Aerial photographs at Huntingdonshire Archives

The RAF made the first systematic coverage of Huntingdonshire in 1945-46. BKS Surveys Ltd made the next in 1971. This was on behalf of the then county of Huntingdon and Peterborough. Small areas were photographed in between these times, mainly by the RAF.

Pre-1939 aerial photographs are much rarer. Some were made into postcards which occasionally survive RAF surveys. The Record Office has a set of prints of the 1945-46 survey. This is the most popular among researchers. It shows the county before the large scale changes in agriculture, urbanization and communications since the war.

We also hold prints of various 1957-58 surveys made by the RAF of specific parts of the county. This includes St lves, Yaxley, Fletton, the A1 improvement work at Norman Cross, and the Peterborough City area. These photographs are vertical.

Please contact Historic England for enquiries about copyright of RAF photographs.

The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, SN2 2EH
Email: archive@HistoricEngland.org.uk

Other surveys

From the 1960s, local authorities commissioned aerial photographs from private companies. The Record Office holds prints from some of these surveys. This includes:

Meridian Airmaps Ltd 1965, of the Nene Valley area
Aerofilms Ltd 1965 of Brampton, West Perry and Huntingdon railway station
Meridian 1965 and1969 of Peterborough
Hunting Surveys Ltd of Southern Huntingdonshire
B.K.S Surveys Ltd of the county, 1971

As with the RAF surveys, the Record Office can only supply photocopies for private research. Not for publication.

For more information on availability of aerial photographs see catalogue number 34: Aerial Photographs, in the searchroom.

Aerial photographs at Cambridgeshire Archives

Cambridgeshire Archives holds some aerial photographs for Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely. The main series of surveys are:

1945, 1947, and 1947 Floods [RAF]
1949 [Fairey]
1952, 1954 and 1956 [RAF]
1962 [B.K.S.]
1969 [Meridian]
1987 [CUCAP]
1997 [GeoInformation Group]

In most cases the photographs are vertical, but some are oblique shots. There is a large collection of oblique photographs taken by Aerofilms between 1920 and 1971 [539/]. There are others among the Cambridgeshire County Council's collections, c. 1920-1965. These can be identified by searching our CALM catalogue, by place.

We can sometimes identify if a photograph includes major details of interest. But we recommend you view the images to check the correct area is shown.

Other places to try

The Ordnance Survey holds a large archive of aerial photographs from the early 1970s onwards. These are now with Historic England. Historic England Archive, The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, SN2 2EH telephone: 01793 414600

Cambridge University has also taken a large number of aerial photographs of this part of England. Contact CUCAP (Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography) Library, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN.

Historic England and Cambridge University both supply prints.

Cambridgeshire County Council's Historic Environment Record (HER) has oblique aerial photographs showing archaeological sites.

Further information about aerial photographs may be found in NAPLIB's Directory of Aerial Photographic Collections in the UK (1993).

Air Forces and Airfields

Huntingdonshire has been deeply involved in the history of aviation. Portholme Meadow in Huntingdon was used as an airfield from as early as 1910. This was only two years after the Wright brothers first flew. Before 1914, the Portholme Aviation Company was set up. The company designed its own aeroplanes and built Sopwith Camels under contract.

The first RAF sortie of the Second World War took off from RAF Wyton. This airfield was later the base for the Lancasters of the Pathfinder Squadron. The county has also stationed many USAAF and USAF squadrons.

Huntingdonshire Archives has some books and articles on aviation in the area. Including a reprint of 'Huntingdon: The Aviation Centre (1910).'

Many photographs of aircraft on Portholme can be found in the general photographic illustrations index. Or in the Whitney Collection of photographs. We also have some aerial photographs of airfields, taken in 1945-46. (See the entry for Aerial photographs.)

The Earl of Sandwich, of Hinchingbrooke House in Huntingdon, took a great interest in the development of Portholme as an aerodrome. Papers about the Portholme Aviation Scheme, 1910-1911, can be found in the Hinchingbrooke Collection. Items HINCH 11/136-140.

The Archives Service has microfilm copies of the RAF operations log books for bomber squadrons based in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire during the Second World War. (The originals are at the Public Record Office in Kew.)

The log books include information about:

all the bombers sent on a mission,
the names of those on board,
the selected targets,
bomb load dropped,
damage incurred, and so on.

