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Over 1,500 people are employed in archive work in London and over 2,000 hours per week are worked by volunteers in roles which help develop skills and contribute to life long learning.
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The Local authority archives alone are visited by over 100,000 readers each year, and hold over 20,000 cubic metres of records.
London includes some of the world’s largest and richest archive holdings including:
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The National Archives, which holds the unbroken record of Britain’s government from the 11th century to the present day.
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The British Library, which holds unrivalled collections of papers of eminent individuals as well as the National Sound Archive recording the voices of ordinary people.
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London Metropolitan Archives, which holds 32km of records and is the largest local authority record office in the country.
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London has nearly half of the country’s specialist repositories. Some of these are small and focused such as:
- the National Scout Archive, which holds the records of the Scout Movement since 1907
- the Football Association, whose archives include the records of the Association and historical books and programmes
- the English National Opera Archives, which includes posters and recordings of its productions.
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Other specialist repositories hold large and comprehensive groupings of collections relating to a broad theme. Examples include: the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, which holds the most specialist manuscript collection in Europe for the history of medicine and health; and the Women’s Library at London Metropolitan University, whose collections are a rich source of the study of the women’s suffrage and equality movements.
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Nearly half of Britain’s business archives are in London and are maintained by their parent companies as they contain vital information and evidence. Many provide access to the public. They cover a wide range of areas, such as:
Retail - including Harrods, Marks & Spencers and Sainsbury’s;
Banking Finance - including HSBC, Lloyds, Coutts and Barings;
Communications - including BT and the Postal Heritage Trust; and
Livery Companies - including Saddler’s Company and Mercer’s Company.
