VISITORS to Dudley Archives Centre can step back in time and explore the past in a free event on Saturday October 26.

The event includes Ned Williams’ talk entitled ‘Farewell Eve Hill – a tribute to Dudley’s vanishing satellite’ at 10.45am, Craig Denston talking about the graves and memorials of St Edmund’s Church at 12.15pm and author and medical historian Kevin Goodman talking about body snatching and grave robbing in the West Midlands at 1.45pm.

Tours of the archives will take place from 11.30am to midday and 2pm to 2.30pm. Numbers are limited so people are asked to book in advance.

The Friends of Dudley Archives and Local History Service will be on hand throughout the morning to offer research advice (booking advised). There will also be local history stalls, publications for sale, refreshments and raffle tickets available for purchase.

Jane Humphrey, senior archives assistant, said: “I’m sure it will prove a voyage of discovery for everyone who comes along.

“We can provide free access to historical collections, ancestry tools, newspaper archives and reference resources and will be available to help with any queries. The three talks promise to be fascinating too."

Dudley Archives Centre is run by not-for-profit charitable social enterprise GLL, on behalf of Dudley Council.

Councillor James Clinton, the council's cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “Our archives offer a wealth of research facilities for people interested in local history or wanting to research their family tree.

"This open day is ideal for people dipping their toe into local history research as well as those who already have a knowledge of local history.”

The Local History Day runs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday October 26 and entry is free.

For more information and booking call the centre on 01384 812770 or email dudley.archives@gll.org