On Tuesday 2 June 2026 we held our workshop on the early history of teacher training colleges in Britain, 1836-1918. It was a busy and lively day! Everyone in the room was so committed to the subject and to exploring not only how to make the best use of our archives for research but also to open them up to a wider interested public.
There is huge potential here to uncover and link the histories and experiences of trainees and their institutions and reveal what they contributed to society at so many levels. This workshop was the first of our events to establish and develop a national, and potentially international, network. We had delegates from over a dozen higher education institutions and from a range of professions, including archivists, curators, information assistants and academics as well as independent researchers and genealogists. These included colleagues from Lincoln Bishop University with whom we will be working closely on future projects. We also had multiple contacts from those unable to make the workshop, but who are keen to be involved as we progress.
We were fortunate also to have the support of an intern from Edge Hill University, Daniel Whiteley, who afterwards volunteered his own perspective on the day:
‘It was really fantastic. As a traditional geography student, I found it fascinating to be exposed to leading research from various universities across the country. It was interesting listening to the history of Edge Hill, the place where I have studied for the past three years. The event highlighted to me the potential for data mapping in sectors beyond geography, helping me look for opportunities for future careers. It was great to represent the university at such an important conference, and I very much enjoyed helping and directing people throughout the day.’