About Southwark archives

Southwark archives collects and organises historical records and reference materials. These tell the story of Southwark and the people who have lived, worked and played here.

Records are documents that tell us about a person or organisation’s actions, opinions, decisions or beliefs. 

Archives are records that are important enough to preserve. 

Some of them explain the history of a subject, while others are memories of people who lived in Southwark.

What you can find at Southwark archives

Records we have in the archive include: 

• historic photographs and drawings
• press cuttings 
• films
• maps
• parish registers 
• poor law records

We hold records of local: 

• people, families and properties
• organisations like churches, schools, businesses, and political and social groups 
• government bodies like the council, and the metropolitan boroughs and civil parishes that came before it

Our local history reference library has books, research notes and newspaper cuttings to help visitors understand our archives. We also have: 

• old local newspapers
• copies of some government records like the census
• documents for events like tickets, posters and flyers

Donate your records

We’re always keen to receive new historical records. 

If you have any material that you think would be of interest, find out more about how you can help us build our collections.

Contact us

Contact or visit the archives.