Sharing the everyday things we treasure

This unusual and unique object was a retirement present for Ivor Farr.  It is a cigarette dispenser made by his colleagues at English Electric Co., Stafford.

On the 19th December 1890 a deed of gift "of a piece of land in the Parish of Trentham" was made by the Duke of Sutherland to the trustees of Longton Cottage Hospital.

This handstitched bookmark, with its message ‘May we meet in heaven’ took on a particularly poignant meaning in hindsight.

Presentation book by the parishioners of Burton St Modwen to Revd Herbert Bentley Freeman and Mrs Freeman, on his leaving the parish and rural deanery in 1924, to become Canon Residentiary of Bristol Cathedral.

This small glass bottle has a handwritten label which reads "Rum given to earl St. Vincent by  the Portugese Government after the Battle of Cape St. Vincent 14 February 1797"

This item is often known as a Sweetheart Pincushion. These were often made by wounded soldiers as they recovered in hospital and were sent home to wives, mothers and loved ones as a token of affection.

Sheila's father, Ernest, was a cabinet maker. He made her a whole range of toys out of wood, probably off-cuts and spare pieces from his workshop

This red silk cap is elaborately decorated with gold and silver thread work. It dates from the 1630s and belonged to King Charles I.

This farewell card was made by a group of Latvian students in 1946 for a local lady called Kathleen Walton.

This wool winder is hand made. Mr Platt of Codsall Wood made it from mahogany for his wife to use, around the turn of the 20th century.

These envelopes were donated by a member of the Chinese community in Stafford after a local Chinese New Year event in 2018.