In 1921 Ireland was engulfed in the War of Independence and then the Irish Civil War. So the 1921 census was postponed. On April 18th 1926 the first census of the 26 counties of the Irish Free state was carried out. Now 100 years later the records have been digitised and transcribed and will be available free on the National Archives of Ireland website from April 18th.
Medieval Gold and Turquoise Ring Nantwich Museum has the opportunity to acquire this beautiful ring discovered by members of the Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society in the reed bed field near the mere in the grounds of Combermere Abbey. The find is a magnificent ring with inset turquoise stone which, apart from being an uncommon gem for this age of ring, is larger than other examples.
Post-Medieval Gold Posy Ring Discovered in Audlem, the exterior of this ring has been decorated with flowers, including a flower head, a stalk with long thin leaves, all emanating from a pair of rounded leaves embedded in a horseshoe shaped bed. The interior of the band is inscribed, reading “Not value but vertue”.
Pictured is the Medieval Gold and Turquoise ring.
Appeal for Donations
These lovely rings, both discovered locally, would enhance the Museum’s “Treasures of Nantwich” collection (displayed in our ‘treasure chest’ for all to see), which has been developed over the years and includes Roman, Saxon, Medieval and Tudor artefacts. Museum Manager Kate Dobson said “We hope we can find the money to ensure that these beautiful rings can be retained and displayed in Nantwich for the public to enjoy”. To purchase these rings we will need to raise about £2700. If you can help with a donation, no matter how small, this will be hugely appreciated. Donations can be made through the Museum’s website here.
Newsletter subscribers will already be aware that, over the past few months, we’ve been asking for your support deciding which archive Gems will appear on our new website. But did you also know that Gems will include film clips provided by the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University? Below is a link to a survey featuring clips from three films of Sandbach and we’d like you to decide which should be selected for Gems. Please help us with your thoughts and reflections upon the people, places and events shown in the films.
To finish the 2023/24 season, members of the Sandbach History Society, visited Acton Church for a very interesting visit and Tea at the Tower. A great end to a year of talks.
The end of this major relocation project is now in sight. The date of the reopening is Wednesday 22nd May, 2024. With the expectation of a very busy first few weeks – maybe even months! – the Archives strongly recommend booking in advance of your visit. The easiest way to do this is via e-mail at stoke.archives@stoke.gov.uk, but you can also call and leavea message on 01782 238420. We’ll then get back to you with our availability and get you booked in.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you into our brand new Reading Room at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery – not too long now!
The Record Office will now close to research visitors on Thursday 25 July, not 27 June as originally planned. There has been a small delay in getting the sites ready for our contractor to start work. We will be updating our website but wanted to let you know so that you can pass the message on via your networks.
All online services are unaffected, and we will continue to respond to research and digitisation requests. Please let me know if you or your members have any questions.
The 180th anniversary of Crewe Works is coming up with exhibitions at Crewe Heritage Centre 1st July till 10th September at weekends and Bank Holidays. The theme is “How locomotives were a catalyst for change in Crewe”. For more information go to the Crewe Town Council website
Sifta Table Salt was manufactured at the Ettiley Heath factory of Palmer Mann and Co. from 1919 until 1971 and Sifta Sam was the logo of the company. We have been donated two copies of the company’s staff magazine ‘Brine Works’ from 1938 and 1952. As well as company information the former provides some information about how the people in France viewed the inevitability of war with Germany a few weeks before the Munich agreement (“Peace in our time”) and the latter is a personal tribute to the founder of the company, John Mann, who had just died.
Great news! Cheshire Archives and Local Studies have announced their application for funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the new archives centres at Crewe and Chester has been successful. The projects are now subject to planning approval being granted by Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester Councils respectively. If these formalities are cleared satisfactorily, the next steps will be more detailed discussions between CALS and the Society regarding the collections and future working relationships at the new locations. For more information click on the link below for the press release.