The microfilms are usually kept at Cambridgeshire Archives. We can take specific films to Huntingdon for consultation if you provide enough notice. Please speak to a member of staff for more details.

Huntingdonshire Archives has an album of photographs and various news cuttings regarding the USAF 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 1952-1980, based at RAF Alconbury, which flew Phantom jets (accession 4336 pt).

Archdeaconry of Huntingdon

The Archdeaconry was founded by Bishop Remigius of Lincoln (1067-1092). It originally comprised the counties of Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire and part of Hertfordshire (Hitchin).

Cambridgeshire left in 1109 and Hitchin Division left in 1609. In 1837 the entire Archdeaconry was transferred from the Diocese of Lincoln to the Diocese of Ely.

The old ecclesiastical peculiars of Brampton, Buckden, Leighton Bromswold and Stow Longa were abolished in 1852 and made subject to the Archdeacon.

Huntingdonshire Archives has a substantial collection of Archdeaconry records. Most Huntingdon Archdeaconry records do not survive from before 1663. Although some occasional items (mainly bishops transcripts and registers of wills) are older.

The records include:

bishops' mandates for induction of priests 1663-1915 (a list is available of these)
acts of the archdeaconry court
records of visitation processes
meeting house petitions (a list is available of these)
archdeacons' notebooks
and (more recently) archdeacons' photographs

The older records were summarily described while still held at the Archdeaconry Library. This was by Rev. W M Noble and S Inskip Ladds in 'The Records of the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon.' In 'Transactions of the Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Archaeological Society' volume 4 pages 165-208. A reprint is available on the searchroom shelves.

Huntingdonshire Archives also has a copy of 'Patronage, Priest and Parish in the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon 1109-1547.' An unpublished PhD thesis kindly donated to the Office by C A Weale. It is available in the searchroom.

The Archdeaconry catalogue is now available online as part of our CALM database.

Army records at Huntingdonshire Archives

31st Hunts Regiment of Foot

This regiment was first raised in 1702. It ceased to exist in July 1881 while stationed at Dover, when it merged with the 70th Foot Surrey Regiment. We have no original records of this Regiment.

1st Hunts Rifles Volunteer Corps

Also known as the Hunts Rifle Volunteers. This grew out of the militia, when voluntary service was introduced in 1850.

It was commanded by the Earl of Sandwich. Its soldiers wore dark green uniforms, allegedly the 'colour of the county.' The force moved to purpose-built barracks in Huntingdon in 1855, and the Territorial Army replaced it in 1908. Please see the Hinchingbrooke Collection catalogue for references to surviving documents.

1st Hunts Light Horse Volunteer Corps

Not to be outdone by Sandwich, the Duke of Manchester raised his own force in 1860. Its soldiers wore bright red tunics. In 1863 the 1st and 2nd Cambs Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps joined. The TA replaced it in 1908. Please see the various Manchester Collection catalogues for more information.

4th (Hunts) Volunteer Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

Raised on 4 December 1900 during the Boer War, as part of the Bedfordshire Regiment. On 1 April 1908 it became the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Most local men left in 1914 to join the Hunts Cyclists. We have no original documents here.

Hunts Cyclists Battalion

Raised just before World War One, on 27 February 1914, but was split up before seeing action. The Battalion was formally disembodied on 14 April 1919. It was reconstituted as the 5th (Hunts) Battalion, Northants Regiment. We have a modern list of soldiers who served in this battalion, compiled by Martyn Smith.

Hunts Territorial Force Association

Set up following the Territorial Army Act of 1908. We have only some clothing and equipment ledgers and correspondence, 1914-1916: accession 3715.

5th (Hunts) Battalion (T), Northants Regiment

Raised on 7 February 1920, and based in Huntingdon until 1927 when its HQ moved to Peterborough. We have no original records here.

Assize Courts

Before 1971, most serious crimes were tried before pairs of professional judges who went on circuits through groups of counties. They held 'assize' sessions in each county twice a year. The Quarter Sessions Court would refer serious or difficult cases up to the assizes. Cases which assize judges did not deal with before moving on to the next county were left with the Quarter Sessions. So the jurisdiction of the two courts often coincided.

