Visit the Parliamentary Archives

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" class="noJS"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/archives/","20120111052102","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1326259262"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20120111052102im_/http://www.parliament.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120111052102cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/reset.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120111052102cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/grid.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120111052102cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/main.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" href="/web/20120111052102cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/print.css"/>    <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { try { document.documentElement.className = 'js'; } catch (e) { } })();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery.equalheights.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/parliament-uk.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/slideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ $(document).ready(function(){ var settings = { main:{ advancedSearchAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/MemberNames.ashx', edmMembersAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/EdmMembers.ashx', calendarListingAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/CalendarMonth.ashx', publicationsAndRecordsInitialShow: 3, slideshowAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/ImageGallery.ashx' }, woa:{ ajaxFlashZoomArtworkUrl: '/AJAX/ImageZoom.ashx' }, masterPage: 'threecolumn', pageType: 'main-generic-content', pageInstanceId: '2520' } parliamentUK.init(settings); }); /*]]>*/ </script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="title" content="Visit The Parliamentary Archives"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="The Parliamentary Archives holds millions of records from both Houses and other historical material relating to Parliament. The Archives' Search Room is open to all members of the public for research purposes from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm."/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-21 03:28:26"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~Visiting~Visiting & tours~Visit the Parliamentary Archives"/> <title> Visit the Parliamentary Archives - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="main"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/archives/" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUKLTc3OTI0NzE5NmRk5bMcK/ttcFbAqzfJYJJ3nNI321o="/> </div> <script src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=xGaghmX67eZMqQrjn9_owpLgYT0J3wa6Rsq_OiD8AmTAzGd9balscFDKON1hxdHWEo29M5eCRGvV7FYOaXmjekHBseVWa3g5fhM9zpnRjIy4PZ91nxdE0KM2qHp_rX2TMwNu2ZDm5zvaKFmv4QVzOBhZZOo1&t=fffffffff9d85fa6" type="text/javascript"></script> <div id="wrapper" class=""> <div id="header"> <div id="skiplink"><a href="#skipToContent">Skip to content</a></div> <a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/"><img src="/web/20120111052102im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/parliament-uk-logo.gif" alt="Parliament UK"/></a> <fieldset class="site-search"> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">Email alerts</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS feeds</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> </ul> <legend>Site search</legend> <div> <ol> <li> <label for="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_lblSearch" class="access">Search</label> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$btnSearch" value="Search" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch"/> </div> <ul id="search-options"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/search/advanced/">Advanced search</a></li> </ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> <ul id="level-2"> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/">Visiting & tours</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/attend/">Attend debates & meetings</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/exhibitions-and-events/">Exhibitions & events</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/">Online tours</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/">Access & security</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/directions/">Maps & directions</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/">Visiting & tours</a></li><li>Visit the Parliamentary Archives</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/">Visiting & tours</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/ukvisitors/">UK visitors</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/overseasvisitors/">Overseas visitors</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/summeropening/">Saturday and Summer Opening </a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/art-and-architecture-tours/">Contemporary portraiture in Portcullis House</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/royalty-and-splendour/">Royalty and splendour in the House of Lords</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/open-house/">Open House</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/students/">Education service</a></li><li class="selected"><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/archives/">Visit the Parliamentary Archives</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours/">Arrange a tour</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/bigben/">Clock Tower tour</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/information-desk/">Westminster Hall information desk</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/jubilee-cafe/">Jubilee Café</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/onlinetours/">Online tours of Parliament</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Visit the Parliamentary Archives </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1198.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>The Parliamentary Archives holds millions of records from both Houses and other historical material relating to Parliament. The Archives' Search Room is open to all members of the public for research purposes from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <p>Proof of identity is required, but no tickets are issued and there is no need to get a letter of introduction from your MP.</p> <h3>Check availability</h3> <p>Space is limited in the Search Room so visitors should contact the staff in advance to book a seat and check the availability of the records they are coming to view. There is no charge to consult the records.</p> <h3>Portcullis - the online catalogue</h3> <p>Prospective visitors can search the Archives' online catalogue, Portcullis, in advance to check a record exists. <br/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.portcullis.parliament.uk/" target="_self">View Portcullis, the online catalogue</a> <br/></p> <h3>Can't visit?</h3> <p>Archives staff may well be able to answer your question, identify the records and supply the copies you need even if you cannot make it to London. If you have a complex research enquiry which requires more work they can also advise on the next steps you should take. Contact the Archives to find out more.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Contact details</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p>(Please check the <a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/archives-practical/archives-faqs/">FAQ</a> and the online catalogue, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.portcullis.parliament.uk/">Portcullis</a>, first) </p> <p> <strong>Email:</strong> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/mailto:archives@parliament.uk">archives@parliament.uk</a> <br/> <strong>Phone:</strong> 020 7219 3074 <br/> <strong>Fax:</strong> 020 7219 2570 <br/> <strong>Address:</strong> Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A OPW </p> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Fire!</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p>A fire in 1834 destroyed most of the records of the House of Commons, so the bulk of records held on the Commons date from after 1834. Records of the House of Lords were undamaged and date back to 1497.</p> </div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/archives/">History of the Parliamentary Archives</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>More on this subject</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/">Parliamentary Archives homepage</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/archives-practical/archives-faqs/">Parliamentary Archives: Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/archives-practical/enquiry-services/">Contacting the Parliamentary Archives</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www.portcullis.parliament.uk/dserve/DServe.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl">Portcullis - the online catalogue</a></li></ul> </div>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120111052102/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20120111052102/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ if(tracking.enabled){ try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(tracking.accountID); pageTracker._setDomainName('.parliament.uk'); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err){} } /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120111052102js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/lbi_ga.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Visit the Parliamentary Archives - UK Parliament