Exploring our past
Local and Community History Events in Staffordshire
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/libraries
@StaffsLibraries
September 2014
staffordshirelibraries
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Exploring our past
Local and Community History Events in Staffordshire
Whether you’re interested in finding out about your family tree, your
community’s history or the vast range of historical documents held in the
County, or if you’re looking for events and exhibitions to commemorate the
First World War, there will be something for you during Local and Community
History Month.
Choose from over 80 events run or hosted by Staffordshire’s Libraries and
Arts, Archives and Heritage services. Displays, family history sessions and
competitions will be running throughout September.
Contact your local library for details of events in your area, or view online at:
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/libraries
Or look at details of commemorations in Staffordshire and latest news at:
www.staffordshiregreatwar.com
Please note that places at some events may be limited, therefore advance booking by
contacting the venue is essential.
Events in the Stafford District
‘Tudor Medicine’- a
fascinating talk by a Tudor
housewife
Friday 5 September
Holmcroft Library
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Tel (01785) 253908
for further details or to book a place
£3.50 (£3.00 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
The History Maze for the Stafford Arts Festival
-follow clues and riddles
around Stafford’s important
historical sites
Saturday 6 September
Stafford Library
10:00am – 3:30pm
(45 minute walk)
Tel (01785) 278332
for further details
Free
(No need to book)
Meet the Author children’s author Barbara
Mitchelhill who wrote ‘Run
rabbit Run’ and ‘a Twist of
fortune’
Saturday 6 September
Stafford Library
Time to be confirmed
Tel (01785) 278332
for further details
Free
(No need to book).
Clay Craft Workshop
Bellarmine Jar - Create a 17th
century bottle, used to scare
off witches and evil spirits
Saturday 6 September
Stafford Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
Tel (01785) 278332
for further details or to book a place
£3.00 (£2.50 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
‘The Great War from the Air’The story of an Aviation pilot
who went through the highs
and lows of the Great War - a
talk by Neil Butler
Tuesday 9 September
Eccleshall Library
6:00pm – 7:15pm
Tel (01785) 850452
for further details or to book a place
£3.50 (£3.00 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
‘From North Staffordshire, to
Australia, to the Somme’- a
talk by local historian and
author Steve Booth
Saturday 20 September
Stone Library
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Tel (01785) 354135
for further details or to book a place
£3.50 (£3.00 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
Clay Craft Workshop
Bellarmine Jar Create a 17th century bottle,
used to scare off witches and
evil spirits
Saturday 20 September
Rising Brook Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
Tel (01785) 242155
for further details or to book a place
£3.00 (£2.50 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
Meet the Tommy – the story
behind a soldier from the
trenches and his equipment
Thursday 25 September
Baswich Library
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Tel (01785) 663355
for further details
Free
(No need to book)
‘Tolkien’s Staffordshire
and his Great War’a talk by local historian
David Robbie
Thursday 25 September
Baswich Library
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Tel (01785) 663355 for further
details or to book a place
£3.50 (£3.00 Library
members)
(Booking essential)
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Events in the Cannock District
Events in the East Staffordshire District
‘War widows from the First
World War’- a talk by
Janice Lomas
Monday 1 September
Cannock Library
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tel 01543 510365
£3.00 including
refreshments (£2.00 for
Library members)
Beginners Family History - an
introduction to researching
your family tree
Wednesday 3 September
Barton Library
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tel 01283 713753
Free
(Booking essential)
‘How the Great War
Changed the Lives of People
Living and Working at
Shugborough’- a talk by
Helen Johnson
Wednesday 10 September
Cannock Library
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tel 01543 510365
£3.00 including
refreshments (£2.00 for
Library members)
Wednesday 3 September
Burton Library
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tel 01283 239556
£3.50
(Booking essential)
‘Trench Art: Exploring
works of art from battlefield
debris’- a talk by James
Gordon-Cumming
Wednesday 10 September
Norton Canes Library
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Tel 01543 279592
£3.00 including
refreshments (£2.00 for
Library members)
‘Messines Ridge at
Cannock Chase’ join Principal Archaeologist,
Staffs CC,
Stephen Dean for a fascinating
talk on the fragile, detailed
replica of a Belgian town
unearthed on Cannock Chase
‘World War One Ancestry in
National and Local Sources’a talk by Joanna Terry
Thursday 18 September
Heath Hayes Library
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tel 01543 279675
£3.00 including
refreshments (£2.00 for
Library members)
Beginners Family History - an
introduction to researching
your family tree
Wednesday 10 September
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Burton Library
Tel 01283 239556
Free
(Booking essential)
Local history walk around
Beaudesert, including
illustrated talk
Wednesday 8 October
Meet at Castle Ring car park
9:30am – 1:30pm (approx.)
