Explore the collection
Discover the stories behind the records. Read articles about the incredible people whose lives can be traced in the archive, or go deep into new perspectives on historical events. Browse themed picture galleries ranging from world famous documents to hidden gems.
What will you find in the collection?
Stories from the collection
Dive in to the human stories our records reveal – from the curious and unexpected to the truly extraordinary.
The story of Thomas Cromwell NEW
Read about Thomas Cromwell
Through intrigue and ambition Thomas Cromwell rose to become one of Henry VIII's key advisors. What can records at The National Archives tell us about his life?
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The story of
Louis Wain
Artist and illustrator Louis Wain (1860–1939) achieved great fame for his whimsical drawings of cats, but his story is also a sad one of personal tragedy.
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The story of
Sir Ludwig Guttmann and the birth of the Paralympic Games
In the summer of 1948, neurologist Ludwig Guttmann set up a sporting competition between patients. It was the birth of the Paralympic Games.
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Record revealed
Sir Henry Cole’s rat
Our collection includes many weird and wonderful records – one of the weirdest is undoubtedly a small box containing the remains of two long-dead rats.
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Record revealed
List of immigrant Londoners from 1483
This 15th-century list of ‘alien’ residents, gathered for tax purposes, gives us a remarkable insight into London’s medieval immigrant population.
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Focus on
Emily Capper and the 1934 Gresford Colliery disaster
Our records tell the story of Emily Capper's desperate campaign to recover the bodies of the victims, including that of her son.
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Focus on
Section 28: impact, fightback and repeal
What was the everyday reality for LGBTQ+ people in the 80s and 90s living under the infamous Section 28, and how was it eventually repealed?