Diary Dates

The newsletter of the Friends of Archives,

Saturday 19 March 2016 Tuesday 5 July 2016 ARCHIVES

Discovering 's History Old Hill Fort followed by SHROPSHIRE gateway to the and An opportunity to learn more about the fantastic the Town Museum and Archives in the Shrewsbury Borough records dating from the 11th Guildhall century and recent work to make them accessible to all. Discover 3000 years of history , from Bronze Age 10.00am – 1.00pm Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, beginnings to World War One practice trenches 'Painting the Forth Annual Lecture The Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ and learn about the hill fort's special wildlife. Free event but booking essential (see leaflet for details) Oswestry Guildhall dates from 1893 and replaced Bridge…' Doctors Page 8 Page 6 the old Guildhall which was declared unsound and demolished. Charting a medical revolution Wednesday 25 May 2016 2.00pm Oswestry, SY11 1HT Page 2 Visit to Acton Round Hall Cost: £10 including refreshments Built in 1714 by Smith of Warwick for the Actons of Morville, Acton Round Hall is listed Grade I, as a fine example of architecture from the Queen Anne period. Wednesday 10 August It contains a fascinating personal collection and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Visit to Weston Park 2.30pm Acton Round Hall, , WV16 6XG Weston Park was the seat of the Earls of Cost: £15 including refreshments Bradford from the 17th century and was gifted to the nation by Richard, the 7th and present Earl. The tour includes the Victorian Sunday 26 June 2016 Library furnished with over 3,000 books and the stunning Dining Room, which houses an History Day impressive collection of paintings including A day event celebrating the history of Wem in works by renowned artists such as Sir Anthony association with the Victoria County History Van Dyck. Wem Town Hall, High Street, Wem, SY4 5DG 2.30pm Weston-under-Lizard, , TF11 8LE Cost, time and programme tbc. Cost £14 (refreshments excluded, cafe at venue)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The newsletter of the Friends of News Extra... Shropshire Archives is edited by Andrew Pattison and designed by Nat Stevenson, Shropshire Archives’ Image Services. Do you have any stories to tell about There are three issues per year, paid for by the Friends. The Shropshire’s history or have any news contents are provided by friends and well-wishers. If you would about Shropshire Archives? If you have, like to join the contributors, please contact the editor at the the editor is waiting to hear from you address below. now. The contact details are below and DISCLAIMER: We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of printing. photographs are always welcome. We cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Contact... For further details or to pass on your comments, please contact: A view of Coalbrookdale and the adjacent county, c.1800 Shropshire Archives ref. PR/1/133 Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ • Tel: 0345 6789096 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Price £2.00 (free to Members) Feature The Coalbrookdale Dr Richard Moore Doctors The Reading Room at Shropshire Archives in 1995. Shropshire Archives ref: PH/S/13/C/8/158

An iron work, for casting of cannon; and a boreing mill, taken from the Madeley side of the , Shropshire, 1788. Shropshire Archives ref. PR/4/41

he village of experienced the evolution of the medical profession was not yet Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale Apothecaries were shop-keepers patients included several important Coalbrookdale modern medical profession as it organised: there were university who invited him to open a shop in and ‘in trade’. They sold medicines people in the Dale, including is famous for its emerged from an assortment of educated physicians looking the Dale. He lived in Dale House and undertook minor surgical Thomas Baugh, ironmaster, and pioneering contribution proud physicians and well-meaning after the well-to-do; surgeons (now part of the Darby Houses in procedures in their shops, which is John Rose (probably the manager to the Industrial tradesmen to an organisation who dealt with wounds and the care of the why their professional descendants, of the Coalport Works). He also RevolutionT — the first iron bridge, based on science, education and fractures; and apothecaries who Museum Trust (IGMT)), was doctor today’s general practitioners, call treated the many tradesmen, the first iron boat and the first legal regulation. kept shops in which they sold to the Darby family and was their places of work their ‘surgeries’. miners, labourers and their steam locomotive to run on rails, medicines and offered medical present at the birth of the children As well as keeping their shops, families. He was a member of the amongst other achievements. It The first member of this family and surgical advice. Their training of Abraham Darby III. He lived apothecaries visited their seriously Parish Council, for whom he was is not so well known, however, for in Coalbrookdale was Benjamin was a seven-year apprenticeship there until 1791, when he leased ill (or richer) patients at home, Overseer of the Poor and Medical three generations of a family who Wright, son of a Cheshire farmer, loosely supervised by their trade 60 acres of land from Lord Craven but after a dispute with the Royal Officer to the poor house. He also were the doctors in the Dale and who came to as an organisation, Apothecaries’ Hall in on which he built the house called College of Physicians, they could acted as banker to the area, for whose letters and other documents apprentice apothecary in the London. Benjamin was a Quaker, Greenbank for £600, which was, only charge for the medicines they some documents exist to show have been preserved in Shropshire 1770s, and by 1775 had completed as were many of the ironmasters in and still is, a substantial property. supplied. The scanty records in the that he was involved in arranging Archives (SA 1987/56/2-32). They his indentures. At that time the Shropshire, and was thus known to IGMT library show that Benjamin’s loans to various people, including

