serving the growing needs of manufacturing and trade.2 Ironically, these were precisely the features that the initial wealthy residents of Ashted had sought to avoid by moving outside the town centre.2 The development of this canal infrastructure, while essential for Birmingham’s overall industrial progress, directly conflicted with and ultimately overshadowed the original vision of the Ashted Estate, including Great Brooke Street, as a peaceful and genteel residential retreat for the town’s elite.
• 3.2. Social and Housing Changes: A Working-Class District:By the late 19th century, Ashted, including Great Brooke Street, had undergone a significant social and physical transformation, evolving into a densely populated working-class district.2 The initial larger houses that had been built for the wealthier residents were either subdivided to accommodate multiple families or were gradually replaced by smaller dwellings more suited to the needs and financial means of the growing working population.2 This period also witnessed the construction of numerous back-to-back houses, a common form of working-class housing in Birmingham, built to maximize the use of land and provide accommodation for the rapidly expanding workforce.2 Historical evidence of this high density of housing in Ashted, including Great Brooke Street, can be found in the detailed Ordnance Survey maps produced during the late 19th century.8 These maps visually depict the close proximity of dwellings and the limited space between buildings, illustrating the area’s changing social and housing profile. The shift in the housing stock and the social composition of Great Brooke Street reflected the broader demographic changes occurring in Birmingham as it solidified its position as a major industrial centre, attracting a vast working-class population drawn by the promise of employment in its factories and workshops. The contrast between the initial “substantial houses” intended for the wealthy 2 and the later prevalence of “slum dwellings” and back-to-back houses 2 clearly illustrates this significant socioeconomic shift.
• 3.3. The Railway’s Impact:Further altering the environment of Ashted, including Great Brooke Street, was the construction of a railway viaduct in 1852.2 This significant infrastructure project was undertaken to raise the railway line to the level of the newly established New Street Station, a major hub for the expanding national rail network.2 The construction of this elevated railway line directly impacted the physical landscape of Great Brooke Street, introducing new elements of noise and vibration to the area. Moreover, the viaduct potentially created a physical division within the community, separating areas and affecting the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The presence of this substantial railway infrastructure would have further contributed to the transformation of Great Brooke Street from its initial conception as an elegant residential street to a more industrialized and densely populated urban thoroughfare.
• 3.4. Vauxhall Gardens: A Local Amenity:Despite the significant industrial and social changes that characterized the 19th century in Ashted, Vauxhall Gardens, located at the extremity of Great Brooke Street, continued to function as a local amenity.11 These gardens, noted for their tasteful layout, provided a space for leisure and entertainment, hosting concerts and displays of fireworks during the summer months.11 The continued presence of Vauxhall Gardens suggests that even as Great Brooke Street and the surrounding area transitioned into a predominantly working-class district, the street still served as a focal point for community life and social activity, offering residents a place for recreation and enjoyment amidst the urban environment.

