A Project Update

Since we were awarded funding to create the new Staffordshire History Centre in July 2021, the team and our valiant volunteers have been busy preparing the start of this exciting project.

Things really ramped up from the start of 2022 as we had to move the entire collection out of the William Salt Library building to a temporary new home. The library had occupied Number 19 Eastgate Street for over 100 years, so there was a lot of preparation and moving to be done.

Working with our conservator Lisa, our volunteers cleaned, wrapped and packed roomfuls of local history books and periodicals. Meanwhile, members of our team cleared cupboards, attics and cellars – often sifting through decades’ worth of assorted material accumulated through the daily workings of the library.

Once the collection had been moved out, along with some of the historical furniture that will be reused for interpretation, several notable architectural features were uncovered, some of them last seen a century earlier! These included fireplaces, a servants’ bell-pull and several examples of fascinating Edwardian wallpaper.

Whilst all this was happening, our team also had to move out the offices and public reading room from the ground floor of Staffordshire Record Office, as this will be reconfigured for the new History Centre. Fortunately, our temporary new home is just along the street at Eastgate House – which you might remember as the Stafford Registrar’s office.

We’ve been able to open up our onsite volunteer offer, and our volunteers now meet in a rather elegant period room that used to be the venue for weddings! Over 60 volunteers are supporting the project through several roles, including research, conservation, digitization and helping with public events. New volunteer roles will be shared as the project progresses, so keep an eye out for announcements.

From our Eastgate House site, we’ve also been able to keep our public enquiries and copying service running. For more information about our interim service offer, please see our Public Services page.

Whilst we’re in our temporary home, we’ve been busy with our outreach programme. Over the autumn and winter of 2022, we’ve run a variety of activities and events – guided tours of our museum stores and Number 19 Eastgate Street, study days, creative activities and object handling sessions.

We have also presented a touring exhibition, A Case for the Ordinary, which explores the historical experience of mental health patients. The main exhibition was presented at the Museum of Cannock Chase, the Brampton Museum in Newcastle and the Nicholson Institute in Leek, whilst a smaller pop-up exhibition toured libraries across Staffordshire. Look out for the pop-up exhibition at the Ancient High House in Stafford later this year.

A network has been established to support local museums, societies and groups that record or share Staffordshire’s history and heritage – you can find out more on our Staffordshire History Network page.

We are looking forward to sharing the progression of the Staffordshire History Centre Project with more updates coming soon about the construction work and our and events & activities.