Front cover of the book 'Tree Hunting. 1,000 Trees to Find in Britain and Ireland's Towns and Cities' by Paul Wood. It features a hand drawn map of Edinburgh, with captions such as 'New Town' and 'The Botanics'. The locations of several trees are indicated with numbers.

New in our #LocalStudies library: the ‘Dew’, ‘Blushing’ and ‘Seen it all’ are trees in Derby Arboretum which feature in Paul Wood’s concise and fascinating compendium on fabulous trees and where to find them.

#EYAWildlife #tree

Photograph of the book Puppets Through Lancashire sitting on the bookshelf in our local studies library.

Something different this week before World Puppetry Day tomorrow. 'Puppets through Lancashire' is a personal narrative of a travelling puppet show, published in 1936, capturing the journey and its many pit-stops including Wigan.

#wigan #localstudies #localhistory #puppets

The front cover of the book, which depicts an image of Buxton Crescent, inset with a colour painting of a Buxton street scene, above which is the book title in red and blue: Buxton. A People's History.

Our #LocalStudies library book 'Buxton. A People’s History' by Mike Langham looks at the personality of the town, and the people and events which shaped it. Fascinating for those interested in the heritage, history and conservation of Buxton. Buy a copy in our bookshop for only £1.50.
#LocalHistory

Front cover of the book ‘Ting Tangs, Trebles and Tenors’ by Glyn Holdgate. It features a colourful drawing of church bells .

For upwards of 5 centuries church bells have marked major events locally and nationally. ‘Ting Tangs, Trebles and Tenors’ investigates the history of 36 church belfries: a superb guide to an often overlooked topic. Find it in our #LocalStudies or buy a copy for £3.00 in our bookshop.

#LocalHistory

The cover of the book 'A traveller in time' by Alison Uttley. The cover has bronze lettering and embossed flower details. There is a pocket watch and locket drawn in yellow.

An illustration from inside the book, which shows an ink sketch of the village mentioned in the book.

On #WorldBookDay we celebrate local author Alison Uttley. Born 1884 in Cromford she wrote many children’s books including her novel 'A traveller in time' about Mary Queen of Scots. This modern edition is beautifully illustrated. A recommended read for everyone.
#LocalStudies

We expect nothing less. Congrats @lrylandepton.bsky.social The next #partnershippublication from @vch-home.bsky.social & @hobnobpress.bsky.social is launched 12th March - Chippenham Our History, by John Chandler.

#localhistory #localstudies #history #historians #ExploreYourArchives

Front cover of the publication 'Strutt Street Belper – ‘The First Fifty Years’ by Belper u3a Local History Group 3. It features a black and white photograph of Strutt Street ca. 1905.

New in our #LocalStudies library, 'Strutt Street Belper – ‘The First Fifty Years’ is a fascinating study of street development from the first proposal of a thoroughfare in 1877, to the interconnected history of its residents and businesses up until 1939.

#EYAConnections #LocalHistory

A brightly coloured front cover dissected diagonally bottom left to top right with the background colours of blue top left and red bottom right, over which is laid the title in orange and white "Heraldry For the Local Historian and Genealogist by Stephen Friar". In the centre of the front cover is a tableau illustrating a medieval battle scene with armoured knights on horseback carrying numerous heraldic banners, very brightly coloured.

Our #LocalStudies book 'Heraldry for the Local Historian & Genealogist' is a favourite read of our Archives Assistant Amanda. A guide to the mysteries of heraldry’s language, interpreting heraldry on buildings, street furniture, household items, beautifully illustrated.
#NationalYearOfReading

Two elderly women sit facing each other chatting. One woman leans on her walking stick. She wears a long gingham apron and a knitted shawl around her shoulders. Her hair is in a bun. They sit by a market stall while crowds of shoppers mingle around them.

These two women have found the time to sit and talk even amongst the hustle and bustle of the Cockpit Hill Market in Derby in 1954. Very apt for #TimeToTalkDay when we are encouraged to have open conversations with friends and family about mental health.
#LocalStudies #1950s

Front cover of the book 'Ethel' by Helen Mort. On a pale green background is a black and white photo of a woman with short curly hair, wearing a woolly hat.

New in our #LocalStudies library, ‘Ethel’ explores the life of Ethel Haythornwaite, a countryside pioneer from Sheffield. Her tireless campaigning contributed towards the founding of the Peak District National Park and the creation of the first green belt in the UK.

A corner of a room with bookshelves, full of brightly coloured books filling the shelves.

