The Staffordshire History Centre in Stafford has a collection of military records, personal letters, photographs and regimental histories. If your ancestor served in the armed forces, the centre could help you to trace them.
Category: Staffordshire
The Big Feast 2025
The Big Feast is NOT a Food Festival. It’s a weekend of amazing arts, curious culture and outdoor spectacle. Visitors to the Feast will see some of the UK’s best artists performing on Hanley’s streets. The two-day event takes place in Hanley/City centre on Friday 22 and Saturday 23rd August.
Josh knows why Staffordshire History Centre needs volunteers
On the first day, I was placed with the Monday Volunteer Group to create boxes and envelopes that will be used in future to store documents. Later in the week, I was also allowed to meet some of the volunteer group that works on the transcription of records in the archive. These helped me understand the importance of volunteers and how they contribute to the centre and finish tasks that the staff can’t focus on. The experiences also allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of working with volunteers and how vital it is to run a history/archive centre, as without them, many tasks would take far too long to finish.
The Three Counties Open Art Exhibition
This year’s Three Counties Open Art Exhibition is being held in the ballroom at Fenton Town Hall. The exhibition runs from Saturday, August 9th, until Saturday, August 30th. It will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Artists from Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire are exhibiting their work, which includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, and moving images.
The cafe in the town hall will be open for refreshments and light bites.
More details can be obtained from open.art@keele.ac.uk
Staffordshire History Centre – A Volunteer’s View
I am a new volunteer. I have loved local history since I was a child. This place is my idea of a haven. From Lotus Shoes and Evode to William Palmer in the main exhibition space, through to the beautiful rooms of the William Salt Library, our collection spans many centuries, highlighting how Staffordshire has contributed to the UK and the wider world over and over again.
Totmonslow Heritage: A place where disputes were settled and offenders punished
The other really outstanding fact that marks Totmonslow out is connected to its historical role. Around 1200 years ago, it was the place where people from this area gathered. They came together at certain times of the year to settle disputes and carry out justice. These meetings were known as ‘moots’. And then: from about the year 800, England developed a loose system of administration based on areas known as ‘hundreds’.
Work Experience at the History Centre
“I enjoy history on every level imaginable, and this experience has only enhanced my adoration. This work experience was everything I hoped it would be and more, it showed me the ins and outs of running a history centre whilst giving me hands-on experience with actual artifacts and interacting with customers.”
Helping local history societies to find good speakers
Many local history societies in Staffordshire and the Potteries have difficulty finding good speakers.
Staffordshire History Network can help to find them. The network has a list of all the speakers who have features in Speakers Corner, a section in its newsletter.
A copy of the list can be obtained from helen.johnson@staffordshire.gov.uk
Special Ale Celebrates City’s Centenary
NewsDesk
Burslem-based Titanic Brewery is brewing a special ale in honour of the City of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary.
Called the Centenary Anniversary Ale, the traditional amber ale will be on sale in public houses throughout the Potteries. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Lyn Sharp, visited the brewery recently.
During her visit, she said Stoke-on-Trent’s brewing heritage had played a proud role in the city’s first 100 years.
A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoons confirmed that all its public houses in Staffordshire would stock the ale.
John Louis Petit – A Staffordshire Artist
“When I started working at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, I was given a tour of the stores and instantly spotted watercolours by the same artist, the Rev. John Louis Petit.”
North Staffordshire Heritage 