Business, finance and innovation
Records such as designs, patents, advertisements and photography can trace the ingenuity and inventiveness of British industry over the centuries. We see how innovation can stem from rapid technological advancements but also from the hardships faced in wartime.
Business, finance and innovation highlights in pictures
Stories from the collection
The story of The 1888 matchgirls' strike
Read about The 1888 matchgirls' strike
In 1888, the women and girls employed by Bryant & May in the East End of London went out on strike. Why did these workers feel so driven to remove their labour?
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The first American invention to obtain an English patent
These intricate 1716 drawings were submitted by Sybilla Masters in the final stage of securing a patent for machinery for 'cleaning and curing Indian corn'.
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Revealing the (corrupt) record in 14th-century Ireland
In 1325, officials found suspicious mistakes in the account of the former treasurer of Ireland and hauled him through the courts. What did they uncover?
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A medieval Irish roll with hidden grievances
This roll provides a glimpse into how medieval Ireland was governed, but today plays a starring role in the development of scientific methodologies.
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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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Registered design for an expanding travelling basket
In 1866, a British luggage manufacturer attempted to capitalise on the expansion of railway lines with a unique and royal travel bag.
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The Festival of Britain
The National Archives has a wealth of documents, photographs and art work collected during the planning and running of the influential 1951 Festival of Britain.