Staffordshire History Centre

About the museum

The Staffordshire History Centre opened on Eastgate Street in Stafford on 6 November 2024. It extends the existing Staffordshire Record Office and brings together the county archive, museum displays and the William Salt Library under one roof. The £8.7 million project took about ten years and was backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Staffordshire County Council and other funders.

A glazed link between the record office and the restored William Salt Library forms a new entrance and a permanent exhibition space. Its displays were developed with local communities and cover subjects from the Abbots Bromley horn dance and the town's shoe industry to a first-edition Samuel Johnson dictionary. A spider phaeton carriage of 1890, a night cap said to have belonged to Charles I and a notebook of the engineer James Brindley are among the highlights.

Visitors can also see two restored rooms of the William Salt Library, which tell the story of the building and of William Salt's collection. A changing gallery, a learning space for schools and a research room complete the centre, and behind-the-scenes tours of the stores can be booked.

Highlights

• Spider phaeton carriage of 1890
• Night cap of Charles I and notebook of James Brindley
• Restored rooms of the William Salt Library
• Changing exhibition gallery
• Behind-the-scenes tours of the archive stores

Permanent exhibitions

• Permanent exhibition – Displays on Staffordshire's history from the county collections, with a spider phaeton, a Charles I night cap and a Brindley notebook.
• William Salt Library rooms – Two restored library rooms showing the history of the building and William Salt's collection.

Founded

2024

Operated by

Staffordshire County Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the exhibitions and the William Salt Library rooms is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre is described as an accessible, light and airy town-centre building with plenty of seating. The council has not published detailed access features on the pages consulted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

An explorer pack is available for young visitors, and an activity room hosts events and schools.

Getting there & parking

The centre is on Eastgate Street in Stafford town centre.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit