New Victoria County History
The New Victoria County History of Hampshire project is part of the national VCH, which has an international reputation for scholarly research into English local history
The original project
The original Victoria County History of Hampshire was completed by 1912 but these volumes, or Red Books, included only the leading families, the Church of England and charities in each parish entry.
The new project
The new project was initiated in 2007 by Hampshire County Council, the Hampshire Archives Trust and the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, in collaboration with the University of Winchester. Its aim is to rewrite the Hampshire volumes in the modern format specified by VCH central office, which includes economic and social history, religious life and political development.
The Hampshire VCH project is acting as a pilot study in a number of ways. Firstly, Hampshire is the first county to embark on a revision of a completed county series. Secondly, the Basingstoke area has been selected for the first volumes because of its dramatic transformation since 1912. Parish histories and the urban history of Basingstoke will first be published on the Hampshire section of the national Victoria County History website; the ultimate aim of the project is a new series of Red Books for Hampshire.
Visit the Hampshire page on the national VCH website.
Volunteering opportunities
The project uses local volunteers, working alongside professional historians, to research parish histories. Volunteers meet in Basingstoke and in the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Volunteer Coordinator and VCH contact person for the University of Winchester Dr Jean Morrin.