A major new image archive of the British Isles, now publicly accessible, the Country Life Magazine Image Archive. Access to the entire picture library from the inception of the venerable weekly magazine onwards, including unpublished items. Nearly complete and due to be 100% complete just before Christmas 2025, according to the magazine three weeks ago.

Sadly the pictures have no ‘date of making’, which is unfortunate for historians and restorationists. Though one can at least assume b&w pictures are older and are pre colour-film. Personal use appears to cost £75 per picture. Biddulph Grange (above) is the most interesting local b&w set from Staffordshire, possibly made in the 1950s at a guess? Surprisingly there are no pictures from places which might have been expected, such as Alderley Edge or Cannock Chase.

When searching for Stoke, note that searching for Stoke-on-Trent does not call pictures of Gladstone Pottery which was a rare venturing of the magazine into the city. Thus there may be Stoke items that need to be called by their exact name, since they haven’t been tagged with Stoke-on-Trent.