If you need a nice backdrop for your #LibraryShelfieDay post then feel free to drop in and use one of ours. We have lots of bookshelves to choose from!
#LocalStudies #LocalHistory

The Journals of Matthew Tomlinson, held in the Local Studies Library at Wakefield, are a fascinating insight into ordinary life in the 19th century
#LocalStudies #Tomlinson

A hardback book in light blue with bold black title lettering in capitals reading' Derbyshire and the Peak District Quiz Book'. Below the title is a hand drawn black and white image of the Peak National Park symbol, a mill stone balanced on a stone plinth.

Test your knowledge of the villages, dales, people and customs of Derbyshire and the Peak District in 'Derbyshire and the Peak District Quiz Book', which has 583 questions and answers and is packed with facts, figures and trivia to entertain and delight. Now in our #LocalStudies library.

Front cover of the book 'The Power of the Badge. How a football club created trust in the community', by Bob Littlewood. It features various photographs of male and female football players, on a dark blue background.

Have you ever wondered how the game of football affects the social and economic aspects of its local area? ‘The Power of the Badge’ presents a frank historical account of Chesterfield FC and its associated Community Trust. Now in our #LocalStudies library.

#football

An office with rows of wooden desks each with a large typewriter sitting on it. Each desk has a female secretary sitting at it typing. They are all smartly dressed in neat dresses or blouses and cardigans.

On #WorldTypingDay here are typists busy at work, in Stanton Ironworks typing office in the 1940s. That must have been a noisy place to work, with the click clacks of keys and the dings of those typewriter bells.
#LocalStudies #1940s

#OnePlaceWednesday. Image: Photo of an isolated stone-built church, with its tower to the right, and with a cloudy sky above and snow-covered ground all around. Two sets of human footprints can be seen running between the foreground and the narrow doorway into the church. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

Welcome to the first #OnePlaceWednesday of 2026! Tell us about your #OnePlaceStudy activities over the holiday season, and/or your OPS hopes, goals, plans or resolutions for the year ahead. General OPS news, views, links, pics and chat are also welcome, at any time of the day, with the hashtag.

Front cover of the book ‘The Master of these Marvels. George Stephenson and his Circle of Genius', by Robert F. Hartley. It features a full colour rendition of the oil painting 'The birthplace of the locomotive - Killingworth Colliery' by John Lindsay Lucas. In the top right is a black and white inset, the portrait of George Stephenson by Henry Perronet Briggs.

‘The Master of these Marvels’ is a new biography of George Stephenson, which presents a year by year account of the railway pioneer’s activities. It also shows how he garnered a circle of influential people to help progress mechanical engineering. Now in our #LocalStudies library.

Image showing page 28 and 29 of the article in the Derbyshire Life magazine entitled 'The Christmas Pudding King. Peter Seddon turns detective in search of Matthew Walker'. It features a photograph of a Christmas pudding on a dining table and a photo of the Christmas Pudding King himself astride a horse.

Did you know the “Christmas Pudding King”, Matthew Walker, came from Derbyshire? The business he started in 1899 in Heanor is reputedly the oldest Christmas pudding maker in the world. Find a copy of Derbyshire Life from December 2018 in our #LocalStudies library to find out more.

Full page black and white advert featuring a close-up photo of a coil rope. The headline reads: 'This is not a Christmas Tree'.

Front cover of Mine & Quarry Engineering, dated March, 1951.

This advert for a Locked Coil Rope featured in the March 1951 edition of Mine & Quarry Engineering. It also includes a fascinating insight into the draining levels of Wirksworth lead mines, in ‘The Soughs of Dove Gang’ by Nellie Kirkham. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#OnePlaceWednesday. Image: Photo of a view looking across a field being grazed by several sheep, to a lake with patches of reeds on its shores and more sheep pasture, plus trees and patches of woodland, beyond. Taken on a sunny day at the beginning of Winter, so the trees are almost all bare, and the lake reflects the blue colour of the sky above. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

Welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday, our day-long mid-week social media chat about the brilliant blend of #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory known as #OnePlaceStudies! Use the hashtag to share your OPS news and views, questions and suggestions, pics and resources, and general chat.

Colourful close-up image of the spines of a stack of books. They include titles such as 'Death on the Derwent', 'The West Hallam Heritage', 'Roman Derbyshire' and 'The Twelve Parts of Derbyshire'.

A few more gift suggestions from our #LocalStudies bookshop. Who wouldn't love to find one of these under the tree on Christmas Day!