4. The 20th Century: Decline, War, and Post-War Redevelopment:

• 4.1. Deterioration and the Path to Redevelopment:By the beginning of the 20th century, the housing conditions in Ashted, including Great Brooke Street, had significantly deteriorated. The area was characterized by high population density and a substantial proportion of dwellings were classified as slums.2 While some initial efforts at slum clearance were undertaken after World War I, a more comprehensive approach was deemed necessary to address the widespread issues of inadequate and unsanitary housing.2 In 1937, a large swathe of Duddeston and Nechells, encompassing Ashted, was officially designated as a Redevelopment Area by the local authorities.2 This designation formally recognized the urgent need for significant urban renewal in the district due to the dire living conditions faced by many residents. However, the outbreak of World War II in 1939 necessitated the postponement of these ambitious redevelopment plans until the cessation of hostilities.2 The official designation of Ashted as a Redevelopment Area underscores the severity of the housing crisis and the commitment of the local authorities to address it through comprehensive urban renewal initiatives in the post-war era.
• 4.2. The Scars of War:World War II had a devastating impact on many urban areas in Britain, and Ashted in Birmingham was no exception. The area suffered significant damage during the conflict, most notably the destruction of Ashted Chapel by German bombing.2 This chapel, originally converted from Dr. John Ash’s house and opened in 1791, held significant historical and architectural value as one of the earliest landmarks within the Ashted Estate, directly linked to the origins of Great Brooke Street.2 Following the extensive damage sustained during the war, Ashted Chapel was eventually demolished in 1956, marking a major loss for the area’s physical landscape and collective memory. The destruction of this historical and architectural landmark represents a pivotal moment in the history of Great Brooke Street and the surrounding district, signifying a profound alteration to the area’s identity.
• 4.3. The Transformation into Newtown:In the aftermath of World War II, the long-awaited post-war redevelopment of the designated areas, including Ashted, finally commenced.2 This period saw extensive demolition of the existing housing stock and the subsequent construction of a new housing estate known as Newtown (also referred to as Aston New Town).2 The planning principles guiding this redevelopment aimed to create a more modern and organized urban environment. A key aspect of this was the segregation of housing from industrial areas, with industry being strategically zoned to the west of Windsor Street, away from the new residential developments.2 The housing itself was characterized by lower density compared to the previous tightly packed back-to-back houses, with a significant portion of the new dwellings being constructed in multi-storey blocks.2 This marked a radical departure from the traditional terraced housing that had previously dominated the area. However, due to the lower density of the new housing, only approximately half of the original population of Ashted could be rehoused within the redeveloped Newtown estate.2 A photograph taken in early 1954 provides a valuable visual record of Great Brook Street in Duddeston before these extensive post-war changes, showcasing the older buildings that would soon be replaced by the modernist architecture of Newtown.18 This image offers a stark contrast to the high-rise developments that would come to define the area in the subsequent decades. The comprehensive redevelopment into Newtown fundamentally reshaped the physical and social fabric of the area around Great Brooke Street, replacing traditional housing with modernist high-rise architecture and establishing a new identity for the district.
• 4.4. Later Modifications to Newtown:As urban planning philosophies evolved, the initial vision for Newtown, characterized by its numerous multi-storey blocks, underwent further modifications. In the late 1990s, reflecting a shift in preferences towards lower-rise housing and addressing some of the social challenges associated with high-rise living, many of the tower blocks constructed in the 1960s and 1970s were replaced with new low-rise housing developments.2 This later phase of redevelopment indicates a reassessment of the initial post-war urban planning strategies and a move towards housing forms that were perceived as more conducive to community building and resident satisfaction.

5. Recent History and Redevelopment (Late 20th and 21st Centuries):

• 5.1. The Declining Use of “Ashted”:While the street name Great Brooke Street has persisted through the various transformations, the historical name “Ashted” for the district has largely fallen out of common usage.12 The area is now predominantly referred to as Newtown or is considered part of the broader Aston district, reflecting the significant changes in its urban landscape and identity since its initial development in the late 18th century.
• 5.2. Ongoing Regeneration Efforts in Aston:The wider Aston area, encompassing Newtown and Great Brooke Street, has continued to be a focus of urban regeneration efforts in recent decades. The “Aston Pride” project, implemented between 2001 and 2011, represented a significant £54 million investment aimed at improving various aspects of the community, including reducing crime, enhancing healthcare facilities, and increasing employment opportunities.14 This initiative demonstrates a sustained commitment to addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by the area. Furthermore, strategic planning for the future of Aston, Newtown, and Lozells has continued through frameworks such as the Area Action Plan (2012-2026).19 These plans provide a clear vision and strategy for ongoing regeneration and development, encompassing housing, employment, infrastructure, and community facilities, indicating a long-term perspective on the revitalization of the district that includes Great Brooke Street.
• 5.3. Contemporary Status and Future Prospects:The provided research material does not contain specific details regarding very recent redevelopment projects directly on Great Brooke Street itself. However, an examination of planning applications within the broader B6 postcode area, which includes Aston and Newtown, reveals ongoing development and change in the surrounding urban landscape.23 These applications suggest a continued evolution of the area, with potential for further transformations in the physical and social environment in the vicinity of Great Brooke Street. While specific details for the street itself are absent, the broader context indicates that it remains part of a dynamic urban environment subject to ongoing change and development.

6. Conclusion:

The history of Great Brooke Street in Birmingham is a compelling narrative of urban transformation, reflecting the city’s dynamic growth and evolution over more than two centuries. From its inception as a key element of the aspirational Georgian Ashted Estate, intended for the town’s burgeoning middle class, the street underwent a significant shift to become a densely populated working-class area in response to Birmingham’s rapid industrialization during the 19th century. The 20th century brought further dramatic changes, with the area around Great Brooke Street being extensively redeveloped after World War II into the Newtown estate, characterized by its modernist high-rise architecture. While later decades saw a partial return to lower-rise housing, the fundamental character of the district had been irrevocably altered. The story of Great Brooke Street mirrors the broader social, economic, and physical transformations that have defined Birmingham, from its early industrial prowess to its post-war urban renewal efforts. Despite these radical changes, the enduring presence of the street name itself serves as a tangible link to its 18th-century origins, a testament to the street’s foundational role within the planned Ashted Estate. As Birmingham continues to evolve in the 21st century, it is likely that Great Brooke Street and its surrounding areas will continue to adapt and change, reflecting the ongoing dynamics of urban life.

