Surrey Heritage and partners invite you to a free event to celebrate the heritage of Surrey, meet people and organisations who help care for it, and in particular discover more about the past of Warlingham and the east of Surrey.

There will be an afternoon of talks, exhibitions and 'Ask the Expert' sessions to learn more about the past in Warlingham and surrounding areas covering:

• historic buildings

• local history

• family history

• archaeology

• museums

The event will take place at Warlingham Church Hall, 399 Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9HA from 2pm – 5pm Sunday 21st October. Free entry, refreshments and parking nearby

Talks include:

• Warlingham's historic buildings in a Surrey context - Martin Higgins, Surrey's Historic Buildings Officer will give an illustrated talk comparing the buildings of Warlingham to those found in other parts of Surrey.

Who do you think they were? Discovering the lives and experiences of our ancestors - Julian Pooley, Public Services Manager. This illustrated talk discusses the amazing variety of sources that can help to bring your family history research to life.

Excavating Surrey's Past: Rob Poulton, Manager of the Surrey County Archaeological Unit, will give a talk on how archaeology reveals the past beneath our feet and is rewriting our history.

Displays include:

Warlingham Gems (illustrations from Surrey Heritage collections)

North Park Farm (excavation by Surrey Heritage)

Royal Surrey (exhibition by Surrey Heritage)

Drop-in sessions: No need to book – just turn up!

• Corsets & Cameras: Historic costume and dating your old photographs – Jane Lewis, Genealogist

Not sure how old a photograph is? Jane will show you how to date photographs from the clothes people wore.

• Exploring Surrey's Past – Phil Cooper, Exploring Surrey's Past (ESP) Officer

Phil will be demonstrating the gateway to the Caterham and District Local History Centre image collection and online resources from other organizations brought together at www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk

• Discovering your Family History: advice and sources for genealogical research – Jill Hyams, Archivist Whether you don't know where to begin to discover and record your family history, or you have reached a difficult point in your research, Jill offers an opportunity for you to chat with an expert from the Surrey History Centre.

• Caterham Festival Archaeology Project: Find out about this exciting event and try your hand at excavation – Abby Guinness, Community Archaeologist

Abby will be explaining more about this exciting event, and how people of all ages can be involved. If you can't wait, you can try your hand at excavation in a mock-up dig here at the Warlingham Church Hall.

• What did you find? Is it archaeology? - David Williams, the Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer is holding a finds identification 'surgery'

Would you like to know more about objects that you have found in fields, in your garden etc.? This includes metal objects such as coins, buckles, brooches and tools, as well as pottery, tile and worked flint. David will identify your finds and then, depending on their date and type, make a decision about whether they need to be recorded as part of the national Portable Antiquities Scheme which is based at the British Museum and as part of Surrey's Historic Environment Record.

• Caring for your photographs and documents – Jeff Dowse, Conservator will be demonstrating techniques used to care for old photographs and documents at the Surrey History Centre.

Would you like to know how to preserve family treasures for the next generation? Unsure what to do about photographs showing signs of age? Jeff can provide advice on storage, when it is best to call in a professional and how to find one.

Subject to confirmation, the following local and county groups will be present for you to discover more about what they offer in the way of talks, publications and trips to unseen parts of Surrey's past, along with opportunities to get more involved.

• Caterham and District Local History Centre

• East Surrey Family History Society

• East Surrey Museum

• Surrey Archaeological Society

• Surrey Historic Buildings Trust

• Surrey Historic Gardens Trust

• Surrey History Trust

• Surrey Museums Consultative Committee

• The Bourne Society

• Woldingham History Society

For further details about Surrey History Centre see www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistorycentre

Follow Surrey Heritage on Twitter and join the conversation: @SurreyHeritage

Follow Surrey Heritage on Facebook www.facebook.com/surreyheritage and /diggingsurreyspast