Cover of the book ‘The First Four Minute Mile and Tom Hulatt of Tibshelf’ by Peter and Paul Stanley, with a Foreword by David Moorcroft. It features a black and white photograph of a man wearing a running vest and shorts, running along a grass track.

‘The First Four Minute Mile and Tom Hulatt of Tibshelf’ is a biography of the humble miner who came third in the famous 1954 running race in which Roger Bannister set a new world record. Find it in our #LocalStudies library or buy your own copy in our bookshop for only £3.00!

A bright colourful front cover showing a collage of hand drawn cartoon style images of local Derbyshire significance, such as Chatsworth House, other local buildings and images of local food. The title The Derbyshire Cook Book is prominently shown top centre of the cover.

Planning your Christmas menu and looking for inspiration? Look no further than our #LocalStudies library book The Derbyshire Cookbook. A celebration of Derbyshire food with over 40 recipes including the iconic Bakewell Pudding. You can even buy a copy in our bookshop for only £6.00!

Membership Benefits. Image: Front page of a copy of Destinations, journal of the Society for One-Place Studies. It has a photo of a chapel, and highlights some of the articles inside. • Quarterly journal Destinations • Monthly webinars by Zoom • Annual conference (online) • Member offers and discounts • Register your study / studies for free – each OPS gets a free profile page on our website • Be part of a supportive, worldwide community £10 per year; free for students under the age of 21. www.one-place-studies.org/join-us/ One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

As is now traditional at this time of year, we are pleased to announce our special Black Friday offer: One year’s membership of the the Society for #OnePlaceStudies, with all of its brilliant benefits, for the same bargain price that it has been ever since we launched – just £10! #OnePlaceWednesday

Photo of the view looking North across The Canal lake at Fawsley. On the other side of the water there are several Oak trees at the bottom of the gently rising grassy slope, on top of which, on the right, sits Fawsley St Mary's church with its tower, and two Yew trees in the churchyard. More trees can be seen along the skyline. The church, the trees and the blue sky above (with a few wispy white clouds) are all reflected in the still water of the lake. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

A warm #OnePlaceStudies welcome to another #OnePlaceWednesday! Have you been researching a place and/or its people and history? Do you have OPS-related news, pictures, blog posts or other resources or updates? Questions or general OPS chat? Do share, using the hashtag, at any time today!

Photograph of a large number of books on display.

With only a month to go till Christmas, why not pop in to our #LocalStudies bookshop to find that perfect gift for a history enthusiast…or even for yourself 😀
And if you can't come to Matlock, just get in touch and we'll email you a list of our stock.

#LocalHistory

Full colour photograph of a landscape of sweeping green hills, with large wind-blasted stones in the foreground.

‘Kinder Scout: Portrait of a Mountain’ is more than a pictorial guide to Derbyshire’s most famous mountain: it is a comprehensive account of its human and natural history. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library or even better, buy your own copy in our bookshop for only £3.00 while stocks last!

#OnePlaceWednesday. Image: Photo of a wintry countryside scene. In the foreground is a grassy field with a light covering of snow. At the bottom of the slope is a lake, with reedbeds and a few trees on its banks. Beyond there are more snowy fields, scattered trees, and a small area of woodland. Conditions are bright, with a blue sky. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

It’s #OnePlaceWednesday, and there may or may not be snow falling in my local #OnePlaceStudy today! Whatever the weather where you or your study place are located, use the hashtag to share your OPS news, links, questions, ideas, pictures and general chat, at any time during the day.

The cover of the book ‘Before we were trans, a new history of gender’ by Kit Heyam. A black and white photograph of a group of cross dressers or trans women, in Edwardian style clothing forms the book cover.

On #WorldKindnessDay and at the start of #TransgenderAwarenessWeek we’ve picked this book from our #LocalStudies shelves. ‘Before we were trans’ gives new insight into the rich history of gender – aspects largely ignored in the past. A fascinating and enjoyable read.

Dover One-Place Study. Image: A photo of the view looking along a sandy-coloured shingle beach, with the sea to the right. In the middle distance the beach curves round to the right, and many multi-storey hotels and/or apartment blocks can be seen overlooking the beach and the sea. Above those buildings is higher ground, with cliffs to the right and buildings, including a castle, on top. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

Ken Chapman has registered his #OnePlaceStudy of #Dover with us! Ken, who has built up an archive of material relating to Dover at home, is happy to help others with their research, and receive new information – you can contact him via his OPS profile page on our website. #OnePlaceWednesday