2 Salopian Recorder . Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Winter/Spring 2016 . Number 84 . Salopian Recorder 3 prominent figures such as Abraham their retirement in the eighteen- would become necessary in years dispensaries, either in private been called to an accident in which to him in Coalbrookdale church Darby III, James Rathbone and R. sixties. William and Elizabeth’s to come, and persuaded his father schools or at University College or a young man was seriously injured, commemorating his dedication Guest. Some loans amounted to first child, Betsy, was born in 1797, to allow a two year period of King’s College in the new London but he refused to attend because in life and his generosity in death. hundreds of pounds. followed soon afterwards by a son, study in London. In due course University. Benjamin was not as another doctor had already arrived. Nine years later, in 1881, Benjamin Edward. At the age of fourteen Edward passed the Licentiate ardent a student as his brother Unfortunately the man died, and died at the age of sixty-five. He Benjamin died in 1794, aged only Edward was apprenticed to his (LSA) examination, to become Edward had been, and this lack at the inquest the jury expressed left £8,000 to his housekeeper, forty-nine, and this story might father having decided to become one of the first properly qualified of commitment caused a serious their ‘strong disapprobation’ at together with his silver, musical well have ended then but for the an apothecary-surgeon too, or general practitioners. He returned disagreement between them in Benjamin’s refusal to attend. Why instruments, pictures and wines – marriage of his oldest daughter as they were now being called a to Coalbrookdale and resumed which Edward accused Benjamin did he refuse? Was it because and his collection of parrots. He left Elizabeth to William Edwards, a ‘general practitioner’, that is to say work in the practice. It was not of a ‘serious want of temper’. he had failed to register under nothing to charities or good causes. young apothecary. There was no physician, surgeon and medicine- easy: smallpox and typhus were Nevertheless Benjamin passed the the Medical Act? Or did it reveal qualifying examination at this time, seller in one person. He was soon common and cholera came to LSA and returned to the practice. once more his earlier lack of Though the Coalbrookdale so William only had to satisfy his at work in Coalbrookdale, helping Coalbrookdale in 1834; many commitment? doctors may be unknown to the master of his competence. But in the shop and visiting patients in people were undernourished, The brothers were caught up in twenty-first century inhabitants of times were hard for William and their homes. He did much of the injuries at the works or in the mines yet more legislative developments Earlier generations of the Coalbrookdale, they deserve their Elizabeth: France was devastated midwifery practice in which, his were frequent, and the hazards to in the profession. After nineteen Edwards family had owned place in its history. They were part by revolution, Europe was at war mother said, he was very popular mothers in childbirth put heavy unsuccessful bills, the Medical Act land, and in due course Edward of the community that witnessed and Shropshire suffered a series ‘among the ladies’. By the early demands on the doctors. was passed in 1858. This required and Benjamin inherited their the and of very cold winters with severe nineteenth century medicine was all suitably qualified medical shares when it was sold. Edward shared its successes and difficulties: flooding of the River Severn. Food becoming much more complicated By 1828 Edward was settled in practitioners to enter their names bought Rose Hill, and Benjamin and were active participants in was short in Coalbrookdale, prices as new scientific discoveries were the practice but William, who had on the new Medical Register, which purchased a small estate where the evolution of today’s medical were high, including ingredients for made. Advances in chemistry, often been ill from the strain of the defines today’s medical profession. he set himself up as a gentleman. profession. They deserve to be William’s medicines, and his income anatomy and medicines made it practice and rides in foul weather, Edward registered promptly, but But the years had passed. Edward remembered. n fell so low that he could not even important for Edward to study in suddenly died aged fifty-eight. for some reason Benjamin did not, died in 1878 at the age of seventy afford a new overcoat to keep him London for much longer than his Edward therefore had to run the perhaps reflecting his earlier lack two, leaving his property to his The Coalbrookdale Doctors: a family practice in warm on horseback when visiting father had done. practice on his own and support his of commitment. This may explain sister Betsy and various bequests Shropshire, by Richard Moore is published by his patients. Yet he and Elizabeth mother, four sisters and a brother, his behaviour in a tragic event to the Salop Infirmary, widows in YouCaxton at £12.99. It is available at Pengwern moved in to a new home, Rose Edward’s absence during with Betsy keeping house. To which provoked public censure in the Dale, his servants and former Books, Fish Street, Shrewsbury and other Hill, in what is now Darby Road. 1814 was a burden on his ailing share the burden of work Edward the coroner’s court. Benjamin had colleagues. There is a memorial bookshops, or from the author (01743 362731). William had been an apprentice father, especially as the practice employed an assistant until his but had also studied in London for was becoming busier and times younger brother Benjamin decided six months, thereby joining a trend were hard. Then, in 1815, an Act of that he too would be a doctor and Coalbrookdale upper works, c 1890's. that would develop into a five-year Parliament was passed requiring joined his brother as apprentice. Shropshire Archives ref. PH/C/31/2/42 curriculum of study in the coming all apprentices to be examined at By now it was the 1830s, and decades. Apothecaries’ Hall for a licence to education for medical practice was practise, which William regarded much more demanding, requiring William’s practice was busy, for as a mere formality. But Edward two years of study, including as well as his own patients he was realised that a proper qualification time in hospitals and out-patient Medical Officer to the poor house, and following the new trend for apothecary-surgeons to look after women in childbirth, he began to undertake this demanding work. He and Elizabeth had eight children, of whom one died in infancy and two in their teens. None of the other five married or had children, but two of them followed their father into the business, which continued until

