IF your house could speak, what stories could it tell?

That is the subject of a talk at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre on Thursday May 25 when the venue welcomes Matthew Godwin, the newest archivist at Hampshire Archives and Local Studies.

Living proof that archives are anything but dusty and old-fashioned, Matthew will to help you find ways to uncover the history and secrets of your home.

Matthew has always loved history, and studied it at the University of York. After completing his degree he travelled extensively, exploring different cultures and traditions around the world. Once back in the UK, he worked as a volunteer with Shropshire Archives, cataloguing historical documents and photographs.

In the course of his current role in Hampshire Matthew has been involved with an archive awareness week and an archive ambassador workshop, and has been working closely with several community groups. He is equally fascinated by oral history and by the documentary evidence provided by old documents and photographs; the subject of his talk at The Spring has arisen out of his observation that locations change and evolve, and we can discover the history of our houses from these stories and photographs.

The talk takes place in the Langstone Room at The Spring on Thursday 25 May at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £6, and you can book in person at The Spring’s Box Office, or call 023 9247 2700, or visit The Spring’s website at www.thespring.co.uk