Institutions holding historical maritime resources
Institutions housing historical maritime resources and reference materials.
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The collections and materials housed at numerous institutions worldwide complement the Heritage Centre resources. From crew lists, navy lists and passenger lists, to specialist local shipbuilding collections, these records may help researchers with additional details or new leads for their enquiries. Below is a list of a few of these institutions, more of which can be found in "Maritime Information: A guide to libraries and sources of information in the United Kingdom".
Lloyd’s Marine Collection
The Lloyd's Marine collection, housed at the Guildhall Library in London, comprises the historical marine records of Lloyd's of London. The collection contains information on merchant shipping, marine casualties and shipping movements from circa 1740. The sources include the British Mercantile Navy List, Lloyd's Register and other classification societies, and the UK Board of Trade and Ministry of Transport.
Researchers may consult copies of Lloyd's List, Lloyd's Captains' Register, and the Shipping Gazette and retrieve information on troopships, shipwrecks and missing vessels, voyage records cards, and war losses.
Contact details:
Guildhall Library Aldermanbury London, EC2P 2EJ | +44 (0)20 7332 1868 |
Caird Library
The Caird Library, housed on the premises of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, stores various printed and manuscript materials, including books, diaries and journals, pamphlets, and periodicals. Instrumental are the shipping company records, crew lists and official logs, Masters and Mates Certificates, and ship plans (stored offsite).
The collections also include information on navigation, emigration, piracy, and astronomy. The library is also a good starting point for researchers interested in the Royal Navy.
Contact details:
National Maritime Museum Romney Road London, SE10 9NF | +44 (0)20 8312 6516 |
Tyne & Wear Archives
Tyne & Wear Archives, based in the Discovery Museum in Newcastle, houses collections relative to centuries of regional records, including vital local industries such as shipbuilding, mining, and engineering. Shipbuilding records comprise ship plans and reports from shipyards in Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside and more.
Researchers may delve into marine engineering, ship outfitting and repairing, as well as specific records on tugs, ferries, and colliers. Other collections provide information on ship brokers, insurance, and trade regulations.
Contact details:
Discovery Museum Blandford Square Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4JA | +44 (0)191 277 2248 |
Bartlett Library
The Bartlett Library has been incorporated into the Bartlett Maritime Research Centre at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. The library stores extensive records on Falmouth Harbour, including Fox's Falmouth Arrivals, the Harbour Master's Journals and Harbour Committee minutes books.
Other relevant records document the construction of small vessels, among which plans and archives of boat designers and builders. The collection also includes a comprehensive reference section on merchant shipping and company histories, fishing and fisheries, and a selection of Naval materials.
Contact details:
National Maritime Museum Cornwall Discovery Quay Falmouth, TR11 3QY | +44 (0)132 621 4579 |
Admiralty Library
The Admiralty Library is part of the Naval Historical Branch in Portsmouth. Researchers will find information on all aspects of Naval history, including merchant ships requisitioned or lost during the World Wars. The records held in the collection include the Second World War Admiralty War Diaries. Information on ships' badges and flags can also be retrieved.
Contact details:
Naval Historical Branch HM Naval Base PP20 Portsmouth, PO1 3HL | +44 (0)239 272 5297 |
Chatham Dockyard Historical Society
The Chatham Dockyard Historical Society stores artefacts, photographs, models and ships' badges collected by former Chatham Dockyard employees. The Society's library holds records of Naval dockyards, vessels and general history. Reference sources include Navy Lists, transactions of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, Lloyd's Register of Ships and Jane's Fighting Ships.
Contact details:
Chatham Historic Dockyard Dock Road Chatham, ME4 4TE | Website |
Oceans Past Initiative
The Oceans Past Initiative (OPI) is a global research network for maritime historical research, intending to highlight knowledge and understanding of how life in the oceans has changed in the long term. OPI actively promotes and facilitates further research, sharing resources and engaging with the academic community.
Members and partners have produced a variety of publications, including books, articles and related materials. The publications range on different topics, with an eye to policy making and asserting Indigenous rights.
Contact details: