Every week, a wide assortment of archive documents and local studies material from a variety of sources passes through our doors to join the six miles of records in our strongrooms. Behind the scenes, we work closely with the records, diligently cataloguing, cleaning, conserving and packaging them so that they can be made available to the public. It's work that we thoroughly enjoy, and everyone here has a tale to tell: whether it's the story behind a favourite book, the background to an unusual collection, or how we repaired a very fragile document.
Each month, the Surrey Heritage teams showcase their own particular "Marvels of the Month".
Our April Marvel of the Month tells the story of Cecil Gordon Vokes whose engineering company played an important role in Surrey's 20th century industrial history.
Our March Marvel, for Women's History Month, delved into the complex marriage settlement of Augusta Ada Byron, better known as Ada Lovelace, the mathematician and computer pioneer.
Our February Marvel of the Month explored some valuable service records of the First World War.
Our December Marvel of the Month revealed some stunning 18th century panoramas from our collections.
Our November Marvel of the Month marked the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Our October Marvel of the Month celebrated the histories of black communities and individuals who have made their home in Surrey.
For our September Marvel of the Month, our March of the Women team told the story behind the bombing of David Lloyd George's house in 1913.
Our August Marvel of the Month described the discovery of Neolithic Peterborough Ware by Surrey County Archaeological Unit (SCAU) during excavations at a site near Staines.
For our July Marvel, to mark the centenary year of the death of Sir Hubert Parry, the Lushington family's friendship with the great British composer was revealed in family papers held at Surrey History Centre.
Our June Marvel told the story behind two First World War photographs from the Surrey Regiment collections.
Our May Marvel revealed the restoration of Sir William More's journal from the Loseley Manuscripts.
Our April Marvel explored the growing popularity of cycling in the county since the 1870s.
Our March Marvel revealed extraordinary First World War training notes and hand-drawn plan of Deepcut and Blackdown Camps.
Our February Marvel examined one of the most infamous icons of Victorian Britain.
2017 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2016 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2015 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2014 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
- Broadwood customers and destinations
- Old cottages and farmhouses in Surrey
- Heavy losses to the 1st Queen's, 1914
July
June
- Ernest James 'Gentleman Jim' Langley (7 February 1929 – 9 December 2007)
- Celebrating Volunteers' Week
May
April
March
- White and Sons of Dorking: 80 years of auction records
- 'Perdita': the extraordinary life of author and actress Mary Robinson
February
2013 marvels
December
November
- The grand opening of County Hall, Kingston, 13 November 1893
- Farnham in the Civil War, November 1643
- Seeing the light: protection from light damage
October
September
August
- More Place, Betchworth: an 1827 nursery order
- A brief history of papermaking and paper conservation
- Charles Thomas Cracklow (1763-1826)
July
- George Sturt (1863-1927)
- 'Thumping plum puddings': the diaries of Elizabeth Davis of Gosden House, Shalford
- Bookbinding techniques
June
- Ockenden International: the remarkable story of a Surrey refugee charity
- Jean Carré and wealden glass
- Pins, clips and staples: damaging fasteners in archive collections
May
April
March
February
- Your Paintings and the Lewis Carroll connection
- The history and conservation of seals
- Henry Goulburn's letters to his daughter
January
2012 marvels
December
November
- Moor Park, Farnham
- The Queens Royal West Surreys and the Boer War
- Behind the scenes: the conservation studio
October
September
August
- The Duke of York marches on London, September 1450
- The development of iron gall ink
- Town and village guides
July