Explore the collection – The National Archives

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Read articles about the incredible people whose lives can be traced in the archive, or go deep into new perspectives on historical events. Browse themed picture galleries ranging from world famous documents to hidden gems.</p><p data-block-key="419hb">What will you find in the collection?</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="analytics-explorer-index" data-container-name="explorer-index"> <div class="card-group--no-flex u-margin-m"> <div class="tna-section"> <nav class="tna-index-grid" aria-label=""> <ul class="tna-index-grid__items tna-container"> <li class="tna-index-grid__item-wrapper tna-column tna-column--width-1-2 tna-column--full-tiny"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/explore-by-topic/" class="tna-index-grid__item" title="Explore by topic" data-component-name="Navigation card: Explore the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-position="0" data-card-title="Explore by topic"> <img src="/media/images/map-of-chertsey-abbey-teaser4.2e16d0ba.fill-540x350.jpg" class="tna-index-grid__item-image" width="540" height="350" alt="" /> <span class="tna-index-grid__item-content"> <span class="tna-index-grid__item-title">Explore by topic</span> </span> </a> </li> <li class="tna-index-grid__item-wrapper tna-column tna-column--width-1-2 tna-column--full-tiny"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/" class="tna-index-grid__item" title="Explore by time period" data-component-name="Navigation card: Explore the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-position="1" data-card-title="Explore by time period"> <img src="/media/images/helmets-are-in-teaser3.2e16d0ba.fill-540x350.jpg" class="tna-index-grid__item-image" width="540" height="350" alt="" /> <span class="tna-index-grid__item-content"> <span class="tna-index-grid__item-title">Explore by time period</span> </span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <section class="tna-section tna-!--no-padding-top"> <div class="tna-container"> <div class="tna-column tna-column--full"> <div class="tna-background-tint tna-!--padding-top-s tna-!--padding-bottom-m"> <div class="tna-container"> <div class="tna-column tna-column--flex-1 tna-!--padding-top-s"> <form method="get" action="https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r"> <div class="tna-search-field etna-etc-search"> <div class="tna-form__group etna-etc-search"> <div class="tna-form__group-contents"> <h2 class="tna-form__heading tna-form__heading--l"> <label class="tna-form__label" for="search-catalogue"> Looking for particular records? Search our catalogue </label> </h2> <p id="search-catalogue-hint" class="tna-form__hint"> Our catalogue, Discovery, holds more than 37 million descriptions of records held by The National Archives and archives across the country. </p> </div> <div class="tna-search-field__fields"> <input type="search" id="search-catalogue" class="tna-search-field__input " name="_q" value="" spellcheck="false" aria-describedby="search-catalogue-hint"> <button type="submit" class="tna-button tna-search-field__button"> Search <i class="fa-solid fa-fw fa-arrow-right tna-!--hide-on-tiny" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div class="tna-column tna-column--full-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-column--align-bottom tna-!--padding-top-s"> <div class="tna-button-group"> <a href="https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/advanced-search" class="tna-button tna-button--plain"> Advanced search </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="tna-container"> <div class="tna-column tna-column--full"> <h2 class="tna-heading-l">Stories from the collection</h2> <p>Dive in to the human stories our records reveal – from the curious and unexpected to the truly extraordinary.</p>   <div class="featured-article tna-!--margin-vertical-l"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/anthony-blunt-confession/" class="featured-article__image-link" aria-labelledby="article-desc399" data-component-name="Featured Article: Anthony Blunt's confession" data-link-type="Image" data-label="New" tabindex="-1"> <picture> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="/media/images/blunt-teaser.cdd9c9bb.fill-500x400-c100.jpg"/> <source media="(max-width: 991px)" srcset="/media/images/blunt-teaser.cdd9c9bb.fill-500x500-c100.jpg"/> <source media="(max-width: 1200px)" srcset="/media/images/blunt-teaser.cdd9c9bb.fill-1000x600-c100.jpg"/> <img width="1000" height="600" src="/media/images/blunt-teaser.cdd9c9bb.fill-1000x600-c100.jpg" alt="" /> </picture> </a> <div class="featured-article__description"> <h2 class="tna-heading-l featured-article__heading"> <small>The story of</small> Anthony Blunt's confession <span aria-describedby="article-desc">NEW</span> </h2> <p id="article-desc399" class="aria-desc">Read about Anthony Blunt's confession</p> <p>Security Service files paint a vivid picture of what happened when Anthony Blunt – then employed in the royal household – admitted spying for the Soviet Union.</p> <div class="tna-button-group"> <a class="tna-button tna-button--solid-hover" href="/explore-the-collection/stories/anthony-blunt-confession/" data-component-name="Featured Article: Anthony Blunt's confession" data-link-type="Button" data-link="Read" data-label="New">Read about Anthony Blunt's confession</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block-featuredarticles"> <div class="featured-articles"> <ul class="card-group--list-style-none"> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">The story of</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/karl-muller-and-the-fatal-lemon/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="Karl Muller and the fatal lemon" data-card-position="0" >Karl Muller and the fatal lemon</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/karl-muller-and-the-fatal-lemon/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="Karl Muller and the fatal lemon" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="Karl Muller and the fatal lemon" data-card-position="0" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/muller-lemons-teaser.4106a48c.