Table 1: Timeline of Key Events in the History of Great Brooke Street:

Year	Event
1771	Dr. John Ash leases land for a prestigious house
1787	John Brooke purchases the Ashted Estate for housing development
1791	Ashted Chapel opens
1799	Digbeth Branch Canal opens, impacting the character of Ashted
1852	Railway viaduct constructed through Ashted
1937	Ashted (part of Duddeston and Nechells) designated Redevelopment Area
1939-1945	World War II and bombing of Birmingham
1956	Ashted Chapel demolished
1960s-1970s	Newtown redevelopment with construction of tower blocks
Late 1990s	Replacement of many tower blocks with low-rise housing
2001-2011	“Aston Pride” regeneration project implemented in the wider area

Significant Dates in 21st Century History

You can certainly identify one of these. What about the others? Hint: For some, think technology. Second Hint:  Try asking AI facilities.

Come back next week for the answers.

11 September 2001
26 September 2006
9 January 2007
15 September 2008
3 March 2020
30 November 2022

Thanks to the following for comments and tips: Anonymous, Brenda Turner, Teresa, and Unknown.

FMP takes the opportunity to update its military content on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The War Office List: 51,764 New Records

Covering from 1866 to 1921,  among the pages of the War Office Lists, find:

• Officer Listings: They included British Army officers’ names, ranks, and regiments.
• Service Information: Some editions provided details on postings, promotions, retirements, and appointments.
• Regimental Details: They outlined the organization of different regiments and corps.
• Government & Administrative Notices: Certain editions included official government announcements about the army.
• Colonial and Indian Army: Some issues covered officers serving in the British Indian Army and colonial forces.

Commonwealth War Graves and Monumental Inscriptions: Italy and Poland

This week, FMP adds 3,579 selected records from Italy (2,624) and Poland (955), drawn from Commonwealth War Graves and other monumental inscriptions. The coverage is not comprehensive. The CWGC commemorates 5,918 Canadians in Italy.

Royal Air Force Lists, 1919–1945

For those who flew or served with the Royal Air Force in the years following its formation through to the end of the Second World War, a new set of RAF Lists may contain the information you’ve been searching for. These records cover ranks, postings, and other official details.

Newspapers

125,548 new pages, ranging from 1853 to 1996, were added this week, including five new titles.  There’s a concentration on Northern England (Lancashire and Yorkshire). The Barrow News has the longest (broken) run, from 1888 to 1963. The coverage divides into  pre-WW2 and single years from the last 80.

New Titles

• Altrincham Chronicle, 1889–1890
• Barrow News, 1888, 1890–1895, 1897–1898, 1906, 1908–1922, 1925–1934, 1939–1944, 1948–1961, 1963
• Barrow Times, 1876–1877, 1880–1881
• Hastings & St. Leonards Advertiser, 1862, 1873, 1891, 1894–1895, 1897–1900, 1913–1914
• Laisterdyke & Bowling News, 1895–1896, 1899–1911

Updated Titles

• Banffshire Journal, 1979
• Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser, 1894, 1905–1907, 1909
• Bolton Evening News, 1914–1918
• Cannock Chase Chronicle, 1996
• Crowle Advertiser and Isle of Axholme News, 1877, 1884–1886
• Drogheda Advertiser, 1900–1901, 1903, 1907, 1925–1926, 1928
• Forres Elgin and Nairn Gazette, Northern Review and Advertiser, 1993
• Hebden Bridge Times, 1986
• Howdenshire Chronicle, 1893–1894, 1911, 1927
• Lytham Times, 1895, 1910–1911, 1914, 1917–1918, 1931
• Oxford Journal, 1913, 1917, 1919
• Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 1969
• Pudsey & Stanningley News, 1950
• To-day, 1900–1904
• Walsall Chronicle, 1986
• Warrington Guardian, 1914, 1917
• Whitehaven News, 1881, 1883–1885, 1900–1901
• Wigan Examiner, 1853, 1900–1909, 1911–1913

Be quick. No time to linger. Until 13 May, Ancestry.ca has opened a selection of its records to free access. Browse the list and start at https://www.ancestry.ca/c/may-free-access .