The assize circuits had their own Clerks of Assize who kept all the records. These ultimately found their way to the National Archives (former Public Record Office). This is where many of the assize records for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire are.

Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely

Cambridgeshire was part of the Norfolk Circuit up to 1876 and the South Eastern thereafter. Practically all assize records for the county are held at the National Archives in Kew. The Isle of Ely had its own separate assizes. These were held at Ely and Wisbech until 1836, when the Bishop of Ely's temporal jurisdiction over the Isle was abolished.

Minute books for the plea side (civil business) 1801-1836 and the Crown side (criminal business) 1801-1836 are among records of the Clerk of the Peace deposited at Cambridgeshire Archives.

There also papers about assize cases c. 1792-1822 among the records of the Chief Bailiff of the Isle of Ely [283/] and calendars of prisoners for trial at the Ely Assizes, 1825-1835 [Ely UDC].

Cambridge University Library holds Plea rolls and gaol delivery rolls for the Isle of Ely Assizes from the 15th - late 18th century.

'The Assizes Held at Cambridge AD 1260', W. M. Palmer (1930) is a condensed translation of the Cambridgeshire assize roll for that year with an informative introduction.

Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire was on the Norfolk Circuit until 1876, and on the South Eastern Circuit thereafter. The majority of the surviving records are at the National Archives. Some records of the Huntingdonshire assizes (especially from the reign of Charles II) appear to have remained within the county.

These records eventually made their way via Councillor Tebbutt and the Norris Museum in St Ives to Huntingdonshire Archives in 1955 (accession 251). Here they were catalogued with the records of the Clerk of the Peace. Even though the two Clerks were in principle different officials. Search online catalogue for Huntingdonshire Assizes records.

Huntingdonshire Archives holds the assize rolls for 1653, 1660-1688, and 1694. The rolls include writs, indictments, bonds, and coroners' inquests. C F Tebbut published some extracts from the assize rolls in Extracts from Assize Rolls of Huntingdonshire. A copy is available at the Record Office for reference.

See also Quarter Sessions.

Baptist Church

The Baptists are a Protestant denomination, founded in Amsterdam in 1609. They are opposed to traditional infant baptism. And believe in baptism by total immersion for adult believers only.

Cambridgeshire Archives holds records of the following Baptist churches, chapels and organisations:

Cambridgeshire Baptist Association
Cambridgeshire Baptist Ministers Fellowship
Cambridgeshire Sunday School Union
Barton Baptist Church
Bottisham Lode Strict Baptist Chapel
Cambridge, Eden Baptist Church
Cambridge, St Andrews Street
Zion Baptist Church Chatteris
West Park Baptist Church
Comberton Baptist Church
Comberton/West Group Of Churches (Barton, Comberton, Coton and Grantchester)
Cottenham Baptist Old Meeting
Grantchester Baptist Church
Harston Baptist Church
Landbeach Baptist Church
Milton Baptist Church
Great Shelford Baptist Church
Soham Baptist Church
Stapleford Particular Baptist Church
Teversham Baptist Chapel
Thetford Baptist Church and Willingham Tabernacle Baptist Church

Huntingdonshire Archives

The Baptist Church has always had a strong presence in Huntingdonshire. Two chapels (at Fenstanton and Warboys) were established as early as 1644. The Baptists benefitted from the evangelical revival of the 18th century and a number of huge chapels were built. Bluntisham, for example, could seat 700 people.

Huntingdonshire Archives holds original records of the following Baptist churches and chapels:

Bluntisham Baptist Meeting House
Broughton Baptist Church
Ellington Baptist Church
Great Gidding Particular Baptist Church
Godmanchester Strict Baptist Church
Great Gransden Baptist Church
Hartford Baptist Church
Huntingdon Trinity Church
Kimbolton Independent Baptist Church
Offord Darcy Baptist Church
Perry Baptist Church
St Neots Strict Baptist Church
Somersham Baptist Church
Spaldwick
Great Staughton Baptist Chapel
Little Stukeley Baptist Church
Hail Weston Baptist Church
Winwick Union Chapel
Woodhurst Chapel
Woodston Oundle Road Baptist Church

The records of Peterborough Park Road Baptist Church were transferred to Peterborough Local Studies and Archives in 2009.

