MARINERS
The Website of the Mariners Mailing List
Researching
at Kew
a beginner's guide to the
National
Archives.
If
you are
travelling by train you will alight at Kew Gardens station. It is about
10
minutes flat walk to the PRO but it is well signposted. Drivers should
follow
the directions on the PRO website at http://www.pro.gov.uk.
There is a
large
public carpark, and a row of disabled parking bays at the back of the
building;
access to them is via a security barrier – press the button to alert
the
security guard. If you have mobility problems but don’t have a disabled
driver’s badge you may park there but you will need to put a note in
the
windscreen to that effect and notify the security guards inside that
you have
done so. If you don’t you may be tannoyed and asked to remove the car.
There
aren’t many disabled bays – if they are all taken when you arrive,
security
turns a blind eye to people parking by the flower pots. There is good
access
for wheelchairs or disability scooters throughout the building,
including the toilets.
Loos are on the ground floor, and there is a disabled toilet on the top
floor.
Inside
the
foyer you will need to have your bags checked, and then join the queue
at the
computer terminals where you put in your details, and collect your
ticket. You
will need to show some form of ID including your name and address. You
can now
register on line for your ticket but you will still need to take ID
with you.
There is more information on the website at
http://www.pro.gov.uk/about/access/planning.htm.
It is advisable to register in advance – your day will seem shorter
than you
expect so you need to do anything you can do to speed things up. If you
have
already decided what documents you will need, you may also order up to
3 in
advance too. When you collect your ticket, you may be encouraged to
join an
orientation tour – they are interesting, but you don’t have time to
accept it.
Coats
and
bags need to be left downstairs in the cloakrooms – there are lockers
for
valuables. You are only permitted to take 10 loose sheets of paper with
you (but
notepads are fine) and that includes any of your own reference
material. It’s a
good idea to check in any original documents that you have with you,
with the
security guards – your papers should be checked when you leave, and it
avoids
any awkward questions. It’s lead pencils only, and no erasers. Security
is
tight, and while this may at times be a little frustrating, once you
have seen
HMS Victory’s logbook for the Battle of Trafalgar and realised that the
signatures of Horatio Nelson have been sliced out you will realise why
it has
to be so.
You
can buy
pads and pencils in the shop but it’s cheaper to buy them elsewhere.
Ignore the
cafeteria for the moment and head upstairs to the documents! There are
stairs,
and a lift to all floors. To help you identify in advance any documents
you
need there are leaflets covering the main topics available on the
website and
at Kew, http://www.pro.gov.uk/leaflets/riindex.asp The catalogue itself
is at http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/ Staff
working at the various help desks
around the building are mostly very knowledgeable, but you can help
them a
great deal if you arm yourself with all the possible information you
might
need.
Documents
are ordered by swiping your card (Reader’s Ticket) and entering the
document
references into computer terminals in several locations around the
building –
there are on-screen instructions, but the staff will help if you are
stuck. At
the time of writing, the main reading room requires you to have a seat
number,
but the top floor reading room (Map and Large Document Room) doesn’t –
you will
need to put the seat number (or ‘MR’ if you know you will be in the Map
Room)
into the computer when you are prompted to do so, regardless of where
in the
building you are at the time. Readers who bring a laptop computer will
need a
seat in an area set aside for the purpose on the first floor where the
constant
tap-tapping is less likely to interfere with other readers. On the same
subject
(of noise), talking is forbidden in the reading rooms, and some people
find
whispering even more irritating. If you absolutely have to speak, you
need to
keep it brief or the security guard on duty (or indeed fellow readers)
are
likely to ask you to be quiet! The bottom line is that if you want to
talk, you
will have to leave the reading rooms. The documents themselves will
take around
40 minutes to get to the counter, less in very quiet times; large
documents
will be delivered to the counter in the Map Room. You can order three
at a
time, but the computer won’t allow you to order more while an earlier
order is
still being processed. There are various screens round the building
including
in the cafeteria where you can swipe your card and check on the
progress of
your order – that saves gulping down a cup of hot coffee and rushing
back to
the counter only to find there is a hold up somewhere along the line.
There
are
photocopying areas in both rooms (the PRO word for that is
‘reprographics’).
There is a ‘while you wait’ facility if you only want a small number of
copies;
some large documents can’t be photocopied at all in which case you will
be
given various options instead – scanning or digital images for example.
You
should be aware that photocopying is very much more expensive than most
copy
shops. Digital cameras are now permitted provided that their use does
not
damage the documents (no flash is allowed) and that is ideal if you
want a
large number of reproductions.
Some
records have been filmed – there are notes in the catalogue to tell you
that,
or you will get an on-screen message. The microfilm reading room is on
the
first floor - take a marker (card for
fiche readers or box for film readers) from the table inside the door –
the
marker corresponds with the number on the machine. You may find it
helpful
first to locate the filing cabinet and note the number of the machine
nearest
to it. There are several card/coin op copying machines for self service
copying, but there is often a queue.
After
a
couple of hours you will probably need to acquaint yourself with the
cafeteria!
It’s on the ground floor so you will have seen it on your way in. You
may
prefer to avoid the 12-2pm time when it tends to be at its busiest, but
research doesn’t always fit in so you may have to put up with the
queue. The
food is good quality and well presented with an excellent choice from
hot meals
to sandwiches, but it is not cheap by any means – many people bring a
packed
lunch and rely on the cafeteria just for coffee. You should be prepared
to do
no more than two hours researching without a break, or you risk missing
something vital.
A
day at
Kew can be tiring on the legs, the system can be a little daunting, and
there
is a fair bit of hanging around waiting – you may well not achieve as
much as
you hoped. The secret of a successful day at Kew is planning. Opening
times
vary, and the office is closed on public holidays and at certain other
times so
double check the National Archives’ website before you leave home.
Remember to
register online for a ticket, and if possible order documents in
advance. Make
sure you have all the information you need, and take a back-up search
with you
– how frustrating to complete a search (successfully or not) by 11am
but not
have names, dates or places to allow you to hunt for something else
instead!
Search the catalogue, read the leaflets and educate yourself as much as
possible about what may or may not be found, before you leave home. If
all else
fails, you can hire a researcher to undertake the search on your
behalf. There
is a link on the PRO website at
http://www.pro.gov.uk/research/irlist/default.htm
This
information was current at the time of writing but the National
Archives
(Public Record Office) is constantly updating and reviewing its
procedures so
it is possible that some things will have changed – you may wish to
email them at
enquiry@nationalarchives.gov.uk
or telephone them on 0208 876 3444. Finally,
check that you really do need to go
to Kew to view the documents you need! Read ‘Are You In The Right
Place?’ on the
website at http://www.pro.gov.uk/research/default.htm
Good hunting!
Home
Researching At the National Archives
Last updated 08.03.04db