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>When can a lemon have fatal consequences? If it proves you are, in fact, a wartime spy…</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">Focus on</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/the-bethnal-green-tube-shelter-disaster/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="The Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster" data-card-position="1" >The Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/the-bethnal-green-tube-shelter-disaster/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="The Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="The Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster" data-card-position="1" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/bethnal-green-tube-disaster-teaser.2e16d0ba.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>On one tragic night in March 1943 in Bethnal Green, East London, 173 people lost their lives taking shelter from German bombing as the air raid sirens sounded.</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">Record revealed</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/the-proclamation-of-ned-ludd/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="The proclamation of Ned Ludd" data-card-position="2" data-label="New" >The proclamation of Ned Ludd</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/the-proclamation-of-ned-ludd/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="The proclamation of Ned Ludd" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="The proclamation of Ned Ludd" data-card-position="2" data-label="New" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/ned-ludd-teaser.2e16d0ba.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> <div class="tna-chip tna-card__image-label"> New </div> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>This note threatens death upon anyone talking to the authorities about the Luddites, textile workers protesting against new, labour-saving technology.</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">The story of</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/1888-matchgirls-strike/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="The 1888 matchgirls' strike" data-card-position="3" >The 1888 matchgirls' strike</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/1888-matchgirls-strike/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="The 1888 matchgirls' strike" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="The 1888 matchgirls' strike" data-card-position="3" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/matchgirls_wellcome.1e8ff4a0.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>In 1888, the women and girls employed by Bryant & May in the East End of London went out on strike. Why did these workers feel so driven to remove their labour?</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">The story of</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/john-blanke/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="John Blanke" data-card-position="4" >John Blanke</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/john-blanke/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="John Blanke" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="John Blanke" data-card-position="4" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/john-blanke-featured-tournament-ro.2e16d0ba.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>John Blanke was a trumpeter at the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He is one of the earliest people of colour in England we have records about.</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tna-column tna-column--width-1-3 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--width-1-2-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-!--margin-bottom-l"> <div class="tna-card " data-module="tna-card"> <div class="tna-card__inner"> <hgroup class="tna-hgroup-s tna-card__heading"> <p class="tna-hgroup__supertitle tna-hgroup__supertitle--plain">Focus on</p> <h3 class="tna-hgroup__title"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/lady-malcolm-servants-balls/" class="tna-card__heading-link" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card text" data-card-title="A queer working-class haven: Lady Malcolm’s Servants Balls" data-card-position="5" >A queer working-class haven: Lady Malcolm’s Servants Balls</a> </h3> </hgroup> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/lady-malcolm-servants-balls/" class="tna-card__image-container" tabindex="-1" title="A queer working-class haven: Lady Malcolm’s Servants Balls" data-card-type="card-group-secondary-nav" data-component-name="Featured card: Stories from the collection" data-link-type="Card image" data-card-title="A queer working-class haven: Lady Malcolm’s Servants Balls" data-card-position="5" > <picture class="tna-card__image"> <img src="/media/images/lady-malcolm-teaser-2.2e16d0ba.fill-800x450.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"> </picture> </a> <div class="tna-card__body"> <p>Lady Malcolm’s elaborate Servants’ Balls allowed queer, working-class staff to forge a unique space for themselves. But these events became plagued by scandal.</p> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="tna-column tna-column--full"> <div class="featured-articles__cta"> <a href="/explore-the-collection/stories/" class="tna-button" data-link-type="Button" data-component-name="Articles section: Stories from the collection" data-link="Browse all stories">Browse all stories</a> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div class="tna-container"> <div class="tna-column tna-column--full"> </div> </div> <footer class="tna-footer tna-!--margin-top-xl"> <div class="tna-footer__inner"> <div class="tna-container"> <div class="tna-column tna-column--flex-1 tna-column--width-1-2-medium tna-column--full-small tna-column--full-tiny tna-column--order-1"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xml:space="preserve" class="tna-logo" viewBox="0 0 160 160" width="96" height="96"> <title>The National Archives</title> <path fill="transparent" d="M0 0h160v160H0z" class="tna-logo__background" /> <g 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