We also hold some records of the Huntingdonshire Association of Baptist and Congregational Churches. And microfilm copies of some church records held elsewhere. Please note that some churches have set closure periods on their records.

See also

Nonconformist Churches
Methodist Churches

Bishop's Transcripts

Bishops transcripts (BTs for short) were copies of parish registers made by the incumbents and sent to the Diocesan office yearly. There are often many discrepancies between a parish church's own registers and copies sent to the Bishop.

Most Cambridgeshire parishes fell within the Diocese of Ely. The Bishop's Transcripts, generally dating from 1599, are held with the Ely Diocesan Records at Cambridge University Library. BTs for Isleham in the Peculiar of Isleham and Freckenham are also available there.

Many of the parish register transcripts available in the searchroom have been checked against the Bishop's Transcripts. Most marriages from BTs have been included in Boyd's Marriage index and supplements.

Bishop's Transcripts for the 14 parishes in the Archdeaconry of Sudbury are at the Bury St. Edmunds' branch of the Suffolk Record Office. The following microfilm is available at Cambridgeshire Archives:

Burwell:1567-1641, 1663-99
Cheveley: 1567-1641, 1663-99
Chippenham: 1567-1641, 1663-99
Wood Ditton: 1569-1641, 1663-99
Fordham: 1567-1641, 1663-99
Kirtling: 1570-1640, 1665-99
Newmarket, All Saints: 1594-1640, 1665-99
Newmarket, St. Mary: 1563-1641, 1663-99
Snailwell: 1570-1641, 1663-99
Soham: 1563-1641, 1663-99
Wicken: 1599-1700

BTs for those Cambridgeshire parishes in the Archdeaconry of Norfolk are at the Norfolk Record Office. (For example Outwell, Upwell and Welney.)

Most Huntingdonshire BTs survive from 1604 until about 1858 or 1859. Although usually with many large gaps. Before 1825 they were sent to the Diocesan Registry at Lincoln. After this they were sent to the Archdeaconry Office in Huntingdon. Most earlier transcripts were transferred shortly afterwards. (Although some of the very early ones did not transfer until 1938.)

There is a notice of the 1825 change pasted in the Great Catworth baptism register for the period (HP14/1/2/1).

The catalogue of Bishops Transcripts at Huntingdonshire Archives is available on the CALM online catalogue.

Boards of Guardians

Following the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834 Boards of Guardians were appointed. They administered groups of parishes in poor law unions. And Boards of Guardians were empowered to build workhouses. Various additional duties were added over time. (Such as vaccination from 1840, rate assessment from 1862.)

In 1930 workhouses were renamed Public Assistance Institutions. They were removed from Guardians' control to be placed under the control of County Councils. Further records can be found in County Council Public Assistance Committee minutes.

There are many books available on how the Guardians operated. Including:

Andy Reid, 'The Union Workhouse' (BAHL 1994)
Michael E Rose, 'The English Poor Law '(David and Charles 1971)
Sidney and Beatrice Webb, 'English Poor Law History Part II volumes 1 and 2' (London 1929)

Local workhouses are discussed in 'In and Out of the Workhouse' (Workers Education Association 1978).

Cambridgeshire Archives

Cambridge Union: minutes and committee minutes; letter books; financial records; registers of births, deaths and inmates; creed registers; records about lunacy, property, boarding out, vaccination and settlement and removal.
Caxton and Arrington Union: minutes; papers about property; financial records; records of the relieving officer; registers of births and deaths; records of vaccination.
Chesterton Union: minutes; correspondence; workhouse plans; records of the relieving officer; financial records; registers of births and deaths; creed registers; vaccination records.
Ely Union: minutes; creed register; register of mental defectives; letter books; financial records; school attendance registers; contracts for building workhouse; map of district; register of services in chapel.
Linton Union: minutes; correspondence; plans; financial records; relieving officer's records; registers of admissions and removals of mentally defective patients; creed register; records of vaccination.
Newmarket Union: collector's accounts; relieving officer's records; records of vaccination.
Royston Union: District Medical officers' contracts; vaccination records.
St. Ives Union (Swavesey district): birth returns and vaccination records.
Whittlesey Union: minutes; admission and discharge books; letter book; financial records; deeds of workhouse site; school fees order book.
Wisbech Union: minutes; ledgers; relief order books; letter books; creed register; registers of births and deaths; register of inmates; officers' service registers.
North Witchford: minutes; financial records; register of officers and servants; dietary.

