#localstudies
Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is the library of Frederick Strutt (1843-1909) who bequeathed his entire collection of books on local subjects, including this lovely tourist guide published by William Bemrose & Sons of Derby.

#LocalStudies #LocalHistory
September 29, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Mary Wiltshire and Sue Woore’s ‘Monastic Granges of Derbyshire’ explores how different religious orders utilised gifted land to support their communities, before the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century changed everything. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#LocalHistory
September 24, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Notice for all visitors and volunteers:

Please note that Wigan Local Studies will be closed on Wednesday October 14th for staff training.

Thank you for your understanding.

#WiganMuseum #Localstudies
September 22, 2026 at 9:57 AM
If #ModeShift month has made you curious about how transport has developed, then have a delve into this fascinating book in our #LocalStudies collection. ‘Carriers & Coachmasters’ shows us how people travelled before the road networks that we have today.

#LocalHistory
September 17, 2026 at 9:15 AM
September 11, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Roy Palmer’s ‘The Demolition of Derby’ provides an overview of a how the city evolved over the 20th century, highlighting lost buildings and streets, and their histories. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#EYAErased #Derby #LocalHistory
September 10, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Lumpy Tums, Thar cake, Bakewell Pudding, Sage Derby and Stilton & Beer are just some of Derbyshire’s regional fare explored in this book by food historian Mark Dawson, which is now in our #LocalStudies library.

#FoodHistory #LocalHistory
September 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
You can find this delightful guide to Castleton from 1948 in our #LocalStudies library. It has been beautifully illustrated with pen sketches by the Rev. S. J. Heald.

#LocalHistory #1940s
August 27, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Would it surprise you to know we have a collection of Western novels in our #LocalStudies library? Derbyshire is not known for its cowboys, but librarian Geoff Sadler was a fan. Writing under the name Jeff Sadler, we have his novels, drafts and typescripts. Yeehaw! 🤠

#EYASurprise
August 20, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Now a spa hotel in the heart of NE Derbyshire, the secrets of the former country mansion known as ‘Southgate House’ and its inhabitants are revealed in this fascinating book. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#LocalHistory #HouseHistory
August 13, 2026 at 9:15 AM
‘Tideswell, People and Places, Past and Present’ by Tony Hill shines a spotlight on some of the fascinating people who have lived in Tideswell, as well as highlighting some interesting events in Tideswell’s history. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.
#LocalHistory
August 6, 2026 at 9:25 AM
In his book ‘The Rogue Goths’ Edmund Harris presents an overview of the works of 3 distinctly different 19th century architects who caused a stir with their flamboyant designs for municipal and religious buildings. Includes St Tomas’s, Pear Tree, in Derby. Now in our #LocalStudies. #EYAArchitecture
July 30, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Whether it’s cottages, rectories, schools or churches; chimneys, gargoyles, roofs or gates – the 1898 book 'Architectural examples in brick, stone, wood and iron' by William Fullerton in our #LocalStudies library will show you beautiful drawings of them.
#EYAArchitecture.
July 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Drown your football sorrows with this throwback to when it did come home: Shirebrook born Ray Wilson, the 1966 England fullback, relives his World Cup experiences in his autobiography, ‘My Life in Soccer’. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#WorldCup #football
July 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
In celebration of the annual Buxton Festival starting this week, did you know our #LocalStudies has a collection of historic show programmes and ephemera? Also past copies of Pure Peak magazine with a Festival and Fringe special in the summer.
Buxton International Festival Buxton Festival Fringe
July 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM
It's #workexperience season with students discovering the world of working with #archives & #localstudies collections. Had fun digging out docs relating to #4thJuly + US presidents nos 4 & 6.

#history #heritagejobs
Week 3 of 5 of our #workexperience programme hosting Y10s & 12s from local schools. #Archives looked at this week inc 2 passports signed by James Madison & John Quincy Adams before they became respectively the 4th & 6th presidents of the United States.

#4thJuly #ExploreYourArchive
July 4, 2026 at 5:39 PM
With Scotland now out of the #WorldCup26, you can still relive former Derby County Player Archie Gemmill’s 1978 World Cup goal - considered among the best in the competitions history – in his autobiography ‘Both Sides of the Border’. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#1970s
July 2, 2026 at 9:15 AM
#Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month is the perfect time to find out more about this way of life. A fascinating book in our #LocalStudies library looks at The English Gypsy Caravan. Did you know that ‘the best vans have brass bell-mouthed frets or naf-ends on the hubs’?
#EYAColourful
June 25, 2026 at 9:05 AM
‘John Tudor: King for a Day’ is no ordinary footballer’s biography. Discover how the Ilkeston born first division footballer of the 1970’s has contributed to medical advances in tackling Alzheimer’s and dementia, which helped improve safety in the game he loved. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies.
June 18, 2026 at 12:15 PM
On this day in 1847 explorer #SirJohnFranklin died. Much is written of the fate of Franklin and his crew, but what of the women who supported him? This #LocalStudies book gives a voice to his wives, Eleanor Porden and Jane Griffin, and also features the women behind other polar explorers.
June 11, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Visitor notice:

Wigan museum and local studies will be closing at 1pm on Tuesday 16th June for staff training. We will open as normal on Wednesday 17th June.

Thank you for your understanding.

#Wigan #Museum #LocalStudies
June 6, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Public art is often overlooked as part of urban development. ‘Following in the footsteps. A sculpture for Mickleover’, shows how the idea for the sculpture was developed and illustrates the process of how the pod and seeds were made. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.
#LocalHistory
June 4, 2026 at 12:10 PM
#TheLibraryBook is ‘outstanding’!
Totally thrilled that my history of the remarkable #GibsonLibrary, #SaffronWalden & its collection has been #HighlyCommended by the #LocalStudies & #LibraryServicesTrust awards 📚🏆
So much fun stepping away from #WW2 for a while to tell the incredible stories of…
May 30, 2026 at 11:56 AM
If your handwriting is bad it’s still probably a lot easier to read than writing from centuries ago. If you struggle to decipher old documents, we have books to help in our #LocalStudies library. Like this one by Hilary Marshall with examples from the 1400s to the 1700s.

#EYAHandwriting
May 28, 2026 at 9:35 AM