Celebrating our collections dating from 780AD to the present day
By Lois Bodie, Archives Assistant You can learn a great deal about a place and its history by focusing on one particular point and charting its change. For me, I have grown increasingly interested in the history of St Martin’s Street in Chichester, only a minute or two by foot from the medieval Market Cross.…
Continue reading ➞ In the Heart of Chichester: A Glimpse into the History of St Martin’s Street
By Louise Conway, Archives Assistant In this first part of a two part blog series we will be exploring the history of Shoreham's Bungalow Town. To begin we will look at Shoreham pre Bungalow Town and the moving onto the early days of the site, the bungalows themselves and what life was like. This blog…
By Victoria Evans, Searchroom Archivist IIn the first part, I delved into the all-important context behind the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and what other related treasures can be found in our archive. If you didn’t catch it you can read it here. In this second and final part, I will be sharing the more personal…
Continue reading ➞ The Auxiliary Territorial Service in West Sussex – Part Two
By Victoria Evans, Searchroom Archivist As the archivist in charge of our social media at WSRO, I am always trawling through documents and photographs to share with our following. This led me to stumble across a comprehensive photographic collection (PH 28906-29041) of a woman’s service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). Her name was (Kathleen)…
Continue reading ➞ The Auxiliary Territorial Service in West Sussex – Part One
By Mia Curtis-Mays, Archives Assistant When the Second World War was declared, the protection of the children in targeted city areas, such as London and Portsmouth, was put into action. My great-uncle was a Portsmouth evacuee. Although not evacuated to West Sussex, my Nan’s recollections of her brother being evacuated inspired me to look more…
Continue reading ➞ Escape to the Country: The rural education of evacuees in West Sussex
By Victoria Evans, Searchroom Archivist Please note that the following blog post includes content that some may find upsetting. This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a time to reflect on the atrocities committed and to remember those who were murdered. Within this blog post we…
Continue reading ➞ Holocaust Memorial Day – The Worthing Refugee Committee
By Alan Readman and Martin Hayes The Battle of Britain, fought mainly in the skies above Sussex and Kent, took place between July and October 1940 and this month marks its 80th anniversary. September 15th has been designated Battle of Britain Day to commemorate RAF Fighter Command’s decisive victory over the German Luftwaffe. Key events…
Continue reading ➞ West Sussex Airfields and the Battle of Britain 1940
Chosen by Holly Wright, member of staff These Ministry of Food recipe leaflets were produced during World War 2 to help the nation make the most of their food in spite of rationing, a necessary measure first enforced on 8th January 1940 as a result of the enemy bombing or blockading of the supply ships heading for…
Continue reading ➞ World War 2 Ministry of Food recipe leaflets (Add Mss 54,872)
West Sussex Record Office 