Huntingdonshire Archives

Records of Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots Boards of Guardians are held at Huntingdonshire Archives. They include:

minute books
admission and discharge registers
creed registers
occasional workhouse plans
many financial records

The registers of births and deaths in each of the three workhouses have been transcribed and indexed. They are available in the searchroom. You can browse an index to the admissions at Huntingdon Union Workhouse (1837-1874) under the reference KGH/3/3/1.

Peterborough Board of Guardians included much of northern Huntingdonshire. Records are currently at Northamptonshire Record Office.

See also

Poor Law records after 1834
Workhouses after 1835
Workhouses before 1835

Brewery records

Records at Huntingdon Archives

Gotobed & Son, Cambridge

Brewery sale particulars, 1850: 560/21

The Fenstanton Brewery

Brewery sale particulars, 1894: 3294 & ED/4169/1/4

Murfin’s Robin Hood Brewery, Great Staughton

Brewery sale particulars and plan, 1898: 559/8/3

Huntingdon Brewery records

This collection includes the records of Marshall Brothers Brewery (originally Herbert’s Brewery). And the Falcon Brewery of Jenkins and Jones (originally Pumfrett’s Brewery). The two breweries entered into a working agreement in 1919. They amalgamated in 1932 to become Huntingdon Brewery.

In 1950 the Brewery merged with East Anglian Breweries. Huntingdonshire Archives has catalogued the following collections of Huntingdon Brewery records:

Deeds, 1679-1910: 1626
Records of Falcon and Marshall’s, 1883-1950: 1795

Breweries

Deeds, 1679-1925, 1982
Deeds, 1679-1876
Miscellaneous records include:
Sale Particulars, Pumfrett’s Brewery, 1849: 49/2
Falcon Brewery plan, n.d: 3399
Falcon Brewery advert and photograph of Brewery offices, 1910: HP46/30/4/2
Photograph of Marshall Brothers [early 20th cent.]: WH3/2317
Brewery
Photographs of Marshall Brothers advertising signs, 1912; c.1920; 1980s: WH3/2501A; 2598; 3101-2
Newspaper cutting re Huntingdon, 1961: 574

Sandifer’s Brewery, Needingworth

Brewery sale particulars, 1888: 1294 & ED/4169/1/3

Buckle & Co., Peterborough

Brewery sale particulars, 1853: 1818

Fowler Brothers Brewery, St Neots

Conveyance, 1814: 563/1

Day & Son Brewery, St Neots

Day books, trade books etc., 1811-1885: 1299
Brewery sale particulars, 1840: M35A/6/11
Brewery sale particulars, 1919: 3165
Photograph, c1963: PH69A/81
Brewery history notes, 1980s: Local History file

Paine & Co. Brewery, St Neots

Diaries and registers, 1903-1937: 2501
Order books, ledgers etc., 1853-1915: 3254
Day books (2), 1881-1895: 4078
Deeds, 1691-1991: 4242
Working journals and ledgers, 1951-1985: 4733
Photographs of Brewery before conversion, [1990s]: 5218/2/344

Yaxley Brewery

Rent book of Thomas Waite, miller and brewer, 1843-1864: 345/1
Brewery sale poster, 1856: 345/5

Brick Companies

There are patches of brick clay near Peterborough, some fenland villages in Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Ely. Fletton and Yaxley have particularly large deposits. A number of brick companies were formed and floated at the end of the 19th century. They hoped to win markets by their good railway connections with the rest of the country. But by the end of the 1920s most of these companies had been bought by the London Brick Co. Ltd.

Huntingdonshire Archives holds records of:

Beebys Brick Co. (Yaxley)
Dogsthorpe Star Brick Co.
Farcet Brick Co.
Hicks and Co. Ltd. (Fletton)
Itters Brick Co. Ltd. (Fletton)
Manchester estate brickyards (Ellington, Grafham, Kimbolton and Great Staughton)
Northam Brick Co. Ltd. (Yaxley and Whittlesey)
New Peterborough Brick Co. Ltd.
Saxon Brick Co. Ltd. (Whittlesey)
Wayboys Brick Works Co. (Whittlesey)

There is an excellent history of the Fletton area brickyards by Richard Hillier: Clay That Burns (London Brick Co. Ltd. 1981).

