Aldersgate Ward Club

Visit to the London Archives Wednesday 12 March 2025

 

Our visit to the London Archives in Clerkenwell opened our eyes to the existence of a treasure trove of documents dating back to 1067 and including such iconic items as a writ of William I of that year and letters believed to be written by Jack the Ripper. We were given a very interesting and instructive introduction before being taken on a tour of some of the strongrooms and the Conservation Studio.

 

The London Archives’ mission is not only to preserve records of all types deposited with it but to open them up to the public. The records it holds derive from such sources as local government, police, courts, prisons, hospitals, schools, livery companies and churches, held in 38 strongrooms comprising 100 kms of shelving, and range across letters, newspapers, photos, maps and films as well as more conventional documents of record.

 

As well as receiving and storing records, involving cataloguing and indexing, the work of the London Archives covers their conservation and preservation. Our visit to the Conservation Studio was a fascinating insight into the various treatments undertaken to repair and prevent deterioration of records.

 

 We were able to look at a number of records directly relating to AWC including some personal documents of 16th century Aldersgate Alderman Robert Fenrother, the most impressive being his Will, enrolled in the City’s Court of Hustings in 1525, documents from Aldersgate Alderman Joseph Renals ( Lord Mayor in 1894 ) and AWC Minute Books dating back to 1909.

 

Public access is an important aspect of the London Archives’ work. In addition to the opportunity for research, there are frequent talks and exhibitions highlighting aspects of their collection. A number of us took the opportunity to visit one of their current exhibitions ‘London in the Second World War’, an illuminating and evocative collection of records of all types.

 

The visit ended with a welcome glass of wine and canapes.