Contact Cannock Library
to book tickets
Tel 01543 510369
£3.00 including
refreshments (£2.00 for
Library members)
Beginners Family History - an
introduction to researching
your family tree
Free
(Booking essential)
Introductory Ancestry
sessions are available
in all our libraries
throughout September.
Cannock Library
01543 510369
Hednesford Library
01543 422798
Heath Hayes Library
01543 279675
Rugeley Library
01889 256010
Brereton Library
01889 256605
Norton Canes Library
01543 279592
Free
Tuesday 16 September
Uttoxeter Library
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tel 01889 256371
Wednesday 17 September
Burton Library
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tel 01283 239556
Wednesday 24 September
Beyond Ancestrya guide to free online resources Burton Library
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
for family historians
Tel 01283 239556
Free
(Booking essential)
‘The sinking of the Lusitania’- a
dramatic presentation exploring
the circumstances of the ship’s
demise and the efforts to
salvage the wreck
Wednesday 24 September
Burton Library
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tel 01283 239556
£3.50
(Booking essential)
‘The Heroic Tale of Edith
Cavell’- a dramatic retelling of
the life of the nurse who came
to be a matron working
in Belgium during the
First World War.
Thursday 25 September
Uttoxeter Library
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tel 01889 256371
and
Barton Library
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tel 01283 713753
£2.00
(Booking essential)
Please contact your local
library to book a session
Introduction to Ancestry.coman introduction to using the
family history website
Free
(Booking essential)
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Events in the Lichfield District
Events in the Lichfield District continued
‘Tommy at Gommecourt’a talk by Alan Higgins
Tuesday 1 September
Burntwood Library
10:30am - 11:15am
Tel 01543 682447
Free
(No need to book)
‘The Heroic tales of women
during World War One: 1914 1918’- a dramatic retelling by
Julie Ann Cooper, featuring the
story of Edith Cavell
Thursday 18 September
Burntwood Library
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tel 01543 682447
£2.50
(Booking essential)
‘Tommy at Gommecourt’a talk by Alan Higgins
Tuesday 1 September
Shenstone Library
2:30pm – 3:15pm
Tel 01543 480915
Free
(No need to book)
‘The Heroic tales of women
during World War One:
1914 - 1918’- a talk by
Julie Ann Cooper
Thursday 18 September
Lichfield Library
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Tel 01543 510700
£2.50
Booking essential)
Ting Tang Theatre WW1
Family show
Saturday 6 September
Burntwood Library
Show starts at 10:30am
Tel 01543 682447
Saturday 6 September
Lichfield Library
Shows start at 1:00pm & 3:00pm
Tel 01543 510700
£2.50
(Booking essential)
‘J. R. R. Tolkien and the Great
War’- a talk by David Robbie
Tuesday 23 September
Lichfield Library
1:30pm
Tel 01543 510700
£2.50
(Booking essential)
£2.50
(Booking essential)
‘The Larkin Family’a case study for ancestry.
