Knowledge

Public Record Office

Source 📝

349: 227: 303: 360:, which sought to avoid the indiscriminate retention of huge numbers of documents by establishing standard selection procedures for the identification of those documents of sufficient historical importance to be kept by the PRO. Even so, growing interest in the records produced a need for the Office to expand, and in 1977 a second building was opened at 42: 239:
The Public Record Office was established in 1838, to reform the keeping of government and court records which were being held, sometimes in poor conditions, in a variety of places. Some of these were court or departmental archives (established for several centuries) which were well-run and had good
317:
to enable public access. Fees were payable by lawyers who in return were permitted to consult a limited number of documents. These charges were abolished for serious historical and literary researchers after a petition was signed in 1851 by 83 people including
462:
came into full effect in 2005: the 30 year rule was abolished and closed records in The National Archives became subject to the same access controls as other records of public authorities. Some records do remain closed for longer periods, however: individual
240:
or adequate catalogues; others were little more than store-rooms. Many of the professional staff of these individual archives simply continued their existing work in the new institution. Many documents were transferred from the
314: 479:
of the day. The chief executive officer who oversaw the office's day-to-day operations was known as the Deputy Keeper of the Records. Deputy Keepers from 1838 to 1958 were:
364:
in south-west London. The Kew building was expanded in the 1990s and by 1997 all records had been transferred from Chancery Lane either to Kew or to the
123: 1105: 323: 313:
Until 1852 no right existed for the general public to consult the records freely, even for scholarly purposes, despite the intention of the
407: 340:, and following the chapel's demolition due to structural unsoundness, was extended onto that original site between 1895 and 1900. 1100: 399: 389: 307: 207: 75: 811: 218:, a senior judge. The Public Record Office still exists as a legal entity, as the enabling legislation has not been modified. 288: 915: 1041: 757: 731: 230:
Surviving part of the Rolls Chapel, now the "Weston Room" of the Maughan Library, King's College London, viewed in 2013
789: 1064: 964: 395: 203: 533:; and the title of the chief executive was changed to Keeper of Public Records. The Keepers from 1958 to 2003 were: 333:
Between 1851 and 1858 a purpose-built archive repository was built next to the Rolls Chapel, to the design of the
459: 1022: 1003: 661: 1055:
The Amateur and the Professional: antiquarians, historians and archaeologists in Victorian England, 1838–1886
403: 20: 116: 556: 889: 24: 496: 776: 511: 373: 55: 677:
Cantwell, John (1984). "The 1838 Public Record Office Act and its aftermath: a new perspective".
538: 523: 451: 357: 263:, a senior judge whose job originally had included responsibility for keeping the records of the 649: 747: 721: 475:
From 1838 to 1958 the nominal head of the office, known as the Keeper of the Records, was the
402:. The HMC moved from its previous office, also located off Chancery Lane, to Kew in 2004. The 348: 299:, many of which were housed in the PRO), had full-time responsibility for running the Office. 365: 337: 704: 226: 942: 292: 356:
The growing size of the archives held by the PRO and by government departments led to the
8: 490: 476: 284: 260: 215: 51: 1079: 529:
The 1958 act transferred responsibility for the PRO from the Master of the Rolls to the
256:
was not moved from Westminster Abbey until 1859, when proper storage had been prepared.
1053: 772: 502: 1060: 1037: 1018: 999: 753: 727: 657: 272: 264: 249: 166: 418:
