Anne Chinn
In July 1847 Anne Chinn wrote to Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1806-1861), the second Duchess of Sutherland, describing herself as ‘a young person of good family’ who had been ‘reduced by circumstances ...
Benjamin Robert Haydon
Benjamin Robert Haydon is one of the most famous historical painters of the Romantic age. Born in Plymouth in 1786 Haydon’s artistic works were based on Biblical and historical themes and featured many ...
Edward Price
A particularly poignant series of letters were sent to the Duke of Sutherland both directly and through his agent Thomas Jackson in December 1848. The letters came from a man named Edward Price and his ...
George Devey (1820-1886)
George Devey is perhaps a less well-known architect when he is considered alongside men like Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860). However, Devey was an influential architect of domestic buildings during the ...
John Martin
The personal papers of Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1806-1868), second Duchess of Sutherland, feature a number of letters from the artist John Martin (1789-1854). Throughout the early nineteenth ...
Katherine Bulkeley
Katherine Bulkeley, a widow with connections to Trentham and Cheadle in Staffordshire, sent a number of letters to George Granville Leveson-Gower (1786-1861), the second Duke of Sutherland, throughout ...
Letters From RCAF Officer, Nathan Crawford, 1944
Amongst the papers of Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1867-1955), the fourth Duchess of Sutherland are letters written to her during the Second World War by RCAF Squadron Leader, Nathan Crawford who ...
Life on the Sutherland Estates
The Sutherland family were extensive landowners with estates in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Sutherlandshire in the Scottish Highlands. Many people wrote to the family about life on the estates. Their ...
Local Lives & Local People: Misfortune & Money
Click on the images on the left to learn more about the people listed below:
Mary Brassington, Newcastle
Mary was a widow in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Read about her struggle to pay her rent.
Rachel ...
Local Lives & Local People: Patronage & Projects
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Simeon Shaw, Tunstall, 1835
A renowned Staffordshire author and teacher, Simeon wrote to the Duke of Sutherland asking for help ...
Local Lives, Local People: Staffordshire Life
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Sarah Wedgwood, Stafford, 1836
Sarah was a school teacher in Stafford. Read about her plans to sell her school and cottages.
John ...
Misfortune and Money in the Sutherland Papers
As one of the country’s wealthiest and most prestigious families, the Leveson-Gowers often received letters from people in desperate need asking for financial assistance for themselves and their families. ...
Patronage in the Sutherland Papers
The wealth and social status of the Leveson-Gower family meant that they were in a position to influence many professional appointments and increase the profile of local and national projects. Many people ...
Paying the Rent
The image above comes from a series of books called the Lightwood Cottage Rentals. It was kept in the same way as similar series for the Trentham Cottages, Trentham farms, Newcastle houses, South Staffordshire ...
Richard Glover
Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615) served as Deputy Lieutenant for Kent during the late sixteenth century. Following the Spanish Armada of 1588, authorities throughout England were extremely concerned ...
Richard Rhead: Tracing our Ancestors in the Sutherland Papers
Margaret Heath from the William Salt Library has traced her family history back to a man named Richard Rhead (1756-1813). Richard Rhead’s will made in 1813 tells us that he was a farmer in Hanchurch in ...
Samuel Terricke: Red Canary Wine and a Cook for Trentham
During the seventeenth century Samuel Terricke worked for Sir Richard and Lady Katherine Leveson at Trentham. In 1660 he sent a number of letters to Sir Richard Leveson (1598-1661) and Lady Katherine ...
Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860)
Charles Barry is described by M. H. Port as ‘Britain’s leading architect’ of the first half of the nineteenth century.
From an early age Barry exhibited an enthusiasm and aptitude for drawing. Aged ...