Genealogy case study
and introduction
Monday 29 September
Lichfield Library
2:30pm
Tel 01543 510700
Free
(Booking essential)
Tuesday 9 September
2:00pm
Shenstone Library
Tel 01543 480915
£2.50
(Booking essential)
‘Great War Recruit Training’- a talk Tuesday 9 September
7:00pm
by Dave Dunham
Lichfield Library
Tel 01543 510700
£2.50
(Booking essential)
Ting Tang Theatre WW1
Family show
‘Great War Recruit Training’- a
talk by Dave Dunham
Focussing on the intensive training
delivered to British troops on
‘Historical sources in the Record
Office’- a talk by Archivist
Andrew George
Useful resources and where to find
Tuesday 16 September
2:30pm -4:00pm
Lichfield Library
Tel 01543 510700
£2.00
(Booking essential)
Ancestry Taster
Tuesday 16 September
2:00pm -3:00pm
Shenstone Library
Tel 01543 480915
Free
Please book
(Booking essential)
Ting Tang Theatre
Historical Workshops
Wednesday 17 September
Lichfield Library
Invited school groups
only
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Events in the Newcastle District
Monday 8 September
Talke Library
Tel 01782 296840
Free
(Booking essential)
Tuesday 9 September
Local historian Mervyn
Newcastle Library
Edwards - an illustrated talk
about aspects of old Newcastle 11:00am – 12:00pm
Tel 01782 297300
£2.00
(Booking essential)
World War One Exhibition
and evening talk
Series of guided walks around
historic Porthill, Newcastle
and Wolstanton to celebrate
‘Heritage Weekend’. Led by
Andrew Dobraszczyc
11 to 14 September
Free
Please contact Newcastle Library Spaces limited (Booking
for further details and to book. essential)
Tel 01782 297300
World War One Exhibition
and evening talk
Monday 15 September
Talke Library
Tel 01782 296840
Free
(Booking essential)
‘The Heroic tales of women
during World War One:
1914 - 1918’- a talk by
Julie Ann Cooper
Tuesday 16 September
Kidsgrove Library
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Tel 01782 782445
£3.50
(Booking essential)
History Scenes for
Schools and Libraries (HSSL) –
bringing the Great War to life
Monday 22 September
Talke Library
All day
Tel 01782 296840
and
Tuesday 23 September
Clayton Library
All day
Tel 01782 616074
Class visits from local schools
National Memorial Arboretum– Saturday 27 September
Newcastle Library
a talk about the National
11:00am – 12:00pm
Centre of Remembrance
Tel 01827 475646
Free
(Booking essential)
Tuesday 30 September
Newcastle Library
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Tel 01782 297300
£3.50
(Booking essential)
‘The Heroic tales of women
during World War One:
1914 - 1918’- a talk by
Julie Ann Cooper
Events in the Staffordshire Moorlands District
Mischievous Peter Rabbit. Monday 1 September
Stories and activities for the Cheadle Library
10:00am - 11:30am
under 5’s
Tel 01538 483864
Free
(Drop-in)
Mischievous Peter Rabbit. Tuesday 9 September
Stories and activities for the Werrington Library
9:30am - 10:00am
under 5’s
Tel 01782 302706
Free
(Booking essential)
War horse reminiscence
session
Wednesday 10 September
Biddulph Library
10:15am – 11:30am
Tel 01782 485491
Your family a hundred years Thursday 11 September
ago. 1-2-1 sessions with an Cheadle Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
experienced genealogist
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Tel 01538 483864
Free
(Booking essential)
Free
(Booking essential)
‘Costume of the early
1900’s’- a talk by
Notty Hornblower of Hope
House Costume Museum
Friday 12 September
Leek Library – Nicholson
Institute Gallery
To be confirmed
Tel 01538 483207
Free
Make a paper war horse
to take to the First Mile to
War Parade
Saturday 13 September
Leek Library
10:00am – 2.00pm
Tel 01538 483207
Free
(Drop-in)
Cheadle’s Great War poet –
Captain Charles Masefield
MC. Book signing by
Graham Bebbington
Monday 15 September
Cheadle Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
Tel: 01538 483864
Free (Drop-in)
Mischievous Peter Rabbit. Tuesday 16 September
Stories and activities for the Biddulph Library
10:30am – 11:00am
under 5’s
Tel 01782 485491
Free
(Booking essential)
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Events in the Staffordshire Moorlands District continued
Your family 100 years ago.