Right: a selection of the Edwards' correspondence. Shropshire Archives ref. 1987/56/2-32

4 Salopian Recorder . Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Winter/Spring 2016 . Number 84 . Salopian Recorder 5 An unpromising beginning Narrowing the field On one occasion I purchased a pair of World The next step was to locate any soldiers above the War One field glasses at a flea market. All the seller rank of private who served in the 8th. Jessica Martin, could tell me was that these had belonged to his the curator of the Hampshire Regimental Museum, grandfather, who had the surname Williams (not a helped me to locate two possible soldiers, and I was very promising start for research!). He had served in able to draw up the table below. World War One and his father (the great grandfather of the seller) was either a Harry or Henry. He also Further research on the 1911 census to determine remembered a large photograph at his grandfather’s if either had a father named Harry or Henry proved house taken in Africa — possibly during the Anglo that the owner of the field glasses must have been Boer War. Corporal Dudley Richard Williams. He had a father Harry Dudley Williams who was born in 1855 in So I began my research. The field glasses themselves Alverstoke, Hampshire, whose occupation was are inscribed with an army symbol and dated 1896, headmaster. Census records also show our Dudley with lenses marked L. Casella, London. The case was Richard Williams having been born in the June quarter Feature made by Picard, Petot and Lienard, and is marked in 1893 at Ryde, IoW. After the war he married Linda B Annual lecture several places ‘8 HANTS’. This refers to the 8th (Isle of Collins in Gloucester in 1928, and he died 19th March Wight Rifles, Princess Beatrice’s) Battalion, Territorial 1971 in Surrey. Knowing the story of the movements Graham Bradbury on ‘Military Conflicts through Force. From the quality of the field glasses they of Corporal Williams suggested that his grandson’s Graham Bradbury Artefacts, Letters, Postcards and Family History’ must have belonged to a ‘Rifleman’ above the rank reference to the picture taken in Africa is fairly of Private, which narrows the field. There was not certainly from World War One Egypt (after 03.12.1915), an 8th Battalion in the Boer War, but World War One not the Anglo Boer War. Introduced by Ruth Campbell Regimental records (available online) show that an 8th This year’s Annual Lecture was full of interesting Battalion served as follows:- Tracing the family stories of the soldiers behind the various military Graham Bradbury told us more There are obvious sources of information for the artefacts collected by Graham. He provided us with a about one example of his research: 04.08.1914 — stationed at Newport, Isle of Wight (IoW), and family historian such as Find My Past and Military large display of medals and other items, such as snuff then joined the 163rd Division of the 54th Division and moved Museums, and I have found the Ancestry Public boxes, postcards, letters and pay books. Each item It always amazes me why any to Bury St. Edmunds and then Watford. Members Tree very useful in contacting living relatives. was accompanied by information about the men who family would have little interest Items often follow one side of a family tree and had won the medals and owned the items. As well as in their own family history and 30.07.1915 — mobilised for war and embarked for Gallipoli are then lost to the other branches. Reuniting the original items, there were some interesting artefacts historical