The National Archives - Kew

The Brutalist building was designed by John Cecil Clavering for the Property Services Agency and was opened in 1977. Previously, public records were kept in a building on Chancery Lane, and the present building is a combination of the Public Records Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission.

Amongst it are the many treasures held here:

·         A copy of the Doomsday Book (1086), The final version of the Magna Carta (1225),

·         Autographed confession of Guy Fawkes from the Gunpowder Plot (1605),

·         The last will of William Shakespeare with the famous playwright's signature (1616)

·         Manuscript record of Charles I's trial for treason, written by John Phelps (1649)

·         Indictment letter for the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin (1739)

·         Last will of the famous author Jane Austen (1817)

·         Copy of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)

·         Signed letter of abdication by Edward VIII (1936)

It’s tucked away between the river and Mortlake Road with very little signage, yet it occupies a prominent site in Kew.