A teacher turned novelist is to share her love of creating stories inspired by people from the past. Durham County Record Office’s latest Third Thursday talk welcomes author Val Scully to tell visitors about turning history into a piece of enthralling fiction.
Through the session, ‘Only Connect – Using fiction to bring local history to a wider audience’, Val will talk to attendees about her passion for the rich history of the Gibside Estate and the wider Derwent Valley, which influenced her two historical novels based on characters and events in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, My Name is Eleanor and Molly Bowes.
Dawn Layland, education and outreach archivist at Durham County Record Office said: “Val worked as a teacher in Tyneside before volunteering at Gibside for the National Trust. This work sparked her interest and led her down the literary path. She therefore has a fascinating insight into its history.
“Our rich collections are full of stories waiting to be told, and this session is sure to inspire anyone interested in local history.”
The talk will be held at Durham County Record Office, on Thursday 18 July, from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. Tickets cost £5 per person and must be booked in advance. Visit https://recordofficeshop.durham.gov.uk/pgEventResult to book a place.
