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 "Marvel of the Month".
2023 Marvels
For Black History Month in October, Surrey History Centre honours the lives and achievements over the centuries of Black women with Surrey connections.
Our September Marvel of the Month shared interesting extracts from transcripts of pre-1700 Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) wills relating to Surrey which can be searched in our catalogue.
In August, for South Asian History Month, we explored the experiences of refugees fleeing Idi Amin's regime in 1972 and the many volunteers who helped them.
For our July Marvel of the month, excavations by the Surrey County Archaeological Unit revealed significant evidence for the 9th to 12th century development of Godalming. (Please note, this article includes images of skeletons).
Our June Marvel of the Month explored the difficult relationship between 'the most unhappy man in the world' and the controversial architect he commissioned to transform his Surrey estate.
Our May Marvel of the Month recalled the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with photographs and reminiscences of a Surrey street party.
Our April Marvel of the Month revealed some delightful illustrations of Dorking, painted in the 1840s and 1850s by unknown artist, H White.
For Women's History Month in March, we celebrated the long life of a radical writer and hostess through the recollections of the Farrer family of Abinger Hall whose papers are held at Surrey History Centre.
Our February Marvel of the Month explored two fascinating and personal albums compiled by a Reigate family in the early 20th century.
2022 Marvels
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November
October
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2021 Marvels
December
November
October
September
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July
June
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2020 Marvels
December
November
October
September
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July
June
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2019 Marvels
December
November
October
September
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July
June
May
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2018 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
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2017 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
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2016 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
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2015 Marvels
December
November
October
September
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July
June
May
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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
- Loseley Christmas and New Year gifts
- Wonderful winter weather in Surrey in 1927
- Tracings in archive collections
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