BMHS Archive Collection on Show at Lambeth Archives - TRAVEL
Lambeth Archives, London, SW2 1ET
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Join us for an open afternoon exploring our collection, with a special focus on TRAVEL in the music hall and variety world. From rail and steamship to motor car, performers were constantly on the move - touring across the United Kingdom and further afield. Come and discover the items in our collection that tell this story of life on the road. This will also be a first opportunity to see material from the Ella Shields archive donated by her family earlier this year, including her travels to Australia.
Opportunities to handle items from our archive have been limited in the past as we lacked the space and facilities to be able to offer this. Now we are settled at our new home within Lambeth Archives this will be a chance for you to explore a range of original items from our collection to give you some idea of the material we hold - posters, scrapbooks, programmes, postcards and costumes. The event will be introduced by Anna McNally (our freelance archivist) and Alison Young.
Please note this is not an exhibition or a formal display: there will be a range of items for you to browse at your own pace. While we can't guarantee that any specific items will be available on the day, we can provide advice about researching topics or individuals in our collection.
Please arrive at Lambeth Archives at 1.45pm in time for the 2pm start. The event will end at 4pm. Please note that we are not able to provide refreshments, due to having original historic documents on display.
Access information: there is a disabled access toilet and wheelchair access throughout the building.
A booking fee will be added to your ticket price when you check out. This helps us to manage the running costs of our events and administer the box office.
Image of Ella Sheilds leaving for Australia 1925 - BMHS Archive ref. C00292/12/022.
Image of the search room at Lambeth Archives - Sam Mellish Photography.
Opportunities to handle items from our archive have been limited in the past as we lacked the space and facilities to be able to offer this. Now we are settled at our new home within Lambeth Archives this will be a chance for you to explore a range of original items from our collection to give you some idea of the material we hold - posters, scrapbooks, programmes, postcards and costumes. The event will be introduced by Anna McNally (our freelance archivist) and Alison Young.
Please note this is not an exhibition or a formal display: there will be a range of items for you to browse at your own pace. While we can't guarantee that any specific items will be available on the day, we can provide advice about researching topics or individuals in our collection.
Please arrive at Lambeth Archives at 1.45pm in time for the 2pm start. The event will end at 4pm. Please note that we are not able to provide refreshments, due to having original historic documents on display.
Access information: there is a disabled access toilet and wheelchair access throughout the building.
A booking fee will be added to your ticket price when you check out. This helps us to manage the running costs of our events and administer the box office.
Image of Ella Sheilds leaving for Australia 1925 - BMHS Archive ref. C00292/12/022.
Image of the search room at Lambeth Archives - Sam Mellish Photography.
