Marvels of the month

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".

For our June Marvel of the Month, to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, records held at Surrey History Centre tell the story of Surrey's role in the Normandy Landings.

On 6 June 1944, it was announced: "D-Day has come..."

Our May Marvel of the Month revealed Vernon Lushington's admiration for the work of the great American poet, Walt Whitman.

Walt Whitman in the Lushington archive

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.

Vokes Engineering Ltd of Henley Park, Normandy, Guildford

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.

Romance and red tape: the Lovelace marriage settlement of 1835

Our February Marvel of the Month explored some valuable service records of the First World War.

Nominal Roll of 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

Our December Marvel of the Month revealed some stunning 18th century panoramas from our collections.

The South West Prospect of Guildford in the county of Surrey

Our November Marvel of the Month marked the centenary of the end of the First World War.

After the Armistice – a Soldier's View

Our October Marvel of the Month celebrated the histories of black communities and individuals who have made their home in Surrey.

Black History Month

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.

Suffragettes in Surrey: Walton-on-the-Hill's Explosive Past

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.

Decorated Neolithic Bowl from Hengrove Farm, 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.