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 October Marvel, for Black History Month, reveals the inspiring story of an American inventor and entrepreneur who played an important part in the British war effort in Surrey.
For our September Marvel of the Month, letters of Lady Wallis held in our archives gave a valuable insight into the life and mind of her husband, inventor Sir Barnes Wallis.
For our August Marvel of the Month, Surrey County Archaeological Unit's excavations at North Park Farm Quarry, Bletchingley, revealed the development of a landscape through 10 millennia.
Our July Marvel of the Month featured a fascinating album compiled by Surrey County Council employee, Winifred Hutchings, recording bomb damage to County Hall during the Second World War.
For our June Marvel of the Month, to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, records held at Surrey History Centre told the story of Surrey's role in the Normandy Landings.
Our May Marvel of the Month revealed Vernon Lushington's admiration for the work of the great American poet, Walt Whitman.
Our April Marvel of the Month told 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.
2018 Marvels
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
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