The archive held the official collection of records of public business for England,
851: 686: 624: 517: 484: 455: 749:
A Directory of Rare Book And Special Collections in the Uk And Republic of Ireland
530: 377: 319: 241: 1074: 919: 327: 280: 199: 191: 109: 95: 968: 855: 690: 599: 1094: 435: 423: 276: 253: 245: 187: 138: 125: 47: 565: 268: 446:
Under the 1958 act, most documents held by the PRO were kept "closed" (or
431: 306:
The Kew building photographed in 2002, shortly before the name change to
85: 369: 334: 1078: 383: 302: 568:(became Chief Executive of The National Archives, and retired 2005) 352:
An original cell of the Public Record Office at the Maughan Library
287:. The first Master of the Rolls to take on this responsibility was 16:
National archive service of the United Kingdom from 1838 until 2003
195: 464: 447: 99: 427: 419: 372:, North London. The Chancery Lane building was acquired by 296: 275:, a chapel for Jews who had converted to Christianity), on 890:"Jeffery Ede: Keeper of Public Records [obituary]" 869:
Latham, R.E. (1974). "Harold Cottam Johnson, 1903–1973 ".
458:"). These provisions changed significantly when the UK's 361: 211: 163: 41: 19:
For the archive in the Australian state of Victoria, see
467:
returns, for example, are kept closed for 100 years.
454:
this period was reduced to 30 years (the so-called "
752:. American Library Association. 2016. p. 184. 291:(d.1851) although his Deputy Keeper, the historian 1052: 918:. Society of Antiquaries of London. Archived from 202:from 1838 until 2003, when it was merged with the 23:. For the Public Records Office of Hong Kong, see 656:. London: Thames & Hudson. pp. 150–152. 384:Merger with the Historical Manuscripts Commission 182:, pronounced as three letters and referred to as 1092: 726:. University of California Press. p. 356. 1034:Chancery Lane: "The strong box of the Empire" 470: 943:"Professor Geoffrey Martin, CBE (1928-2007)" 259:The PRO was placed under the control of the 267:. Its original premises were the mediaeval 1017:. Richmond, Surrey: Public Record Office. 773:Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 706:Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review 1059:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1012: 993: 887: 842:Ede, J.R. (1987). "David Lewis Evans ". 719: 709:. A. Dodd and A. Smith. 1851. p. 9. 676: 408:Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 347: 301: 295:(who wrote a voluminous work on ancient 225: 46:Entrance of the Public Record Office on 1081:The Public Records and The Constitution 410:were and remain separate institutions. 1106:The National Archives (United Kingdom) 1093: 1050: 940: 868: 648: 394:In April 2003 the PRO merged with the 390:The National Archives (United Kingdom) 1031: 888:Chalmers, Duncan (23 December 2006). 1073: 844:Journal of the Society of Archivists 723:The Diary of Samuel Pepys: Companion 679:Journal of the Society of Archivists 654:Domesday Book through Nine Centuries 380:, the university's largest library. 1015:The Public Record Office, 1959–1969 996:The Public Record Office, 1838–1958 841: 194:, was the guardian of the national 13: 1086:. London: Oxford University Press. 987: 450:) for 50 years: under an amending 214:. It was under the control of the 14: 1117: 916:"Alfred Mabbs [obituary]" 600:"Freedom of Information Act 2000" 434:, and the original manuscript of 396:Historical Manuscripts Commission 204:Historical Manuscripts Commission 546:1966–1970: Harold Cottam Johnson 441: 279:at the western extremity of the 40: 957: 934: 908: 881: 862: 835: 826: 804: 782: 460:Freedom of Information Act 2000 343: 234: 1101:Archives in the City of London 941:Jones, Michael; Crook, David. 