1-2-1 sessions with an
experienced genealogist
Wednesday 17 September
Cheadle Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Tel 01538 483864
Free
(Booking essential)
‘Horses and War’a talk by the Blue Cross
Thursday 18 September
Cheadle Library
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Tel 01538 483864
Free
(Booking advised)
Mischievous Peter Rabbit.
Stories and activities for
the under 5’s
Friday 19 September
Blythe Bridge Library
10:00am – 11:00am
Tel 01782 296400
Free
(Booking essential)
Cheadle’s Great War poet –
Captain Charles Masefield
MC. Book signing by
Graham Bebbington
Wednesday 24 September
Leek Library
10:00am -12:00pm
Tel 01538 483207
Free
(Drop-in)
Mischievous Peter Rabbit. Friday 26 September
Stories and activities for the Leek Library
11:00am – 11:30am
under 5’s.
Tel 01538 483207
Free
(No need to book)
Events in the Staffordshire Moorlands District continued
Family history support with Throughout September
an experienced genealogist Biddulph Library
Tel 01538 483215
Blythe Bridge Library
Tel 01782 296400
Leek Library
Tel 01538 483208
Werrington Library
Tel 01538 483215
Free
(Booking essential)
Displays:
Throughout September
Free
Biddulph during the
Great War
Biddulph Library
The aristocracy on the
eve of war
Blythe Bridge Library
Leek in 1914
Leek Library
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Events in the Tamworth District
Wilnecote Library Family
History Group
Monday 1 September
Wilnecote Library
4:15pm – 8:30pm
Tel 01827 475147
Free
(No need to book)
1-2-1 Family History
Sessions
Every Wednesday throughout
the month
Times various
Tamworth Library
Tel 01827 475646
Free
(Booking essential)
Tamworth Local History
Group
Friday 12 September
Tamworth Library
10:30am- 12:30pm
Tel 01827 475646
Local History Open Day –
Come along and meet staff
and volunteers from a host
of local and family history
groups
Saturday 13 September
Tamworth Library
10:00am – 4:00pm
Tel 01827 475646
Children’s Crafts with
the National Memorial
Arboretum staff
Saturday 13 September
Tamworth Library
10:30am – 12:30pm
Tel 01827 475646
Free
(Drop-in)
Tamworth Library Family
History Group
Monday 15 September
Tamworth Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
Tel 01827 475646
Free
(No need to book)
‘Staffordshire People in
1914’- a talk on the build
up to The Great War by
local author Mark Rowe
Monday 22 September
Tamworth Library
7:30pm – 8:30pm
Tel 01827 475646
£3.50
(Booking essential)
Glascote Library Family
History Group
Friday 26 September
Glascote Library
10:00am- 12:00pm
Tel 01827 475235
Free
(No need to book)
Events in the South Staffordshire District
Wilful Murder? The
Sinking of the Lusitania’- a
fascinating illustrated talk
from Andrew Lound
Thursday 4 September
Perton Library
7:15pm – 8:30pm
Tel 01902 755794 for further
details or to book a place
£3.50
(£3.00 Library members)
(Booking essential)
Thursday 11 September
Wombourne Library
10:00am – 4:00pm
Tel 01902 892032
Free
Free
(No need to book)
Local History Open DayNational Trust, historical
re-enactors, visit the Local
History Room, local postcard
display, Museums Service
and much more
Free
(Drop-in)
Family History Surgery with
Staffordshire and Stoke on
Trent Archive Service
Thursday 11 September
Wombourne Library
10:00am – 12:00pm
(4 x 30 minute sessions)
Tel 01902 892032 to book
Free
(Booking essential)
‘Great War Small Arms and
Weapons’- a talk from Dave
Dunham of the Western
Front Association
Thursday 11 September
Wombourne Library
7:00pm – 8:15pm
Tel 01902 892032 for further
details or to book a place
£3.50
(£3.00 Library members)
(Booking essential)
