Book of emigrants’ letters, 1857–1874

On 10 August 1948 Felix Hull became Berkshire’s first county archivist. He was working out of the basement of Reading’s old Shire Hall, now the Roseate Hotel, and collections under his care eventually

IN a small room above a bonnet shop in London’s Sloane Street in 1872, two daughters of “a surveyor of good repute who died unexpectedly leaving a widow and four daughters unprovided for” were entered

(Photograph taken around 1955) This photograph brought instant memories of when, as a teenager, I regularly walked with friends, Barry, George, Eric, and others, from Portland Street (near the Royal I

Many of us have enjoyed a day out at one of Britain’s country houses. They are both beautiful to look at, and fascinating landmarks to our history. Holland House, built in what was then countryside ou

Before the Oxford City Police force was established in 1869, policing the city had been a joint operation between constables of the University of Oxford at night and constables of the city’s watch dur

Armigers from the Tudor and Stuart era had their moment last month, with a seal ring linked to Royal Exchange founder Sir Thomas Gresham and a ruffler once owned by philanthropist Sir Edwin Rich causing a stir at auction