heirlooms in their from Liverpool aboard the Aquitania. items I have found with the family and exchanging which were made later in order to commemorate a possession. If there are no relatives I information, such as photographs, is a rewarding part battle or other event. Graham used family trees and can understand the circumstances, 09.08.1915 — landed at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli) and engaged in of my research, often replacing lost family memories. service records from the internet in order to find out but to sell items, or throw them in the skip, loses their various actions. Do I have any special research message? Yes! It is, about the soldiers named on the medals. Newspaper historical context. One of my hobbies is going round please label all existing photographs! n articles and regimental records are also helpful in junk shops and antique markets looking for items 03.12.1915 — evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt due to showing where various battalions served. Making relating to military history and then researching their heavy losses from combat, disease and severe weather. contact with members of a soldier’s family enabled him ‘back-story’. to acquire a photograph and add more detail about 31.10.1918 — ended the war in Palestine, near Beirut. the men who had won the medals and their lives in the forces. 'Having done the research, Graham then Above left: A selection of World War One Right: The medical index documents the information he has found and shares ephemera held within the collections of card for Corporal Dudley this with the families concerned. Graham introduced us Shropshire Regimental Museum and Shropshire Richard Williams to websites useful for finding the history behind medals Archives. and awards and other military objects and artefacts. Below: A table to compare There are websites for researching The Napoleonic War, Left: The World War One field Glasses, purchased the two soldiers identified 1803 – 1815, including one listing the names of the men by Graham at a flea market, that provided the as possible owners of the who served at the Battle of Trafalgar 1805. inspiration for research. field glasses.

After this talk I shall be seeking out obscure boxes at sales and will make more effort to write up and file my Name Rank Number Company On Aquitania Fate DoD died/buried Born or lived at Comments own research in such a well presented manner. Williams, A.J Cpl/Sgt 408/330025 A Yes Medically unfit / / Ryde IoW Discharged 02/08/1917, Silver War badge Williams, D.R Cpl 330274 / 3 Wounded / / Ryde IoW Mentioned in Dispatches

6 Salopian Recorder . Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Winter/Spring 2016 . Number 84 . Salopian Recorder 7 Prize crossword with Across 1. ‘The Colossus of Roads’ - now located in ‘Painting a historical theme Shropshire! (7) 8. A support for cooking in an open fire (7) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9. Only birds used to do it, now people do too! (7) 10. What 1 across used to do to rivers (7) the Forth 8 11. A leader in a Presbyterian church (5) 9 13. An old word for farming (9) 15. Controversial poet, 1788 – 1824 (4,5) 10 Bridge…’ 18. First name of one of Napoleon’s sisters (5) 11 12 21. What the infant does in Shakespeare’s Seven Andrew Pattison recently 13 14 Ages of Man (7) caught up with Samantha 22. The theme of this crossword! (7) 23. One of four ancient basic substances (7) Mager, senior archivist, to 15 16 17 24. Infection in these facial spaces might once have learn more about her work. been fatal (7) 18 19 20

