London Metropolitan Archives
A Font of London
If you are beset by bad weather during your visit to the capital, need to trace your family history or are just researching the history of a local neighbourhood then London Metropolitan Archives is an ideal place for you to spend some time. I was intrigued by reports of this place with its tales of documents, facts and images that stretch back over many centuries. Nearly a whole millennium of material is available for public consumption and it’s all there to be absorbed.
Details on everything from The Great Fire, William Marshall’s property holdings to where each bomb during the Blitz fell are available in exquisite detail and all available at no charge to anyone who is interested. Ideally you should join online before you go and the process from then on is very simple. Go through the front door and sign in, leave your belongings in a locker provided, put everything else in a plastic bag and go through to the library upstairs. There you can be photographed and given your ‘history card’ which will provide you with unlimited access to all documents. From this point London’s history in infinitesimal granularity will be at your disposal. You just need to fill in a form with the document that you want to look at, put it in a box and then it will be presented to you to pore over at your leisure.
Basically the LMA is a big library of everything London. There is everything a researcher needs including a vast collection of relevant books, a media section, microfiche readers – the list is almost endless. There are also regular exhibitions here – currently on show is The Londoners, a portrait of a working city. Additionally there are regular presentations – sadly I missed out on a talk on Smithfield Market by minutes (you do need to book in advance for these)
If you're interested in London or Londoners during your visit this place is an absolute must to get on your trip planner
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