Introduction

The collections cover the area of the present London Borough of Camden, which was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Hampstead, Holborn and St Pancras. Before 1900 this comprised the parishes of Hampstead, St Andrew Holborn above Bars, including the Liberty of Saffron Hill, St George the Martyr Queen Square, St Giles in the Fields, St George Bloomsbury, and St Pancras.

The total number of items including uncatalogued material, is estimated to be about 180,000. We aim to keep anything that helps reflect life in Camden past and present and are continually adding items.

The materials held include books, pamphlets and periodicals; London and local directories; electoral registers; London, parish, estate and Ordnance Survey maps; illustrations including photographs, prints, paintings, drawings and slides; local newspapers and newscuttings; leaflets from local organisations and other ephemera; theatre programmes and playbills; microfilms (including census returns); tapes, films and videos; and a very small number of museum objects. A number of special collections are held, for example the Heal Collection on St Pancras and the Kate Greenaway Collection.

Archives of the former parishes, boards and boroughs and of the London Borough of Camden are housed in the Centre. The earliest parish records date from 1618. Over 13,000 rating and valuation records are held, the earliest ratebook dating from 1726. Lists of most of the pre-1965 local authority records held in the Centre can be searched on the Access to Archives website at www.a2a.org.uk. Other archives have been deposited, including the registers of Highgate Cemetery, records of local societies and bodies, some local business records, personal papers, letters from famous residents, title deeds and other documents.