Archive Collection
Search the Archive Collection using standard or advanced search.
Search the Archive Collection using standard or advanced search.
What you can expect to find in the Archive Collection
The Lloyd’s Register Foundation Heritage Centre looks after the historic records, library and artefacts created by, or collected by, Lloyd’s Register. These include a wealth of information on historical shipping documents that can help maritime history research. Most of the archive records cover Lloyd’s Register surveying activity from 1834 up to the early 1960s. Very few records are currently available after, or before this date.
What records are in the archive?
Highlighting the main types of records held within the Lloyd's Register Foundation archive.
Frequently asked questions
- Ship survey reports
- Ship plans, designs and technical drawings
- Forms and certificates relating to surveying of ships and equipment
- Correspondence concerning the survey and inspection of ships
- Sometimes photographs of ships or parts of ships
- Minute books and papers concerning the various committees of Lloyd’s register (LR/1)
- Estate papers, covering building plans, contracts, agreements, correspondence related to the design and building of the Grade 2* listed building in Fenchurch Street (LR/3)
- Staff records for surveyors, and other staff, employed by Lloyd’s Register (LR/4)
Records for most of the ships surveyed by Lloyd’s Register between 1834-1960 have been digitised and are available to search on the catalogue. The best way to search the catalogue for a ship, is by using a ships name using the ‘Vessel’ database which links the archive records to a specific ship. You can also search by ship builder, shipyard or build year if you do not know the name of the ship. It can be helpful to also consult the Register of Shipping when researching, as it can help confirm you have found the correct ship.
[please note that there are sometimes errors on the catalogue, please do not hesitate to contact us using the forms on the website and we will correct the error]
You can also search by document type, title or date of creation. There is an option to search digitised records only is available, please note that not all catalogued records have been digitised and some of the records may never be digitised.
The Heritage Centre holds records for other classification societies that amalgamated with Lloyd’s Register over the years, namely the Liverpool Underwriters Registry and the British Corporation. There are also other records for other organisations, businesses, and individuals that were deposited with us such as documents for the Furness Shipbuilding Company (FSC), Bowring Steamship Company (BSSCL), and Cutty Sark Preservation Society (CSPS).
There are also other collections which we have purchased over the years, including the Frank Strike photographic collection (FSC), and the Godfrey H Walker photograph collection (GHW1) and various other individual records such as ship logbooks and apprentice indentures.
[Please note that the records above have not been digitised]
Physical access to collections is currently limited as we await final building works to our renovated archive reading room and storage areas. Please keep up to date with news on our website, newsletter or social media channels.
The Heritage Centre does not hold archival records for ship crew, passengers, or cargo; these were not recorded as part of the survey for classification. The captain of a ship was recorded as part of the survey, but very few references to other ship crew exist in the archive.
We hold extracts from ship logs, when requested for a survey, and we have collected a few log books over the years, but these are not a comprehensive set of records.