National Archives - Kew Tips?

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by von Poop, Oct 2, 2008.

  1. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Good to see them re-opening but with only six documents a day and open for less than five hours it isn't cost or time effective for those outside of London.

    I wonder if those restrictions will ease in the future?
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    In short.
    • They'll be open Tues. to Fri. 10:00 to 14:50.
    • You must book two weeks in advance of the date you wish to attend (first come, first served).
    • You may request only six documents which you have ordered in advance.
    • You may not be able to access documents recently requested by other visitors as they will be 'quarantined'.
    • Only the First Floor Reading Room will be open.
    • Computers unavailable
    • Car park free!
    Looks like I'm not getting the documents I need this year...

    Historical research & cricket: far too risky; mass political demonstrations and public drinking: hell, yeah!
     
    gash hand and hucks216 like this.
  3. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Only one visit a week allowed.
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Ah, yes, I somehow forgot to add that crucial point.

    Not very good.
     
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    With some of the anti-historical arseholes that are about at the moment, I'm not sure I'd want to let anybody in. Better safe than sorry.

    That aside, the next update will be that they're only opening for two hours, two days a week because no-one's interested in coming...
     
    gash hand and brithm like this.
  6. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Sadly, I think they will take full advantage of Coronavirus to implement their original plans of moving permanently to advance ordering only. On the day ordering will never return.

    Oh, it also sounds like they have greatly reduced the number of copy stands available.
     
    brithm likes this.
  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It was good while it lasted...
     
    brithm likes this.
  8. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    It would be interesting to know how much revenue has been lost from copying, parking, cafe and shop etc.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If they are quarantining documents has anyone told the Post Office that they could be spreading the virus delivering letters and cardboard boxes? Perhaps its a different kind of paper like different leaves ?
     
    gash hand likes this.
  10. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The delays I’ve been experiencing with Royal Mail deliveries I’m beginning to suspect that they’re already quarantining letters and parcels for 72 hours before they think about delivering them.
     
  11. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    The good ship SS Kew Ching sails on merrily, formally labelled "Brand II " according to the minutes of the Kew Executive Team Meeting. See here ( also the Satisfaction Survey item ) towards the end of the collection in the pdf:

    https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/executive-team-minutes-2020-01.pdf

    " Brand II

    The Executive Team was asked to note progress on brand to date and decide whether to green light the proposed next stage of the brand project.
    RC noted that Phase 1, which focussed on rolling out the new visual identity, is due for completion by the end of this financial year. A second phase of brand work was proposed.
    JS spoke about the difficulties with the scale and scope of rebranding all our digital services.
    JS and RC discussed the best way to take forward the brand work for Phase 2
    RC asked the Executive Team to approve the procurement of a brand partner on a call-off contract.
    The Executive team approved the request.
    Action: RC to cost out work and put forward to 2020-21 budget discussion as part of the Business Priorities."
     
  12. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    What on earth is an Inclusive Archive?

    upload_2020-7-9_9-47-13.png

    Especially as it is "perhaps the element of the overall strategic vision with the most radical implications for The National Archives as an institution".

    Call me naive but I thought its role as an institution was to simply safeguard and make the nation's historical documents available for study to all. No more, no less.
     
  13. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    According to the National Archives Annual Report published in July 2019:

    Screen Shot 2020-07-09 at 10.30.31.png
     
  14. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    Is anyone else experiencing continuing problems with the National Archives website? It seems to be constantly down at the moment and when I finally managed to connect, it crashed half way through while I tried to order some online COS documents. I don't know about an Inclusive Archive, I'd just be happy with an accessible to anyone at all archive at the moment.:banghead:

    Regards

    Tom
     
  15. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    It has been inaccessible the three times I've tried it this week.
     
  16. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    For the last couple of mornings I have been trying to access Discovery on Kew's website but I get a message after a Google or Bing search saying the page is not available. The main National Archives Kew website is available but when I click their link to Discovery it is not available. I have looked to see if they are taking it down for updates etc but can't find anything on the main site. Can others help explain what is happening?
     
  17. graeme

    graeme Senior Member

    Morning,

    You are not alone. Its been on and off for a couple of days now. I managed to download a couple of WDs yesterday early afternoon, but then it went off again,

    Regards,

    Graeme
     
  18. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Been having trouble this week too, believe it is down to Jeff changing the archive section of the website to change the font to what look like Courier.

    If only they spent more time digitising than making their website worse.
     

    Attached Files:

    papiermache likes this.
  19. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Worked for me this morning. Downloaded 10 files from CAB79 so hopefully gremlins have been furloughed!

    Regards

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2020
  20. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    An explanation for the new look Discovery is to be found here:

    https://www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk/new-brand-national-archives/

    Quote:

    " In this way, the simplicity of the branding itself becomes a visual representation of two of The National Archives’ key values; openness and inclusivity."

    Eh ?

    Screen Shot 2020-07-11 at 11.30.19.png
     
    timuk likes this.

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