Archive recognised for work to preserve historic rarities

Letters from one of the most famous – or infamous – characters in the country’s history are housed in Sheffield’s archives, which has been given national recognition for their work to preserve these historic artefacts and make them accessible for generations to come.

The archive has become the first in Yorkshire to be awarded the status of “Accredited Archive Service” by The National Archives, one of only 44 nationwide to be similarly recognised.

One such example of the rarities held in the archive include the private letters of Mary Queen of Scots when she was locked up by her cousin Elizabeth I in Tudor times after she abdicated the Scottish throne and fled to England in 1568.

She was considered such a threat to the English throne that she was held prisoner for 19 years until her execution in 1587.

However, it is a little known fact that much of her imprisonment was spent in Sheffield at Manor Lodge under the care of George Talbot, sixth Earl of Shrewsbury.

And two of Mary Queen of Scots' letters written during her imprisonment in Sheffield are housed at Sheffield Archives on Shoreham Street.

More than six kilometres of archives are carefully stacked inside, with thousands of documents available on online through an ongoing programme of conservation and digitisation.

Other exhibits include records from the Sheffield blitz in World War II which tell the incredible story of the city’s bomb damage and how it affected everyday life. Records of the city’s former workhouses are also on display which show what life was like for those who fell on hard times, along with archives from the city’s Victorian police force including mug shots of the city’s most well- known ne'er-do-wells.