- 12th February 2020
We are running another of our 3 part Starting Family History workshops shortly, helping people to begin looking into their family tree. We regularly get people come to our archive desk and ask us how they can begin their family history. It may be inspired by reminiscing with family members, seeing programmes like Who Do...
- 7th February 2020
In The Hive atrium are four large mosaics of photos, with faces made up of hundreds of photos. Moving to The City is a 2 year arts and archive project working with local community groups. Using the archives as inspiration, and photography as a way to engage and work with people, we explored the idea...
- 6th February 2020
If you’ve driven in Kidderminster, you’re sure to have noticed the extensive concrete relief decorating the retaining wall from Worcester Cross to Worcester Road Ring Road. Kidderminster’s inner ring road was commissioned as a solution to relieve traffic congestion through the town centre. The project comprised five stages, or sections, of which four were eventually...
- 3rd February 2020
Last summer we carried out a dig in Hanley Castle which was unusual for two reasons. Firstly, it is probably the first time our work has been paid for by a Music Festival – the local society received money from Upton Blues Festival to fund the investigation! Secondly, we were investigating a castle, which is...
- 28th January 2020
Sophie is a student on the University of Liverpool’s Archive course. She has come to us for a placement, finding out about how we do things as well as carrying out a cataloguing assignment for her course. She’s written this blog about her time here, working on the Sandilands Plan Nursery archives. I had always...
- 21st January 2020
Our new events guide for 2020 is now out! Details can also be found here on website at www.explorethepast.co.uk/events along with links for bookings. We’re repeating many of our popular workshops, helping people start their research or to expand and introduce new sources. Following the success of the Reading Latin in Old Documents workshop we...
- 24th December 2019
In the past we’ve told you about the Case of the Stolen Christmas Goose, but that wasn’t the only seasonal crime to have taken place in Worcestershire in the past. Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe were also targets, whether by individuals for themselves, or from enterprising people to sell it on. Tenbury is a big mistletoe...
- 23rd December 2019
Christmas cards feature in several of our collections, some of which we have shared before on our blog. Within the Vesta Tilley archive there are several Christmas cards which were sent to her, particularly during the First World war. Vesta Tilley, born Matilda Powles, was one of the top worldwide Music Hall artists of the...
- 19th December 2019
Going through the Christmas catalogues was one the great traditions of Christmas for children, writing up a long Christmas list whilst going through it. For many that catalogue would be Kays, especially here in Worcester where it was based. The company employed many people locally, as well as many people being local agents. Over the...
- 14th December 2019
This is the fourth and final of our compilations of the letters of Gunner Bert Clements, which were read by Naomi Taylor as part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Project. It meant we were able to share them more easily via social media to a wider audience, and also use them with school...