The story of
Anthony Blunt's confession
New
Security Service files paint a vivid picture of what happened when Anthony Blunt – then employed in the royal household – admitted spying for the Soviet Union.
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
Karl Muller and the fatal lemon
When can a lemon have fatal consequences? If it proves you are, in fact, a wartime spy…
Focus on
The Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster
On one tragic night in March 1943 in Bethnal Green, East London, 173 people lost their lives taking shelter from German bombing as the air raid sirens sounded.
Record revealed
The proclamation of Ned Ludd
New
This note threatens death upon anyone talking to the authorities about the Luddites, textile workers protesting against new, labour-saving technology.
The story of
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?
The story of
John Blanke
John Blanke was a trumpeter at the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He is one of the earliest people of colour in England we have records about.
Focus on
A queer working-class haven: Lady Malcolm’s Servants Balls
Lady Malcolm’s elaborate Servants’ Balls allowed queer, working-class staff to forge a unique space for themselves. But these events became plagued by scandal.