 Wagons Roll!
The Staffordshire County Museum collection is on the move to its new home. The contents of our large object store at Shugborough are being moved to new units in Stafford.This is a mammoth task which has taken a lot of careful planning. The new collection stores will provide a stable environment for the collections which will protect our fabulous objects for future generations to enjoy. The move will be phased over the next few months with everything from wheeled vehicles and lawnmowers to flat irons and teddy bears being packed, carefully transported and installed in their new home. We will keep you posted on how the move progresses.
Free
Talk on Weather to Venues across Staffordshire
If
you know of a local society, museum or library that might be interested in a
talk of weather then carry on reading. Weather affects us all every day.
Occasionally we experience extended periods of below average rainfall which can
have effect farming, water supplies and wildlife. In this talk Alice Harvey will present current research on current and past weather and water in Staffordshire.
The talk will be illustrated with examples from documents at the Staffordshire
Record Office and there will be an opportunities to contribute your memories
and thoughts
Alice
is a PhD student at the University of Liverpool, working with the Staffordshire
Record Office to investigate drought and water shortages in the county since
the Industrial Revolution. She also runs a volunteer group at the Staffordshire
Record Office, exploring the recording of weather in 18th Century
diaries and letters. More information about these projects can be found at the Flood and Drought website. If
you want to book a talk Alice Harvey.
 Where There's a Will . . .
You may remember that in September we featured the conservation work on the Will of
Alice Perkyns of Hillmorton in Warwickshire, 1538. Cara’s
conservation work on the will has made it much easier to read and this is our interpretation
(with some added punctuation).
"In
the name of God, Amen. The last daye of July in the yere of our Lord God
MCCCCXXXVIII [1538]. I Alice Perkyns of Hullmoreton in the Countie of Warwick,
wedowe, dredyng the uncerteyn hour of death, being in perfette
memorie and mynd, make this my last wyll in manner and forme folowyng. Fyrst I
begweyth my soule unto Almyghtie god, our Ladye Saint Marie and All the saints
in heyvyn to praye for me. My bodie to be buryd within the parysch church of
Saint John the Baptiste of Hullmoreton aforesaid and my mortuarie [a..?] manner, is. Also I begweyth to the high autar
xiid. Also to the said church of Hullmoreton vis viiid. Also to every
one of my godchildren iid. Also to Joyn [?O]leyver, my dawghter, a
payr of flaxen schets, a payr of hurden shets, a flaxen table cloth, an hurden
table cloth, a tawney gowne, a violet kyrtyll, an happern, iii kercheyffs, a
cowe, and an yerelyng bulloke. And also
to Julian [Bupton?], my dawghtere, a peir of flaxen schets, a peire of hurden
schets, a flaxen table cloth, an hurden table cloth, my best gowne, a burnett
tawney kyrtel, iii kercheyffs, a peire of beyds, a potte, a panne, and my best silver
harnest gyrdyll. The Residue off my goodes, my detts payed and my funerall
expenses deduct and alowed, I gyve un to Henry Perkyns, my son, whom I make my
sole executore, he to dispose for the helth of my soule and all crystyan soules
as he thynkes best. And of this my last will I ordinate and make John Stokys,
clerk, Thomas Clerke and Richard Smyth supervisors, they to see that this my
last will be observed and performed and kepte. Thies beyng witnes, John
Grendon, clerk, George Dobbs, William Freman, Thomas Dunkeley, Richard Bassett
with dyverse others."
The inventory
that accompanies the will lists all Alice’s goods and chattels at the time of
her death. It begins with a list of livestock including 3 horses, 2 colts, various cattle with ploughs and
ploughing equipment. It then lists what is in the parlour, such as table linen,
a bed, a mattress and bed linen, including bed hangings and hurden sheets.
Hurden is a cloth made from flax. In the other rooms, including the hall and
kitchen, there are pewter goods, a chafing dish, tables and forms, pots and
pans, and spits. Outside there is corn and hay along with ladders, harrows and
ploughs. In total her goods were valued at £37 2s and 1d.
 Take a Deep Breath! Constrictive Corsets and Killer Heels
The new exhibition at the Ancient High House features the nastier side of fashion in the 19th and 20th centuries. 'To Die For?' uses garments and accessories from the Staffordshire County Museum collection to explore the dangers hidden in the clothes that people wore. Chemicals used in the process of dying or manufacturing garments could cause terrible skin problems leading to disfigurement and even death. Fabrics were highly flammable in a period where open fires and naked flames were used in the home. You can find out about real fashion victims at the High House until 30th December.
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