 Inclosure Award Maps; an exciting new project
From the eighteenth century onwards many parishes went through a process of inclosing common land; some parishes had very large commons - up to several thousand acres. The process was a legal one and each parish required an Act of Parliament to accomplish the inclosure (modern ‘enclosure’). It was necessary to survey the land to be inclosed and for each parish there was a map showing this together with a schedule listing the holdings of the various persons to whom part of the inclosed land was allocated. Many of these maps have survived and there are about 170 maps drawn up before 1850 now in the Staffordshire Record Office and a few later maps – the last being drawn up in 1891. For many parishes these maps are the earliest maps known, predating the parish tithe maps. Following the successful digitisation of the tithe map collection (accessible on line through http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/) we propose to digitise the collection of inclosure award maps.
These maps are of interest to landscape historians as they show the major changes that took place on inclosure of common lands but they are also interesting for family and parish historians. The process was contentious at the time and historians are still undecided as to the benefits; certainly, some individuals profited by being allocated new land to be cultivated but there were many losers including the poorer commoners of the parish who lost the right to graze livestock and received a small plot in return which was often in an inconvenient location.
FoSSA (The Friends of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archives) have been granted £5,000 by Midland Ancestors from the Kemp Legacy Fund to support this digitisation and will supplement this amount with funds from the Legacy from Sylvia Peers which was made directly to FoSSA. We hope to start the project quite soon but there is some work to do to check that all the maps, which are not often used, are suitable for digitisation. We are grateful to Midland Ancestors for this grant without which this project would not be possible.
One of the best inclosure maps is that of the commons at Shenstone made in 1818, some 20 years before the tithe map was drawn. This map is of exceptional quality in terms of the detail included.
 A much earlier map is that of the enclosed commons at Milwich which was made in 1787. This map is much less detailed than the Shenstone map but does show the plots of land newly enclosed and an accompanying schedule lists the new owners of the lands.
 Part funded by a Midland Ancestors grant from its Kemp Legacy Fund
 Members of the Victoria County History volunteer group
We have started to invite back volunteer groups to Staffordshire Record Office, starting with the Victoria County History group lead by Andrew Sargent. It was lovely to see volunteers back in the LARC and looking at some interesting charity records from Uttoxeter.
By October it is hoped to have all the regular groups up and running again and the team are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and getting excited about new projects that will start as part of Staffordshire History Centre work.
 Join us for one of our FREE adult workshops with Staffordshire artist Jennifer Collier
Staffordshire Archives and Heritage Service are working in partnership with Clandage, an AHRC project based at the University of Liverpool. This is one of a number of events to explore and capture memories and experiences of our changing climate in the UK.
These free places are only available to people living or working in Staffordshire and you can only participate in ONE of these sessions.
‘Paper Bird House’
Wednesday 22 September 10am - 3pm
Unit Twelve Gallery, Tixall, Stafford, ST18 0XX
Creating a beautiful bespoke bird box, complete with its own bird on the perch, created from recycled papers, stitch and card, inspired by Jennifer’s own work. In this workshop you will be shown every step of the process, from constructing your bird box, to using beautiful, vintage papers to decorate it. This will be embellished with a range of techniques, such as hand stitch, embossing and paper flowers, and you will even make your own bird to sit on the perch. Join us and help us to capture memories of climate and weather in Staffordshire. This activity is suitable for all abilities.
Places are limited and booking is essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/166790102687
‘Paper Watering Can’
Saturday 25 September 10am - 12pm
Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ
Make a beautiful Paper Watering Can collaged with recycled papers, maps and vintage ephemera and help us to capture memories of climate and weather in Staffordshire. This activity is suitable for all abilities. Places are limited and booking is essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/166793043483
‘Everlasting Paper Plants’
Saturday 25 September 1pm - 3pm
Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ
Create everlasting paper plants in handmade plant pots that you can enjoy all year round, from found and recycled papers and botanical illustrations and help us to capture memories of climate and weather in Staffordshire. This activity is suitable for all abilities. Places are limited and booking is essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/166793904057
Information for participants – Clandage Project
The workshops are being funded through Clandage, an AHRC project based at the University of Liverpool. They are free to attend and you will be able to keep anything you produce but we would like to photograph all work created and might ask to use your work in future exhibitions and publications. Your contact details will be shared with the CLANDAGE team for the purposes of follow-up questions and communicating about the possible use of your work in exhibitions and publications. Researchers from the University of Liverpool will be joining the workshop and would love to hear about your memories and experiences of climate and extreme weather. The workshops may be filmed and photographed. You will be provided with an information sheet with further details and a consent form to read and complete before the workshop. These activities are part of the CLANDAGE project - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/geography-and-planning/research/clandage/
You can find out more about Jennifer's work and the Unit Twelve gallery by visiting her website www.jennifercollier.co.uk
How to find us
The Record Office is located on Eastgate Street. The entrance is through the archway opposite the bus stops/Shrewsbury Arms public house. Workshop participants should come to the front entrance of the Record Office and ring the doorbell to the left of the automatic doors. A member of staff will book you in.
We encourage our visitors to wear a face mask while moving through the building. This can be removed once seated. Hand sanitiser is provided, and toilet facilities are available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or concerns - staffordshire.record.office@staffordshire.gov.uk
There is limited parking and disabled parking available at the Record Office for workshop participants only (entry from North Walls). Please note that the car park will close shortly after the end of the workshop.
For details of how to find the Record Office please visit our website -https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Heritage-and-archives/contact/sro/Overview.aspx
 Join us in The Learning Room to discover a range of articles based on research and collections across the Archives and Heritage Service. You can sign up here
Following the Governments announcement on the relaxation of the rules around Covid-19 restrictions from 19 July 2021 we wanted to update you on the procedures we have in place at the Staffordshire Record Office. As always our priority remains the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff.
- Hand hygiene remains in place, for staff and visitors along with Perspex screens in our public reading room
- The current reading room space allocation for visitors will remain in place subject to a full review in September
- The QR code will remain available for visitors to check in but is no longer mandatory. We will continue our usual visitor sign in process for access to our service.
- Mask wearing is no longer mandatory but will be encouraged especially when moving through public spaces
- Ventilation remains an important part of our measures and windows/doors will be opened in public spaces
- Advance booking and ordering of documents will continue - for bookings up to four weeks ahead
- Drop in visits to view material on the open shelves will be permitted only if there is an available visitor space
- The History Access Point in Lichfield reopened on 29 June as a bookable PC and study space. To book please contact Lichfield Library (see details above)
- The William Salt Library will remain closed and will not reopen. Access to the collection will continue via the Staffordshire Record Office
If you have any questions about the procedures please do not hesitate to get in touch. Please email staffordshire.record.office@staffordshire.gov.uk
Our aim is to keep you updated with the latest developments and events. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter please use the 'unsubscribe' button at the bottom of this page.
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