Archive

In the 1870s local newspaper used to have a write up of the Christmas decorations put up locally, including the local churches. Sadly we don’t have any photos of these decorations in the archives from this period, but the descriptions help us to image them. Christmas decorations had only recently come back into fashion, along...

Christmas is a time for charitable giving, and previous years we’ve highlighted St Thomas day Charities and the Robin Breakfast as examples. The Coventry Family of Croome used to hand out beef and bread to their tenants each Christmas Eve, as shown in these photos from the Croome archive held here in The Hive. Lord...

Lavinia Talbot née Lyttelton kept a diary from her teenage years right through to her 70s.  The diaries, now housed at The Hive, provide a unique window on her daily life, thoughts and feelings and in particular her reflections on life during the First World War.  1915 had been a difficult year for the Talbots...

“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat…” It’s not just geese which got fat, lots of animals would be fattened up ready for Christmas. Therefore in December Fat Stock Shows were held to sell animals, and also reward farmers by offering prizes for the best animals in a similar way to summer agricultural shows....

Christmas is upon and in the season of good will we bring you evidence of how the same sentiments we value at this time of year still rang true even amongst those fighting in the trenches during the First World War. An extract from the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment War Diary  for Christmas Day 1914...

Our Learning and Outreach Manager, Paul Hudson, has found a festive treat of a story amongst our Quarter Sessions papers: “Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat…” …so goes the rhyme, and until recently many families had a goose at the centre of their Christmas meal. So it was a bad time for you...

Are you looking for presents that are a little bit different this year?  If so, come to Explore the Past on Level 2 at The Hive, Worcester to see the large range of Books and CDs related to the history of Worcestershire– ideal gifts for young and old.  Brought to you by the Worcestershire Archive...

Many of the Christmas activities and traditions we follow today were made popular during the nineteenth century.  For the Victorians in particular Christmas was centred round the family with attendance at church, sitting down to Christmas dinner, gift giving, parlour games and visits to neighbours, friends and relatives all shared by the whole family.  For...

 A selection of the items available to purchase at The Hive Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service is once again offering visitors to The Hive the chance to pick up unique items for those looking for that extra special gift this Christmas. After proving a popular destination for people seeking something a little different, we have...

At Christmas time there are often charity appeals to help those less fortunate, and a newly catalogued collection at Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service gives a fascinating glimpse into what our Victorian and Edwardian ancestors did. The Guild of the Good Shepherd was comprised of members of the Unitarian’s New Meeting House, Kidderminster. Their aim...