766: 740: 713: 697: 670: 642: 617: 592: 579: 549:1970–1978: Jeffery Raymond Ede 507:1926–1938: Alfred Edward Stamp 430:proceedings going back to the 1: 572: 404:National Archives of Scotland 315:Public Record Office Act 1838 21:Public Record Office Victoria 413: 7: 426:, including the records of 283:, near the border with the 10: 1122: 1013:Cantwell, John D. (2000). 994:Cantwell, John D. (1991). 832:Cantwell 1991, pp. 569–70. 720:Matthews, William (1970). 471:Deputy Keepers and Keepers 387: 221: 25:Government Records Service 18: 1051:Levine, Philippa (1986). 1036:. Kew: PRO Publications. 965:"Sarah Tyacke: Biography" 856:10.1080/00379818709514343 691:10.1080/00379818409514241 625:"Public Records Act 1958" 543:1960–1966: Stephen Wilson 159: 154: 115: 105: 91: 81: 71: 66: 62: 39: 34: 945:. Lincoln Record Society 792:. Hansard. 8 August 1980 561:1988–1991: Michael Roper 376:in 2001, and is now the 552:1978–1982: Alfred Mabbs 358:Public Records Act 1958 155:Design and construction 790:"Public Record Office" 353: 310: 231: 1032:Lawes, Aidan (1996). 400:The National Archives 374:King's College London 366:Family Records Centre 351: 338:Sir James Pennethorne 308:The National Archives 305: 229: 208:The National Archives 56:King's College London 650:Hallam, Elizabeth M. 293:Sir Francis Palgrave 176:Public Record Office 35:Public Record Office 814:. National Archives 512:Cyril Thomas Flower 491:Thomas Duffus Hardy 477:Master of the Rolls 322:and the historians 285:City of Westminster 261:Master of the Rolls 216:Master of the Rolls 135: /  82:Architectural style 67:General information 629:legislation.gov.uk 604:legislation.gov.uk 503:Henry Maxwell Lyte 354: 311: 232: 139:51.5153°N 0.1106°W 539:David Lewis Evans 524:David Lewis Evans 522:1954–1958: (Sir) 516:1947–1954: (Sir) 510:1938–1947: (Sir) 501:1886–1926: (Sir) 495:1878–1886: (Sir) 489:1861–1878: (Sir) 273:Domus Conversorum 265:Court of Chancery 250:Westminster Abbey 172: 171: 167:James Pennethorne 1113: 1087: 1085: 1070: 1058: 1047: 1028: 1009: 998:. London: HMSO. 981: 980: 978: 976: 967:. Archived from 961: 955: 954: 952: 950: 938: 932: 931: 929: 927: 912: 906: 905: 903: 901: 885: 879: 878: 866: 860: 859: 839: 833: 830: 824: 823: 821: 819: 812:"Census Records" 808: 802: 801: 799: 797: 786: 780: 770: 764: 763: 744: 738: 737: 717: 711: 710: 701: 695: 694: 674: 668: 667: 646: 640: 639: 637: 635: 621: 615: 614: 612: 610: 596: 590: 583: 518:Hilary Jenkinson 485:Francis Palgrave 456:thirty year rule 422:and the central 178:(abbreviated as 150: 149: 147: 146: 145: 144:51.5153; -0.1106 140: 136: 133: 132: 131: 128: 76:National archive 44: 32: 31: 1121: 1120: 1116: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1111: 1110: 1091: 1090: 1075:Pike, Luke Owen 1067: 1044: 1043:978-1-873162354 1025: 1006: 990: 988:Further reading 985: 984: 974: 972: 971:on 25 July 2013 963: 962: 958: 948: 946: 939: 935: 925: 923: 914: 913: 909: 899: 897: 894:The Independent 886: 882: 867: 863: 840: 836: 831: 827: 817: 815: 810: 809: 805: 795: 793: 788: 787: 783: 771: 767: 760: 746: 745: 741: 734: 718: 714: 703: 702: 698: 675: 671: 664: 647: 643: 633: 631: 623: 622: 618: 608: 606: 598: 597: 593: 584: 580: 575: 557:Geoffrey Martin 537:1958–1960: Sir 531:Lord Chancellor 483:1838–1861: Sir 473: 444: 416: 392: 386: 378:Maughan Library 346: 320:Charles Dickens 242:Tower of London 237: 224: 143: 141: 137: 134: 129: 126: 124: 122: 121: 58: 52:Maughan Library 28: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1119: 1109: 1108: 1103: 1089: 1088: 1071: 1065: 1048: 1042: 1029: 1023: 1010: 1004: 989: 986: 983: 982: 956: 933: 922:on 15 May 2011 907: 880: 861: 834: 825: 803: 781: 765: 759:978-1783300167 758: 739: 733:978-0520020979 732: 712: 696: 669: 662: 641: 616: 591: 577: 576: 574: 571: 570: 569: 562: 559: 553: 550: 547: 544: 541: 527: 526: 520: 514: 508: 505: 499: 493: 487: 472: 469: 443: 440: 415: 412: 398:(HMC) to form 388:Main article: 385: 382: 345: 342: 328:Thomas Carlyle 281:City of London 236: 233: 223: 220: 200:United Kingdom 192:City of London 170: 169: 161: 