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The National Archives
Welsh: Yr Archifau Cenedlaethol
Logo of The National Archives of the United Kingdom.svg
Non-ministerial department overview
Formed April 2003 (2003-04)
Jurisdiction England and Wales, HM Government
Headquarters Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU
51°28′52″N 0°16′46″W / 51.48111°N 0.27944°W / 51.48111; -0.27944
Employees 590
Annual budget Increase £46.2 million (2022–23)
Ministers responsible
  • Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  • Stuart Andrew, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Non-ministerial department executive
  • Jeff James, Chief Executive and Keeper of the Public Records
Parent department Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Child agencies
  • Office of Public Sector Information
  • His Majesty's Stationery Office
Key document
  • Archives for Everyone 2019–23
National Archives 2007 02 03
The National Archives building at Kew

The National Archives (also called TNA) is a special government department in the United Kingdom. It is the official place where important documents from the UK government and for England and Wales are kept. Think of it as a huge, super-safe library for historical papers!

TNA looks after some of the nation's most famous documents. Some of these papers are over 1,000 years old. There are separate national archives for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Before 2003, TNA was made up of four different groups. These included the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. Since 2008, TNA has also managed a website called legislation.gov.uk. This site holds all UK laws. A government minister helps oversee the department.

Where to Find The National Archives

The National Archives is located in Kew, which is in London. The building first opened in 1977. It was built to hold public records that were previously kept elsewhere.

The site where TNA stands used to be a hospital during World War I. Later, other government offices used the building. It is close to Kew Gardens Underground station.

TNA also has another office in Norwich. There is also a huge storage place called DeepStore. It is in a former salt mine in Winsford, Cheshire. This is where many records are kept safe underground.

A Brief History of The National Archives

The National Archives was created in 2003. It was formed by joining the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. It reports to a government minister who handles digital policy.

In 2006, The National Archives joined with two other offices. These were the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) and His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). The name of the combined organisation stayed "The National Archives."

Leaders of The National Archives

The person in charge of The National Archives is called the Chief Executive and Keeper. Here are some of the people who have held this important role:

  • 1991–2005: Sarah Tyacke
  • 2005–2010: Natalie Ceeney
  • 2010–2013: Oliver Morley
  • 2013–2014: Clem Brohier (acting)
  • 2014–2024: Jeff James
  • 2024-present: Saul Nassé

What The National Archives Does

A gloved pair of hands at The National Archives
A manuscript and seals being examined at the archives

TNA plays a very important role in how information is managed in the UK. It helps set rules for how government information and records are handled. This work helps people make good decisions today. It also makes sure these decisions become a permanent record for the future.

Here are some of TNA's main jobs:

  • Giving Advice – TNA advises the government on how to manage information. This includes everything from creating records to using them again.
  • Choosing Documents – TNA decides which important documents should be kept forever.
  • Keeping Documents Safe – TNA makes sure documents stay in the best possible condition.
  • Allowing Access – TNA lets the public see and use the documents.
  • Sharing Knowledge – TNA advises people and other archives around the world. They teach others how to look after historical documents.
  • Managing Copyright – TNA manages Crown copyright for the UK. This means they look after the rights for many government publications.
  • Checking Rules – TNA makes sure other public organisations follow rules. These rules are about keeping public records and sharing information.

Leading the Archives Sector

The National Archives helps guide all other archives in the UK. This includes local government archives and other private collections. It makes sure that important non-government records in England and Wales are kept properly.

Since 2011, TNA has also been responsible for advising ministers on archive policy in England. TNA sees its role as making the "archival health of the nation" better. This means ensuring that the UK's historical records are well-preserved and available.

Amazing Collections at The National Archives

Cropped Gladstone's Red Box
UK Prime Minister William Gladstone's 19th-century "red box", held in the archives
TNA gates
Entrance gates to The National Archives from Ruskin Avenue: the notched vertical elements were inspired by medieval tally sticks.

The National Archives is the official archive for the UK government. It holds 1,000 years of history! This includes everything from the Domesday Book to modern digital files. It even has archived websites.

Types of Records You Can Find

The documents kept at Kew include:

  • Records from central courts of law, going back to the 1100s.
  • Old and new records from the central government.
  • A large collection of maps, plans, and building drawings.
  • Records for people researching their family history. This includes wills and criminal records.
  • Military records from the armed forces.
  • Letters and files from the Foreign Office and Colonial Office.
  • Papers from the Cabinet and Home Office.
  • Statistics from the Board of Trade.
  • Records of English railway companies.

