Friends of Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service (FOSSA)

Patron: Richard Dyott Esq.

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The Friends of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service, (registered charity no 1101381) was founded in 2003 with the aim of bringing together the many different kinds of users of the Archive Service.

The Society offers a warm welcome to family, local and national historians as well as to those of us who simply want to find out more about the county's past. Our members are individuals or organisations who appreciate the role of the Archive Service in preserving our history, have benefited from its facilities and wish to support its work in the future.

The Aims of FoSSA

• to support the work of the Archive Service at all its service points
• help to develop and promote the education of the public through the use of archives

Membership

Joining FoSSA enables you to:

• Receive invitations to and reduced rates for a range of social events and visits
• Receive a twice-yearly Friends' Newsletter
• Take up opportunities for voluntary work within the Archive Service
• Become involved in helping to preserve our archival heritage for present and future generations
• Receive priority booking for Archive Service events

For further details about how to become a member contact:
Malcolm Price, Treasurer, 23 The Flashes, Gnosall, Stafford ST20 0HL
Or download an application form to print off and send back to the address above. To make the most of your donations please complete the Gift Aid Declaration and return it to the same address.

Members of the Current Committee

Forthcoming Events

For tickets for all events listed below please apply to The Events Secretary, Colton House, Colton, RUGELEY  WS15 3LL, enclosing your cheque and a stamped addressed envelope.

Visit to The Bishop's Palace Lichfield , Home of Anna Seward the 'Swan of Lichfield'  with Marion Roberts

Saturday 16  August 2008 at 2.00pm

Please note that all available tickets for this event have now been sold.

The Palace was built 1687/8 by Edward Pierce, one of Wren's masons, and in the 19th Century projecting wings were built sympathetically on either side of the seven bays of the original facade. Now the Cathedral School it was the home of Anna Seward for over 40 years until her death in 1809, having been leased by her father Revd Thomas Seward in 1757 from the Bishop who preferred to live at Eccleshall. Anna was one of Britain's most admired poets in the late 18th Century; she corresponded with many well known literary and scientific men and women. Marion Roberts will describe the house and garden in the 18th Century and the cultured life that Anna lived there. We will tour the house and chapel and then visit the gardens with their remains of mediaeval fortifications.With light refreshments. The Bishop's Palace is in the Cathedral Close Lichfield

Cost : FoSSA members  £5.50,  non-members  £7.00

Recent Acquisitions