Local History Open DayNational Trust, re-enactors,
Brewood Civic Society, local
authors, WFA, Archives
Service, Boscobel House,
local authors and much more
Tuesday 16 September
Brewood Library
10:00am – 4:00pm
Tel 01902 850087
Free
Family History Surgery with
Staffordshire and Stoke on
Trent Archive Service
Tuesday 16 September
Brewood Library
1:00pm – 4:30pm
(7 x 30 minute sessions)
Tel 01902 850087 to book
Free
(Booking essential)
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Events in the South Staffordshire District continued
‘Cannock Chase and the
Great War: Training for the
Trenches and the Messines
Model’- a talk from
Stephen Dean, Principal
Archaeologist, Staffs CC
Tuesday 16 September
Brewood Library
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Tel 01902 850087 for further
details or to book a place
J.R.R. Tolkien Trail – Cannock
Chase - a 13.5 mile walk in
the footsteps of J.RR Tolkien
across the Chase
Thursday 18 September
Meet at Brocton Coppice Car
Park at 9:30am
(Departing at 10am)
Approx. 6 hours inc. breaks
£3.50
(£3.00 Library members)
(Booking essential)
£2.00 per person (Includes a
guided visit to the Great War
Hut at Marquis Drive)
(Booking essential)
2 September – 5 October
Codsall Library
Tel 01902 842764 for further
information
Throughout September
www.shugborough.org.uk
Tel 01889 881388
Standard admission charges apply
6 - 30 September
Shugborough- The Broken Bitsmany never seen before, damaged www.shugborough.org.uk
Tel 01889 881388
but beautiful items
Standard admission charges apply
Life on the Eve of War- How
the Great War changed the lives
of people living & working at
Shugborough
Exhibitions and Events from Archives and Heritage Service
Remembering How Staffordshire
went to War
Tel Penkridge Library on
01785 712916 to book a place
(Booking essential)
The Staffordshire Hoard
Trail Community Touring
Exhibitiona fascinating and
interactive exhibition
Exhibitions and Events at Shugborough Historic Estate
Saturday 27 September
Staffordshire Record Office
10:30am – 4:00pm
For further details contact
Tel 01785 278380
Tickets: £10.00
Advanced Booking essential
Free
Heritage Open Day
Saturday 13 September
Tours of the Historic County
Buildings, led by Stafford Historic County Buildings, Martin St.,
Stafford, ST16 2LH
and Civic Society
10:00am – 4:00pm
For further details contact
Tel 01785 276311
Tours: 11am, 12pm, 1pm,
2pm, 3pm
Advanced booking advised, 10
places per tour
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Further Information
In 2014 Libraries, the Arts service, and the Archives and Heritage service are working on
a number of projects to help connect the people of Staffordshire to the local stories of
the First World War.
Look out for the latest at www.staffordshiregreatwar.com or contact the relevant
service.
Look out for project content on the international website: www.historypin.com
For all general local studies interest, libraries may hold a range useful material, such as
newspapers, trade directories and parish registers. A few libraries have collections of
local photographs.
Library members also have free access at all library computers to Ancestry Library
Edition, a top genealogy resource.
Go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk/archives for information about the Archives Service’s
in-depth collections.
For more information contact your local library or go to:
If you would like this document in another language or format, e.g.
large text, braille, please contact us on 01785 278312.
75797/7/14
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/librariesnew/whatsavailable/localfamilyhistory