The London Archives

14/02/2025

Happy Valentines Day!💝💐

We have a 2000 archive for you today!

This large hardback book contains visitors comments on the theme of love as part of 'The Museum of Emotions' from the temporary museum project 'The Museum Of'

The London Archives hopes your day is filled with love💝

Comment below what love means to you!

13/02/2025

A musical with mussels! 🎭

This is a poster for The Combination's "Labelled with Love", a rock musical based on songs of Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze, written by John Turner which took place at the Albany Empire in 1985 💘

This is part of the Chris Schwarz collection so head over to London Picture Archive to see more of his wonderful photos! > https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

12/02/2025

We have a modern archive for you!

'The Museum Of' was a temporary museum project with five different sections. The collection of strips of 'Who really knows me?' was part of 'The Museum of Me'.🤷

Here are some photos of the responses by the visitors in 1999! Head to our catalogue to discover more from the collection of 'The Museum Of' > https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll?logon&application=UNION_VIEW&language=144&file=[WWW_LMA]home.html

11/02/2025

A watercolour painting of A walk down Love Lane🎨🩷

This is a painting of a pathway from Dalston leading to Hackney Downs

For paintings and more, visit London Picture Archive! > https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

10/02/2025

Exactly 185 years ago today Queen Victoria and Prince Albert got married!💍

This is a scene from the wedding in St James's Palace in London by Artists Sir George Hayter in 1840

Although they were first cousins, they were a love match👩‍❤️‍👨and the pair would rule over a golden age of British Industrial Growth and went on to have nine children.

For more Victorian images, head to London Picture Archive! > https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

09/02/2025

'Cupid Captive' 💘

A statute by Charles Auguste Franklin of Brussels!

This is one of the exhibits during installation at the reconstructed Crystal Palace exhibition hall at Sydenham Hill in 1852.

Head to London Picture Archive to explore more photos of the Crystal Palace exhibition! >https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

08/02/2025

'Monkeys in love at zoo' 🩷🐒

This photo of two baboons embracing was taken by George W.F Elliss!

Head to London Picture Archive for more of Elliss's collection > https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

07/02/2025

Introducing the seven days of love!🩷

This week we are going to be delving into love at the archives

For day one we have these beautiful Victorian valentines cards, which are on display on the touchscreens at our 'Lost Victorian City: a London disappeared' exhibition. 💌

Don't miss the chance to view them before the exhibition closes on 13 February! > https://LostVictorianCity.eventbrite.co.uk

04/02/2025

Join us to see a display of the iconic Tramway posters of London County Council🚎

Trams were a common sight on London streets in the first half of the 20th century, and by 1914 the London County Council was running services across inner London.

We are so excited to have the original artworks in the Iconic Display Area from 10 February!🖼

Book your free tickets now! > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/display-londons-tramways-posters-tickets-1080380169169

31/01/2025

❗️ Due to overwhelming popular demand, our Lost Victorian City exhibition has been EXTENDED until 13 February!

🎉'Very interesting exhibition, good to show these remnants that can no longer be seen'

'Wonderful exhibit. I study & teach Victorian architecture and loved the images and depth of research.'

'Excellent exhibition. Full of interest and well presented.'

'Many thanks - delightful happenstance that this was around the corner from my accommodation. Fascinating.'

'Lovely history exhibition. Great to learn new things. Well presented.'

'Fascinating exhibition with so many insights into a vanished world. Some wonderful buildings sadly gone. Thank you!'🎉

Lost Victorian City:
a London disappeared

Last two weeks!
📅Last day: 13 February 2025
🎯The London Archives

Discover a London you thought you knew, London through the eyes of the Victorians. The fashions, the entertainment, the buildings, lost from the everyday public imagination…

🔍Come and find a London disappeared

Our free exhibition 'Lost Victorian City: a London disappeared' takes a look at the collections held at London Metropolitan Archives which provide a window into a Victorian London that has since gone from view.