21 Down

amantha (universally known at the Archives as Half way there... 22 1. A tax to support the church (5) Sal) gained a history degree, after which she did a Detailed cataloguing of the collections is usually 2. A landowner in the country that 1 across came Spostgraduate course to become an archivist. She done by volunteers, whom Sal helps to oversee. She 23 from (5) moved to Shropshire 22 years ago. The main change is particularly pleased that the 40,000 items in the 24 3. 1 across designed churches for these far-flung since then has been the computerisation of the photograph collection are almost all catalogued now, islands (5,8) records, and Sal has enjoyed building up a database but overall only about 50% of the Archive collections 4. A well-known dynasty of Shropshire ironmasters over the past 17 years which now contains over half are catalogued. One source of volunteers is those Please send your solutions to (6) a million items. She is always trying to find ways to who have made the deposit, if they are willing. It [email protected]. If you want 5. Britain’s best-loved naval hero (7,6) enable users to search the database more efficiently, takes time to train them, but since they may be an electronic copy please send 6. Mediaeval houses were like this in winter (6) and helps to train both the staff and the public in its already familiar with the collection this may add to the to the same email address. The 7. Most historical battles lasted just this long (3,3) use. She finds it frustrating that a combination of lack value of their work. first correct one pulled ‘out of 12. An old-fashioned floor covering (4) of time and money means that it is always less good the hat’ on January 31st will win a 14. ––––, poles or perches (4) than she would like, and it is also challenging to keep The challenge of data copy of Tony Carr’s Shrewsbury, 15. The –––––– proletariat (Karl Marx) (6) up with constantly evolving technology. Sal’s other main role is to do with data protection. a Pictorial History, which 16. His house and mansion are two beautiful Some collections hold potentially sensitive personal contains a wonderful selection of Shrewsbury buildings (6) Accessions information, but the service may have an obligation photographs from the Archives. 17. Tom Paine wrote a lot about these (6) Another of Sal’s roles is dealing with new accessions. to release the information under the Freedom of 19. Metal shackles (5) The Archives service is offered 100-150 new ‘collections’ Information Act. “This can be hugely challenging,” 20. A bottomless pit (5) a year. These can range from single items (for Sal explained, “and the complexity of legislation also example someone recently donated an 1835 letter by has to be handled very sensitively. We have a moral A First World War Box Prime Minister Robert Peel found in a shed) to large and ethical duty to make sure that we produce the The Shropshire Remembers a letter from the trenches, to tell about the First World collections. More unusual collections received lately information correctly, as this can have a significant project has produced an photographs, posters and War, the project would love to include records from the Silhouette corset factory impact on people’s lives.” She can get help from the artefact box on a World a hand knitted balaclava. hear from you. You can ‘add and a radio equipment company. It may be difficult Information Officer at the Shirehall, and also from the War One theme for primary There are photographs of your story’ on the Shropshire schools in Shropshire. The two soldiers, one survived Remembers website to decide what to accept, bearing in mind the limited National Archives and the Information Commissioner, box includes a variety of the war and the other did not. shropshireremembers.org.uk storage that we have. Often she has to err on the side but ultimately the decision on what to release and items which can help children The images of nurses are of or contact Alison Mussell of acceptance, since it is difficult to predict what may how to do it is down to Sal, in consultation with her explore what life was like two sisters from Shrewsbury at Shropshire Archives, become useful for future researchers. Having received colleagues. during the First Word War. with contrasting stories. One [email protected] the donation, she then has to record in general nursed at Stokesay Court, The artefacts and documents one of several convalescent terms what is in it and box it up securely. Before the I came away from talking to Sal with a new have been chosen to reflect hospitals in Shropshire, the recent staff cuts, she used to be assisted by another appreciation of the enormous importance of the work life in the trenches and on other went to Serbia where part-time archivist and an assistant, but now has to that she and her colleagues do, and wondered how the home front. Among the she was caught behind do all the work herself, in addition to all her other she can possibly fit it all into three days a week! objects included are scaled enemy lines. The box will be n down uniforms for a soldier available for loan through responsibilities. However, she does enjoy working and nurse, replica food, (the the School Library Service. with the original material, and is grateful for the on- bar of chocolate is cardboard!), If you have items and a story going generosity of donors.

8 Salopian Recorder . Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Winter/Spring 2016 . Number 84 . Salopian Recorder 9 We finished our walk at Lily’s friendsofshropshirearchvies.org From the Garden Tea Rooms where we when the events are finalised, enjoyed tea and delicious scones in and circulated with the spring Chair a delightful riverside setting. newsletter.