Cambridgeshire Archives holds records of:

Whittlesea Central Brick Company 1898-1968 [681/B1-151] (see also History of Whittlesea Central Brick Co. Ltd. by Harry Bark Hartley, c.1949. R83/049)

Sale particulars for various brickworks including:

Haddenham Brick Company, 1904 [1026/SP245]
Mount Pleasant Brick Works, Gamlingay, 1917 [296/SP1091]
Royston Cement and Brick Works, Barrington, 1904 [296/SP1026]
Belle Vue Brick Works, Gamlingay, 1912 [515/SP474]

See also 'The Brick Industry in West Cambridgeshire in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries' M. A. T. Coles, 2005.

See also Business records.

Burial Boards

The Burial Act of 1853 enabled parishes and boroughs to establish and administer their own cemeteries. In 1894 district and parish councils could adopt the powers of their local burial boards if they so resolved. These burial boards were set up to supplement, rather than replace, local churchyards.

The law relating to burial boards and authorities was complex. There were no fewer than 15 specific Burial Acts passed by Parliament between 1852 and 1906. As well as many other acts concerning local government, churches, coroners and so on which impinged upon burial law.

You can find all the relevant acts and statutes from 1803 to 1939 in A. Fellows 'The Law of Burial' (London 1940). This is a practical guide on the administration of burial grounds. E. Austin's 'Burial Grounds and Cemeteries' (London 1907) is also worth consulting. Copies of both these works are in the Huntingdonshire Archives library, available on request.

Huntingdonshire Archives holds some records of:

Eynesbury Burial Board
Huntingdon Burial Board
Ramsey Burial Board
St Ives Public Cemetery Co.
St Neots Burial Board

Burial Board records from Fletton, Woodston and Stanground are now held at Peterborough Crematorium. We have photocopies of the burial registers and indexes. Burial Board records for Brampton, Broughton, Fenstanton, Farcet, Hemingford Grey, Houghton and Wyton, Stilton, and other parishes, have been deposited as part of the records of parish councils, and have been listed as such.

Further records of Huntingdon, Eynesbury, St Neots and Ramsey burial grounds, as well as Godmanchester, Buckden and Eaton Socon grounds, are held by Huntingdonshire District Council. The St. Ives Public Cemetery Co. register of burials 1848-1938 was returned to St Ives Town Council in 1981.

Browse Burial Board records on our online catalogue.

Bush Collection

This collection comprises the letters, deeds and estate papers of Richard Cromwell, successor as Protector to his father Oliver Cromwell.

The collection passed into the possession of the Bush family, and was deposited at the Record Office in 1962. The collection is sometimes known as Bush-Cromwell or occasionally Cromwell-Bush.

The collection includes documents about Henry Cromwell, Lord Deputy of Ireland 1657-1659. And some manorial records of various Cromwell estates. Together with additions of later 17th and 18th century documents and printed material.

From the family point of view the most interesting part of the collection is the series of letters written by Richard Cromwell to his daughter Elizabeth after 1660. This was when she was resident in Hursley, and he was having to live under assumed names.

The collection also includes copies of letters written by Oliver Cromwell, and some notes on Cromwell family history. Some items from the collection are on display in the Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon.

The catalogue for the Bush Collection is available online.

See also

Cromwell Collection

Business records

The survival of local business records can be quite haphazard. They may have fallen in to private hands or been destroyed following sudden closure or bankruptcy. Many small or family businesses would not have been run on a formal basis. And would not have generated the type of records you might come across in larger, long-established companies.

The range and breadth of records that do survive can also vary widely from business to business. Many small businesses may only have relatively recent account books. Larger companies may also have minute books, share records, personnel records, technical drawings and publicity material.

If you trying to locate the records of a particular business, try an online search of the National Register of Archives. This is now integrated with the National Archives Discover catalogue.

The Business Archives Council promotes the preservation of business records. They do not store records but their website contains some useful guidance.

Cambridgeshire Archives holds some company records. This includes:

Chivers of Histon, jam makers
John Mortlock & Co. of Cambridge, bankers
Edward Towgood & Sons of Sawston, paper manufacturers