157: 156: 152: 151: 119: 113: 112: 110:United Kingdom 107: 103: 102: 96:City of London 93: 89: 88: 83: 79: 78: 73: 69: 68: 64: 63: 60: 59: 45: 37: 36: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1118: 1107: 1104: 1102: 1099: 1098: 1096: 1084: 1082: 1076: 1072: 1068: 1066:0-521-30635-3 1062: 1057: 1056: 1049: 1045: 1039: 1035: 1030: 1026: 1020: 1016: 1011: 1007: 1001: 997: 992: 991: 970: 966: 960: 944: 937: 921: 917: 911: 895: 891: 884: 876: 872: 865: 857: 853: 849: 845: 838: 829: 813: 807: 791: 785: 778: 774: 769: 761: 755: 751: 750: 743: 735: 729: 725: 724: 716: 708: 707: 700: 692: 688: 685:(5): 277–86. 684: 680: 673: 665: 659: 655: 651: 645: 630: 626: 620: 605: 601: 595: 588: 582: 578: 567: 563: 560: 558: 554: 551: 548: 545: 542: 540: 536: 535: 534: 532: 525: 521: 519: 515: 513: 509: 506: 504: 500: 498: 497:William Hardy 494: 492: 488: 486: 482: 481: 480: 478: 468: 466: 461: 457: 453: 449: 442:Public access 439: 437: 436:Domesday Book 433: 429: 425: 424:UK government 421: 411: 409: 405: 401: 397: 391: 381: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 359: 350: 341: 339: 336: 331: 329: 325: 324:Lord Macaulay 321: 316: 309: 304: 300: 298: 294: 290: 289:Lord Langdale 286: 282: 278: 277:Chancery Lane 274: 270: 266: 262: 257: 255: 254:Domesday Book 251: 247: 246:Chapter House 243: 228: 219: 217: 213: 209: 205: 201: 197: 193: 189: 188:Chancery Lane 185: 181: 177: 168: 165: 162: 158: 153: 148: 120: 118: 114: 111: 108: 104: 101: 97: 94: 90: 87: 84: 80: 77: 74: 70: 65: 61: 57: 53: 49: 48:Chancery Lane 43: 38: 33: 30: 26: 22: 1080: 1054: 1033: 1014: 995: 973:. Retrieved 969:the original 959: 947:. Retrieved 936: 924:. Retrieved 920:the original 910: 898:. Retrieved 893: 883: 874: 870: 864: 850:(4): 304–6. 847: 843: 837: 828: 816:. Retrieved 806: 794:. Retrieved 784: 768: 748: 742: 722: 715: 705: 699: 682: 678: 672: 653: 644: 632:. Retrieved 628: 619: 607:. Retrieved 603: 594: 586: 585:Not "Public 581: 566:Sarah Tyacke 528: 474: 445: 417: 393: 355: 344:20th century 332: 312: 271:(the former 269:Rolls Chapel 258: 238: 235:19th century 183: 179: 175: 173: 160:Architect(s) 92:Town or city 29: 818:17 December 796:17 December 564:1991–2003: 555:1982–1988: 452:act of 1967 432:Middle Ages 210:, based in 142: / 117:Coordinates 1095:Categories 1024:1873162758 1005:0114402248 975:6 February 949:20 January 926:20 January 900:20 January 663:0500250979 573:References 127:51°30′55″N 86:Neo-Gothic 50:, now the 414:Functions 370:Islington 335:architect 252:, though 130:0°06′38″W 1077:(1907). 896:. London 877:: 215–7. 871:Archives 652:(1986). 406:and the 244:and the 206:to form 196:archives 634:15 June 609:15 June 589:Office" 587:Records 222:History 198:of the 190:in the 106:Country 1083:  1063:  1040:  1021:  1002:  756:  730:  660:  465:census 448:secret 186:PRO), 100:London 428:court 420:Wales 297:writs 1061:ISBN 1038:ISBN 1019:ISBN 1000:ISBN 977:2013 951:2013 928:2013 902:2013 820:2022 798:2022 754:ISBN 728:ISBN 658:ISBN 636:2017 611:2017 326:and 174:The 72:Type 852:doi 777:PDF 775:. ( 687:doi 368:in 362:Kew 248:of 212:Kew 184:the 180:PRO 164:Sir 1097:: 892:. 875:11 873:. 846:. 681:. 627:. 602:. 438:. 330:. 98:, 54:, 1069:. 1046:. 1027:. 1008:. 979:. 953:. 930:. 904:. 858:. 854:: 848:8 822:. 800:. 779:) 762:. 736:. 693:. 689:: 683:7 666:. 638:. 613:. 27:.

Index

Public Record Office Victoria
Government Records Service

Chancery Lane
Maughan Library
King's College London
National archive
Neo-Gothic
City of London
London
United Kingdom
Coordinates
51°30′55″N 0°06′38″W / 51.5153°N 0.1106°W / 51.5153; -0.1106
Sir
James Pennethorne
Chancery Lane
City of London
archives
United Kingdom
Historical Manuscripts Commission
The National Archives
Kew
Master of the Rolls

Tower of London
Chapter House
Westminster Abbey
Domesday Book
Master of the Rolls
Court of Chancery

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.

↑