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From orphan heiress to Baroness, discover the extraordinary life of Mary Sandys. Mary Marchioness of Downshire and Baroness Sandys (1764-1836) was the middle child of Colonel Martin Sandys (1729-1768) and Mary Trumbull (1741-1769). Known as ‘the Little Marchioness’, she grew up as part of the extended royal circle – her father being an Equerry to...

Welcome to Dig Diaries We’re excited to share the beginning of our excavation with you. In this first post, we’ll take you back to what was known about the site before we began digging in the summer of 2024, as well as our discoveries from the first few months on site. The Story Behind the...

The 1921 census is now available on Findmypast.co.uk which can be accessed by customers in The Hive for free, and on Ancestry which can be accessed for free within all Worcestershire Libraries. What a great time to take another look at your family history and add the next level of information. Taken in June 1921,...

As we begin #LGBTQ+ month, we look at the records that shed light on a community whose story is not often heard in the narrative of the past. In 2012, Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service were delighted to receive a deposit from Hereford & Worcestershire Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (ref BA15404). This collection of minutes,...

In part two, we continue to explore how licensing files can assist research into how pubs, theatres and other entertainment venues in Worcestershire may have undergone changes through time. This time we turn our attention to other entertainment venues in Worcester including King Charles House, which has a fascinating history associated with the Battle of...

Discover how later generations of the Sandys carried their story into the 21st century Born in 1764, Mary Marchioness of Downshire and Baroness Sandys (1764-1836) was the middle child of Colonel The Honourable Martin Sandys (1729-1768) and Mary Trumbell (1741-1769). Playmate to the Prince of Wales, she knew little of her parents as they died...

Here, we explore how licensing files can assist research into how pubs, theatres and other entertainment venues in Worcestershire may have undergone changes through time. Like house history, you can understand the history of buildings and the people who lived or worked there by combining this with other documentary or archaeological evidence. We have done...

As we begin cataloguing the Sandys Archive, discover the story of one of Worcestershire’s most influential families.   This blog contains a reference to slavery. The complex lineage of the Sandys family begins with Edwin Sandys born in 1518. A Protestant Cleric to King Edward VI, he later fled the country to avoid a sentence...

We are looking for help to find out more about Worcester born Sheila Scott and expand our archive collections for future researchers. Join us at The Hive to share your knowledge or let us know via our online enquiry form. Perhaps best known as a female aviator who in her lifetime broke over one hundred...

The latest records catalogued as part of the New Burdens project are duplicate copies of marriage registers held on behalf of the Worcestershire Registration Service. In this blog we explain the General Register Office (GRO) and how Birth, Marriage and Death certificates held by the GRO can help you trace your family history. Amongst the...