This month’s BIFHSGO meeting on Saturday, 10 May, is a hybrid session with two presentations.

At 9 am, Marnie McCall will present Copyright for the Family Historian.
Learn what copyright means for your research and writing, how to navigate public domain materials, and what to consider when using family photos, letters, and others’ work in your presentations.

At 10 am: Kristen den Hartog presents Rebuilding the Body After the First World War.
In the wake of the First World War, thousands of wounded soldiers returned to Canada. By 1919, a military hospital opened in a former cash register factory in Toronto’s west end. Christie Street Hospital, intended as a temporary facility, remained in use through the next war.

Attend in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) – Geneva Hall, and enjoy refreshments and social time, or online by registering here.

 

Eighty years ago, on 8 May 1945, Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) saw celebrations — a collective sigh of relief after years of sacrifice and hardship.

The Ottawa Citizen captured the jubilant mood, its front page proclaiming “Joyous Bells Of Victory Ringing Around World As Germany’s Downfall Proclaimed.” The image of the Red Ensign flying over the Peace Tower in Ottawa symbolized Canada’s significant contribution to the Allied effort.

In the UK, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the nation, his voice, “natural and vigorous,” as described by Mackenzie King, Canada’s Prime Minister.

The celebrations in May 1945 were tinged with the knowledge that further sacrifices would be needed before the peace was truly global. As Churchill said in his speech ‘We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.’

The conflict in the Pacific continued, and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) was still months away. Canada prepared a substantial force, including an infantry division and several air force squadrons (over 24,000 men), for the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands in the fall of 1945. While the invasion did not occur due to Japan’s surrender Canadians still served in the Pacific after VE Day, including Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve who posthumously received the Victoria Cross on 9 August 1945, for his actions off the island of Honshu.

 

New online, more than 100 maps of Great Britain and the wider world added to the Signet Library map collection (1580ss–1950s).

This fine collection of 494 maps, comprises the main sheet maps held by the Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet, Parliament Square Edinburgh. The greater part of the collection – 402 items – relate geographically to Scotland, and date from the late 16th century through to the mid-20th century. Of these, there are 91 county or district maps, 47 plans of towns, with a focus on Edinburgh, 23 estate plans (including 6 in manuscript), 16 coastal charts, and a remaining 9 maps which relate to the whole of Scotland. There are also two Ordnance Survey One-Inch to the mile series of Scotland, the 2nd edition with coloured parishes and a third outline edition (1903-1912).

Non-Scottish maps include 32 maps of England, Wales and Ireland, 20 Ordnance Survey One-Inch Old Series maps, and 43 international maps.

For Canada there’s

• Signet.b.03(1) – Map of Central Canada showing transportation and commercial development / (prepared by Natural Resources Intelligence Service, Dept. of the Interior).
• Signet.b.03(2) – Map of the Dominion of Canada, exclusive of northern regions, indicating main natural resources / prepared by National Development Bureau.
• Signet.b.03(3) – Map of the southern portion of the Dominion of Canada indicating vegetation and forest cover… / (prepared by the Natural Resources Intelligence Service).
• Signet.b.03(4) – Map of the Dominion of Canada, exclusive of northern regions, indicating vegetation and forest cover… / [prepared by] National Development Bureau.
• Signet.b.03(5) – Southern Alberta. Scale 1:792,000…Map showing disposition of lands / [prepared by the] Natural Resources Intelligence Service…
• Signet.b.03(6) – Northern Alberta. Scale 1:792,000…Map showing disposition of lands / [prepared by the] Natural Resources Intelligence Service…
• Signet.b.03(7) – Southern British Columbia showing disposition of lands within the railway belt.
• Signet.b.03(8) – Manitoba. Scale 1:792,000 … map showing disposition of lands / [prepared by the] Natural Resources Intelligence Service …
• Signet.b.03(9) – Map of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta showing the number of vacant quarter sections in each township / prepared by the Natural Resources Intelligence Service.
• Signet.b.03(10) – Map of Nova Scotia indicating natural resources, motor roads and transportation routes … / prepared by the Natural Resources Intelligence Service … 1924.
• Signet.b.03(11) – Saskatchewan. Scale 1:792,000 … Map showing disposition of lands / [prepared by the] Natural Resources Intelligence Service …
• Signet.b.03(12) – Saskatchewan. Scale 1:792,000 … Map showing disposition of lands / [prepared by] Natural Resources Intelligence Service …

Choose from these selected free online events. All times are Eastern Time (ET), unless otherwise noted. Registration is assumed to be required in advance—check the links so you’re not disappointed. For more events, mainly in the U.S., visit Conference Keeper.