Our annual lecture this October One of the ways in which the was a fascinating introduction by Friends help Shropshire Archives Jill Ming Graham Bradbury into the lives is providing funds to enable them of service personnel revealed to purchase documents that come through artefacts he has collected up for auction from time to time. Planning any outdoor event in (see separate article). As well as We recently donated over £300 Britain is a risky business as far as curating an interesting collection in a successful bid for documents the weather is concerned, however of military memorabilia including relating to the Wood family of we threw caution to the winds and medals, letters and photographs, Henley Hall, Bitterley, which organised a guided walk around Graham has researched the history included some estate records, News parts of Shrewsbury led by Blue of the people behind these objects photographs, and quarter The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at Park Hall Camp, 1915. and, in some cases, been able to sessions papers. These occasional Badge guide Dorothy Nicolle in World War I Shropshire VCH Shropshire archives ref. 6005/SHYTA/0423 July — and the sun shone. The contact their descendants. His work purchases help to supplement the Mary McKenzie projects theme of the walk was the River demonstrates how a great deal of Archives’ collections and make The launch of the new Shropshire more memorable, Archives West Severn and its role in the history of information can be gleaned from a these records available to a wider Work on the World War One Victoria County History took Midlands. Following a project to Shrewsbury, exploring its bridges, single object, not to mention some audience, and it is very rewarding commemoration projects place on Saturday 31 October in review our aims and function, quays and some of the buildings unusual stories. As well as enjoying to bring some of Shropshire’s continues. The fantastically Shrewsbury. A fantastic turnout supported by the National Archives and features along its banks. Graham’s engaging talk, it was a records back to the county. recreated trenches at Park Hall of almost 200 people showed and regional archives services, Dorothy has an encyclopaedic privilege to be able to examine were officially opened on 7 the depth of support for the we are now planning for a formal knowledge of Shrewsbury and some of his artefacts at first hand. We still have two vacancies September with significant media project. Funds are now being launch in 2016. We hope the new took us from St Mary’s Water Lane on our committee, so I’ll repeat coverage, including a feature on actively sought to ensure that the organisation will support improved downstream to the Welsh Bridge Planning of our activities for my invitation to you to consider BBC Midlands Today. Planning is work can start in earnest, with a regional collaboration which is and Quantum Leap, stopping 2016 is well under way and will joining our team to help plan our now also underway for further planned first project to complete essential in the current difficult frequently to tell a story and point include visits to Acton Round events and activities. We meet World War One commemoration the history of Wem. An event to financial situation faced by all out places of interest. The pace Hall, Old Oswestry, and Weston four times a year; do email me activity from 2017. In autumn 2018 introduce the project is arranged archive services. quickened towards the end of the Park. Details and a booking form ([email protected]) the project will culminate in a for the afternoon of Saturday walk as we got our ‘tea legs’ on. will be posted on our website if you would like to help. n large scale commemoration of 27 February 2016 at Shropshire Staff changes the 100th anniversary of Wilfred Archives. For further details see We welcomed Brenna Friends taking in the scenery at Owen’s death at the age of 25 in the enclosed flyer or contact info@ Davies-Sheil as our new Quantum Leap during the guided November 1918, just 7 days before victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk. If apprentice in September. tour with Dorothy Nicolle. Sponsorship of the the armistice. you are interested in supporting Brenna has settled in very Salopian Recorder the effort further details are at well as an active member Work experience and victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/ of the team, and has We are very grateful to Arrol and student placements counties/shropshire. taken on and developed Snell, Architects of Shrewsbury, We have been able to offer a our social media presence, as those who have helped towards the number of placements over the Archives of you who ‘like’ us on Facebook cost of this issue. If you know of summer to Work Experience school The Regional Archive body of and ‘follow’ us on Twitter will have anybody who might be interested students, unemployed people which I am Chair has changed its noticed. We are very grateful to in sponsoring future issues, do let seeking work experience, and a name from the West Midlands Brenna for helping to bring us us know. We are very happy to post graduate student from the Regional Archive Forum to the more up to date with the latest include a small acknowledgment University of West Virginia in the rather snappier, and hopefully technology. n of this sponsorship. US. The volunteers have worked on a range of cataloguing, digitisation Please send any comments to: and conservation projects, Mary McKenzie, Team Leader, Archives, Shropshire Archives, including parish collections, the Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ records of Shrewsbury Borough, tel: 0345 6789096 and our prints and drawings email: [email protected] collection. We are grateful for their website: www.shropshirearchives.org.uk support.

10 Salopian Recorder . Number 84 . Winter/Spring 2016 Winter/Spring 2016 . Number 84 . Salopian Recorder 11