TNA also has a museum. It shows off key documents like the Domesday Book. The museum also has exhibitions using items from its collections.

Famous Documents You Can See

Treaty of Calais Chest
Treaty of Brétigny chest in the collection

Here are some of the most important and interesting items in the collection:

How to Access Documents

A pair of Researchers at The National Archives
Researchers at the archive
Inspecting Admiralty documents at The National Archives
Researcher's point of view: Document open at assigned table, with foam supports to prevent binding from breaking

You can search for documents using TNA's online catalogue. It is free to enter The National Archives building. Anyone aged 16 or older can see the original documents. You just need to show two forms of ID to get a free reader's ticket.

In the reading room, you can order documents from secure storage. You need the document's reference number. This number has three parts: a department code, a series number, and an individual document number. You can also order documents ahead of time.

Once you order a document, TNA tries to get it to you within 45 minutes. Some documents are stored in a salt mine in Cheshire. These can take 2–3 days to arrive.

You do not need a reader's ticket to look at records on microform or online. Many popular documents have been put on microfilm or digitised. For example, records for two million First World War soldiers are on microfilm. The originals were damaged in a fire during World War II.

Many popular documents can now be downloaded from TNA's website for a small fee. You can also find them through other online services. TNA encourages people to use digital copies to protect the original documents from damage.

How Documents are Stored

National archives shelving
Moveable shelving in one of the more modern repositories

Documents are stored on special shelves that move. These shelves are double-sided and can be pushed together. This saves space by removing aisles when they are not needed. You can move them along tracks on the floor to create an aisle.

The documents are usually kept in special acid-free folders or boxes. This helps protect them from damage over time.

If there is a fire, TNA cannot use water sprinklers. Water would ruin the documents. Instead, if the building is evacuated, argon gas is released into the air-tight storage rooms. This gas removes oxygen and puts out the fire without harming the papers.

Other Services The National Archives Offers

The National Archives also helps people with their research. It helps them find collections beyond what TNA itself holds.

Learning and Education

National Archives School Adv Studies History Day 27 Nov 2015
National Archives at the London University School of Advanced Studies History Day, November 2015.

TNA has a free online education page. It is for teachers and students learning history. You can choose different time periods, from medieval times to today. Each period has materials that teachers can use. Students can find tips for research and writing using historical documents.

"Access to Archives" (A2A)

Access to Archives (A2A) is a database. It has details about archive collections in many different places across England and Wales. New collections are not being added right now, but you can still use the existing information.

National Register of Archives (NRA)

A researcher working with delicate resource at The National Archives
A researcher at the archives

The National Register of Archives (NRA) is a central place for information about British history documents. It includes published and unpublished lists of collections in the UK and other countries. There are over 44,000 such lists. You can look at the register in TNA's reading room.

TNA collects this information in different ways. Other archives send their catalogues to TNA. TNA also surveys archives each year to find out about new documents.

ARCHON Directory

The ARCHON Directory is a database of contact details. It lists archive places in the UK. It also includes places around the world that have many documents about British history.

"Your Archives"

"Your Archives" was a special online community for TNA users. It was a wiki where users could add information. It closed in 2012. Users created articles about historical records held by TNA and other archives.

Databases for Research

The National Archives also hosts several databases. These include records about hospitals, migration, and old manors.

TNA worked with the Wellcome Library to create the Hospital Records Database. This database has not been updated since 2012. The Manorial Documents Register is still being updated.

Smartphone Apps

National Archives QRpedia codes - 1
QRpedia codes at the archives

In 2011, TNA launched its first iPhone app called "Old Money." It uses historical price data from TNA documents. You can see what old money from 1270 would be worth today.

TNA's museum also started using QRpedia codes in 2011. You can scan these codes with a smartphone. They give you information about exhibits from Wikipedia.

Blogs and Podcasts

TNA regularly posts blogs on its website. These blogs cover many topics. They talk about historical events, specific documents, and how the archive works.

The "Archives Media Player" section has videos and podcasts. These are created by TNA.

Missing Records and How TNA Handles Them

Sometimes, documents can go missing from the archives. Between 2005 and 2011, over 1,500 files were reported missing. These included letters from Winston Churchill. About 800 of these have been found. TNA believes most are misplaced, not permanently lost.

In 2017, it was reported that about 1,000 files had been taken by government officials and not returned. TNA says that the number of missing files is very small. It is only about 0.01% of all their documents. They work hard to keep track of everything.

See Also

  • UK Government Web Archive
  • List of national archives
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