From photographs and records of buildings such as the Oxford Arms in Warwick Lane in 1875, the Pool of London, horse drawn transport, shopping and entertainment, these records chart a rapidly evolving city.

🎫 Book your FREE tickets today
🔗

Free exhibition at The London Archives

30/01/2025

On this day in 1649, King Charles I was executed after being found guilty of high treason at the conclusion of the English Civil War.

The indictment levelled against Charles held him:

'... guilty of all the treasons, murders, rapines, burnings, spoils, desolations, damages and mischiefs to this nation, acted and committed in the said wars, or occasioned thereby'.

This contemporary 1649 engraving from our collections, by an unknown artist, was created and copied to spread the news of the event to European cities such as Amsterdam.

27/01/2025

On this day. 80 years ago, marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

We honour the memory of 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and the millions of others persecuted by the N**i regime.

Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us of the importance of learning from history - to unite against hatred, stand up against discrimination, and empathise with those facing injustice today.

This image shows the extensive bomb damage to The Great Synagogue, Dukes Place in 1941. Sadly, The Great Synagogue was entirely destroyed by German air raids on the night of 10-11 May 1941 in one of the last major attacks of the Blitz.

24/01/2025

Due to a fault, the Lift servicing the visitors lounge, exhibition and research area is out of action and awaiting repairs.

If you are planning on visiting this week and require step free access, please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] or speak to a member of staff upon arrival.

23/01/2025

Calling all Science fans!👩‍🔬

Explore Metropolitan Science with authors Rebekah Higgitt and Jasmin Kilburn-Toppin as they provide a new perspective on the Scientific Revolution, exploring distinctive practices in artisanal, mercantile and governmental sites of London.

In this talk, co-authors will introduce the book and reflect on how they made use of archives at The London Archives and Guildhall alongside other sources.

📆19 Feb tickets! > https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/metropolitan-science-london-sites-and-cultures-of-knowledge-and-practice-c-1600-1800-tickets-1080380319619

21/01/2025

Getting started in the archives!📚

Whether you are brand new to the world of archival exploration or a seasoned veteran, this session is for you!

Learn about the type of records that we hold in over 100 km of shelving, from 1067 to the present day, how to access them efficiently, and resources to use at home.

We have a session tomorrow if you would like to join! If you can't make it, we have other dates available, so head to our Eventbrite page to book your place on the day that suits you best! > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-started-in-the-archives-tickets-1085164148179

15/01/2025

To start the new year we are giving away a free print of YOUR choice from London Picture Archive!🎉🖼

This cryptic letter is from the correspondence of John Skelton Bumpus (1851-1913). Bumpus was a librarian, antiquarian and prolific writer on ecclesiastical coral music'.

To be in the chance of winning, all you need to do is:
1. Decode this amazing letter from Mr Beale from the 1800s! DM us your answer once you have cracked the code🔎
2. Tag a friend in the comments
3. Share this post to your story and tag us!

A few hints to get you started: The building Beale has drawn is a Chapel. The trees are intended to be Yew trees.👀

📆The winner will be announced on 22/01/2025

Head to London Picture Archive to see the amazing choices you could win > https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/

Good luck!🤞

07/01/2025

In the spirit of ‘A history of the world in hundred objects’, this talk presents the history of Bloomsbury in a dozen or so ‘bombsites’.

Ranging from Air Raid Shelters to Zeppelins, these pin-points of violent heritage include the work of inept blackmailers, the (intellectual) birthplace of the atomic bomb, and the dramatic (in every sense) aftermath of the bombing of RADA during the Blitz.

Don't miss out book tickets via the link below now❗
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tracing-the-bombsites-of-bloomsbury-1885-2005-tickets-1080379888329?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/01/2025

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! 🎉

We start the year by looking back 100 years (well we would, wouldn't we?).

This shows 30-32 Moorgate in the City of London in 1925 compared with the present day (roughly).

You can view thousands more photographs and images from London's past for free via https://thelondonpicturearchive.org

We reopen to the public tomorrow on 2 January!