Advice for visiting Kew National Archive

Here is a potted guide to visiting the National Archives at Kew, especially for those visiting for the first time, written by Society member (and seasoned researcher) Andy Overton.

The hardest bit about Kew is getting used to the system. Once you've sussed out how it works it is all much easier. And you need to spend as much time researching the references for documents you want to see as actually looking at them, i.e. hunting in the catalogue. Luckily the catalogue is now available online so you can (must) do this at home. Don't waste valuable time at Kew perusing the catalogue, do this at home and go there armed with a list of document references. Years ago you had to spend as much time working on the catalogue as looking at things but now it's online you can cut this out.

The documents are in various catalogue runs. I'm not going to go through all these as SRS have written a guide called a Guide to Signalling Research. You might have this or else it will be on the website to buy. Usual runs are MT6, MT114, RAIL and AN.

You will need a readers ticket. This is how you get one http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/whattobring.htm You can do much of the application process before you visit – do this, you will save time.

Right, so you’ve spent time searching the catalogue http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ to get your list of references. Do use advanced search so you can search within specific groups (MT6 etc). Be as broad as you can with search terms, be prepared to manually trawl through lots of results because the catalogue listing is only as good as the person inputting it. If they have typoed a location you will miss it if you search by location name etc. Often better to just the whole file group by setting limits on years. The catalogue is often a lucky dip with what you want hidden under a description which doesn't really mention it. Be prepared to order something up and suck it and see if the dates fit. Things are often misfiled by the agency they came from and you will find treasure in the most unlikely file (refers particularly to MT114 BR New Works and LC files). Before you visit (doesn't apply first time as you don't have a readers ticket) you can order up to 6 documents in advance. Do it, saves time, they will be there when you arrive. Even if you order on a day they are closed to visit next day they will deal with your order first thing before you arrive so you will still save time. Documents can take 45mins – 60mins to arrive, you can waste a lot of time waiting unless you organise yourself properly.

So, you are there. Now what you must do is devote as much time to ordering documents as looking at them. Documents are delivered to a locker which matches your seat number. You can take one at a time to your seat. You can have as many documents in your locker as you like but you can only order 3 at a time (once there). So what you need to do as soon as you arrive (having got your 6 documents ordered the day before and waiting for you) is order your next 3. These can be being processed while you start work. Then all through the day keep checking the computers to see if your last 3 documents have been put in your locker, as soon as they have get another 3 ordered. What you DON’T want to do is run out of documents to look at as then you will be sat round twiddling your thumbs waiting for the next order to arrive. Keep ordering and if you don’t get through them all it doesn't matter. Document ordering closes at 1700 even on the days Kew stays open until 1900 (best days to go, Tues and Thur) so you need to get that locker full to keep you going.

If there is any chance you will need to look at a document again that day only put it back in your locker, do not send it back. You cannot order the same document twice in one day.

Try not to waste time reading stuff, take a digital camera and photograph as much as you can to work on at home. Applies particularly to earlier stuff where you will have to battle with handwriting, some of it copper plate. Make notes of your photos so you know what comes from what document or you will get completely lost at home! Look at the seating plan and when you order documents in advance choose a seat next to the windows (better light for photos). Don’t get distracted – you will open up lots of files which are 'interesting' but is it what you came to do? Stay focussed, crack on, get in a bubble and WORK!

They have a cafe area but you can eat your own food at the tables. You can just take a flask / sandwiches then you can nip down there for a 10 minute break at dinner and get back upstairs and crack on. You will be amazed how quick the time goes.

This should get you started. Kew can be fun, frustrating, rewarding and damn hard work all in one day.