 The Staffordshire History Festival runs from September until the end of October. This year’s themes are
- Family History
- Royals and Staffordshire
- Staffordshire Life through the Ages
The Archives and Heritage Service will be running events and activities in September and October including a new small touring exhibition exploring the history of Staffordshire's County Asylums, an online exhibition sharing our 'Meaningful Mementoes' together with study days and workshops at the Staffordshire Record Office.
More information in the next edition so watch this space!
In this edition we meet a brand new member of the Archives and Heritage team. Conservator Lisa Williams joined us in July. We find out how she is settling in.
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What does your role involve?
The preservation and conservation of the archive and heritage service collections.
This is a wide and varied role that incorporates storage and environmental conditions as well as day to day remedial work ensuring deteriorating documents are repaired and available for future generations. My ethos is ‘minimal intervention.’
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When did you start working with the Archives and Heritage Service?
July 2021 and I am loving it so far….
What made you choose this career?
Prior to my conservation career I led a varied life on the south coast, running a boutique hotel and a florist as well as design and signwriting.
I completed my BA in the History of Art. I discovered conservation whilst volunteering at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and I was hooked. A Masters in conservation followed and that was 18 years ago.
What is your favourite object or document or photograph from the collection?
This one is easy! I enjoy everything I work on as it usually means that someone can access potentially off limit archives.
What is your most memorable moment about working for the Service?
As it is still early days I have so far enjoyed getting to know all of the elements of the service, including the talented staff and the challenge that lies ahead for the team.
Away from work, do you have a hidden talent or special skill?
Away from work, but related, I create many types of new styles of binding books that involve no adhesives and no attachment to the original books, still work related but otherwise I am an excellent walker and shopper!
 (C/PC/12/14/8)
Recognising Old Road Signs
Amongst the material in the Police collection at Staffordshire Record Office is this edition of the Highway Code, dating from 1954. Somewhat thinner than the modern edition, it has this interesting guide to signs that would have been familiar to road users over 65 years ago. Whilst some of the symbols have barely changed since then, others differ quite a bit. Note in particular the torch representing a school and the white Maltese Cross on a black shield representing a hospital, a reference to the Medieval order of Knights Hospitaller.
 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
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