Looking ahead
Monday 12 May at 7 pm: “The Old Woman Went Along”: Elderly migration in the 1800s, by Dianne Brydon for Bruce County Genealogical Society.
https://bit.ly/2025-05-12-DianneBrydon-BCGS

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

AI turns old photos into ‘motion pictures’

From the BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cq5wx27gne1o
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1k4y98vykro

There are a variety of apps and websites to be found where you can do the same thing with your photos. Here’s advice from ChatGPT https://chatgpt.com/share/6814e5d5-8338-8012-848f-4bae43fbf8ed

Eating in the UK in the Fifties.

Findmypast Weekly Update

Additions this week are Commonwealth War Grave Commission records: 2,474 images and transcriptions for Germany, 2,178 for Cyprus, and 1,561 for Greece.

The 55,867 newspaper pages added this week, none for Est Anglia, including six new titles and 32 existing publications that have been updated.

New titles
Hunts Guardian from 1871-1872 and 1874-1884
Leeds Daily News from 1889 and 1898
Lytham Times from 1870, 1880-1888, 1900-1909, 1920-1929 and 1932-1949
Norwood Press and Dulwich Advertiser from 1918-1929
Oldham Chronicle from 1873 and 1897
South Durham Herald from 1883-1891

Updated titles
Banffshire Journal, 1948-1949
Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser, 1895, 1900-1901, 1904 and 1908
Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 1995
Bridgnorth Journal, 1998
Brighton Gazette, 1914-1917
Buxton Herald, 1891 and 1948
Canterbury Journal, 1913-1919
Crystal Palace District Times & Advertiser, 1896
Cumberland and Westmorland Advertiser, and Penrith Literary Chronicle, 1882, 1884-1886 and 1897
Dudley & District Chronicle, 1994
Dundee Weekly News, 2002
Isle of Man Daily Times, 1964-1965
Kilkenny Moderator, 1904 and 1907
Leicester Chronicle, 1923
Louth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser, 1889-1896, 1899-1903, 1915-1919, 1926-1938, 1951 and 1953-1957
Lurgan Mail, 1985
Midland Counties Express, 1870, 1875, 1877, 1889 and 1899
Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser, 1920-1921
Perthshire Courier, 1927-1928
Prestatyn Weekly, 1938-1939
Sandwell Chronicle, 1994, 1998
Scarborough Mercury, 1856, 1874, 1878 and 1889
Scunthorpe Star, 1987
Shoreditch Observer, 1870-1875
Shoreham Herald, 1992
Tenbury Wells Advertiser, 1818, 1913 and 1915-1917
Trinidad Royal Gazette, 1900-1903
Waterford Standard, 1912-1917, 1919 and 1927
Whitehaven Advertiser and Cleator Moor and Egremont Observer 1891, 1910-1911 and 1913-1914
Whitehaven News, 1882, 1886-1888, 1902-1910, 1912 and 1915-1918
Wolverton Express, 1965
Workington Star, 1916, 1918

Bees, fish and plants show how climate change’s accelerating pace is disrupting nature in 2 key ways

Discounts

FamilyTreeDNA has a Mother’s Day sale.

So does AncestryDNA until 11 May

Until 7 May Legacy Family Tree Webinars is available for 50% off a full year of genealogy education .. just $25 US! https://familytreewebinars.com/

 

Thanks this week to Anonymous, Sue Lambeth, Teresa, Unknown.

 

Except for the Home Children collection, the following are new to MyHeritage since the latter part of April.

Collection	Images	Last Updated	Number of Records
Canada, Gravestones and Memorials (from CanadianHeadstones.com)	No	Apr 29 2025	2045406
Canada, World War I Personnel Files (from LAC)	Yes	Apr 28 2025	644751
Canada, Upper and Lower Canada, Land Bonds & Petitions, 1784 – 1853 (from LAC)	Yes	Apr 28 2025	188407
Canada Military Awards, 1916 – 1961 (from LAC)	Yes	Apr 25 2025	113450
Canada, Home Children Immigration Index, 1869 -1932 (from LAC)	No	Apr 22 2025	246528

This April, the mean temperature in Ottawa was 5.2C; the OFA prediction was 5.0C
SUCCESS