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Location
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Ruskin
Avenue
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU
(south-west London)
|
| Related
Repositories or other branches |
Variety
of documents stored off-site at Hayes but viewed
at The National Archives, 3 working days' notice to produce.
Census records viewed at Family Records Centre,
central London.
|
| Contact
Details |
Tel:
020 8876 3444 (main); 020 8392 5200 (enquiries)
Fax: 020 8392 5261 (enquiries)
Web: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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| Travel
Links |
Nearest
tube station: Kew Gardens (District Line, North
London Line) - 10 mins walk to The National Archives, signposted.
Nearest rail station: Kew Bridge (15-20 mins walk);
Richmond (not walking distance, but terminus for
District Line and North London Line; possible to
catch a bus).
Nearest bus routes: 65, 391.
Approx. 40 mins from central London.
Road: see map on website; off Mortlake Road (South
Circular, A205); parking onsite but follow signs
to Kew Retail Park (NOT Ruskin Avenue).
|
| Opening
Hours |
M,W,F:
09.00 - 17.00 (ordering 09.30 - 16.00)
Tu: 10.00 - 19.00 (ordering 10.00 - 16.30)
Th: 09.00 - 19.00 (ordering 09.30 - 16.30)
S: 09.30 - 17.00 (ordering 09.30 - 12.00, 13.30
- 15.00)
No need to book in advance.
Closed for stocktaking 1st week of December.
|
| Entry
Requirements |
Readers
ticket required, application on arrival via computer
terminals in reception; valid 3 years.
1 proof of ID required (GB bankers card, passport
or GB drivers licence).
Free induction (20 mins) of reading rooms, catalogues
and ordering procedures.
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| Archive
Layout |
Ground
floor: reception (readers tickets), cloakrooms and
lockers (£1 returnable), café, toilets,
exhibition, shop.
First floor: document reading room, research enquiry
room (post 1688), microfilm reading room, library
and resource centre.
Second floor: map and large document room (with
enquiry desk for records pre-1688).
Lift available.
|
| Facilities |
Café
- hot & cold food, a bit pricey; Kew retail
centre 5 mins walk, 2 shops that sell food.
|
| Collections |
National
Archives of England, Wales and UK; over 9 million
documents on 170 km of shelving; majority created
or maintained by official government departments;
30 year closure rule, some closed for 50, 75 and
100 years; vast medieval / early modern collection;
collections of deposited private papers; nearly
1 million maps.
|
| References
& Catalogues |
Documents
references usually 3 parts consisting of series
code [letter(s)]; series number; and piece number;
some have will have item numbers as well, and others
may have sub-series numbers.
Electronic catalogue with keyword search facility
(document descriptions only).
Paper lists in Research Enquiry Room, with The National Archives Guide
(3 parts).
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| Document
Ordering |
Onsite
- restricted ordering times (see above).
Computer terminals to order documents.
Seat number from document reading room required
first.
No seat number required for map room.
40 mins production time; update screens available
throughout The National Archives that provide details of order
progress.
Advanced & bulk orders possible if you hold
a reader's ticket (email and telephone).
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| Research
Notes |
Can
be daunting - probably best to take a few days (if
possible) to familiarise yourself with the collection
and reference system.
Always ask at the desks for advice.
Start with a keyword search of the electronic catalogue
to obtain the most obvious documents; but don't
rely on this alone.
DO use the onsite The National Archives Guide.
Check the introductory notes in the paper catalogue
- these may contain important information.
Check the free leaflets for research topics.
For those travelling from distance, a list of local
accommodation is available. |
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