Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service

Formerly Bedfordshire Record Office. Established 1913. See Guide to the Bedfordshire Record Office (1957), Guide Supplement (1966), Guide to the Russell Estate Collections for Bedfordshire and Devon to 1910 (1966).

Principal collections: Payne Papers, including material relating to West Indian plantations, late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries

Letters of Admiral Sir George Byng including on leaving Admiralty, 1710-26.

Letter from the Admiralty to Lord St John regarding his request for passage to Corunna or Lisbon in a man-of-war for Ensign St John, 30 June 1813

Notebook of list of names of naval officers to be interviewed at Admiralty Board, April 1835.

Papers concerned with removal of Sir Spencer Robinson from Admiralty office, 1871.

Letters from Marchioness Grey to Mary Gregory including relating to trial of Admiral Byng, December 1756 - January 1757 (see L30/9a/3/2 & 7)

Logbook of the Sir William Bensley carrying male convicts, 1816-18.

Notes on William Garratt of Roxton, convict transported to Australia in 1840.

Letters from Henry Badcock, 1849-51, including relating to voyage to Australia.

Paper relating to French gains in Newfoundland, 20 February 1783

Paper relating to area of Newfoundland for French fishing, 1783.

Correspondence relating to the Newfoundland fishery, 1782-3.

Maps and charts of English Channel, Spain, Mediterranean, east coast of South America, Gulf and Windward Islands, 1789-1800.

Panorama of Nelson's defeat of French at the Nile, 1 August 1798.

Sketch of sea-going ship etched in parchment cover of parish register, eighteenth century.

Printed transcript of letter from Edward VI to Sir Barnarby Fitzpatrick with itinerary of progress to Portsmouth, Southampton, etc. with mention of defences, on 22 August 1552.

 Duke of Bedford vouchers and accounts for holidays to Brighton, Worthing, Bognor Regis, 1823, 1824.

Letter with description of sea bathing around Southampton, 1751

Letters regarding sea bathing at Taymouth, 1764

Letter regarding Brighton and sea bathing, 1764

Person drowned on steamship voyage from Liverpool to Beaumaris, 1831

Letter with mention of sea bathing at Southampton, 1784.

Diary with mention of round Isle of Wight trip stopping at Ryde, 29 May 1883.

Letters regarding passenger services between Dover and Calais, October 1782.

Account by Lady Henrietta Cole of travels from Holyhead to Yorkshire, 1803.

Travel diaries of Mary Anne Brooks of Flitwick including to Liverpool, 1845, north Wales and Liverpool, 1847

Account by Frederica St John Rouse-Boughton of Larden of travels including to North Wales, 1860, Aberystwyth, 1863

Account by Frederica St John Rouse-Boughton of Larden of travels including to North Wales, 1860, Aberystwyth, 1863.

Visit by Mr Ortebar to Aberdeen, Inverness, 1861.

Account by Gurney Gow of journey to Orkney, the Shetlands, 1891.

Travel diaries of Mary Louisa Smyth of Edworth including to Folkstone, 1907, Lyme Regis, 1910, North Wales, 1912, Cromer, St Leonards on Sea, 1914, Torquay, 1915, Bude, 1916.

Letter from Revd Henry Higgins with relation of journeys in West Indies, Vera Cruz and the Philippines, 1876.

Account of honeymoon in Jersey and Guernsey, 1909

Description of journey to Port Patrick and boat trip to Ireland, 1783.

Diaries and misc. papers regarding travel to Holland and Italy, 1698-1714.

Description of Channel crossing, 1691.

Accounts of tours by Marchioness Grey to East Anglia, 1750, Scarborough, 1752, Taymouth, 1755.

Account of travels from Dublin to Carlisle, eighteenth century.

Account of travels from Newcastle, mid eighteenth century.

Account of sea voyage to France, 1785.

Account of start of sea voyage from Calais, 1785.

Travel letters of George and Ann Duncombe of their tours in England and to France, 1813-44, with mention of development of Brighton.

Letter relating journey to Netherlands, 1829.

Bundle of correspondence of William Stuart relating to travel in Europe and Near East, 1846-90.

Travel diary of Richard Ortebar to France, and Italy and Constantinople, 1856.

Papers of Sir H.C. Janes relating to world travels, including photographs, maps, 1937-67.

Diaries with entries on travel to South America and South Africa, 1903-4.

Letters of Evelyn Chaldecott mainly from India, 1907-18, including accounts of voyage on the SS Kaiser-I-Hind.

Photographic albums of Revd W. Hewetson of Bedford including of seaside holidays, c.1911-22.

Holiday photographs at Blackpool, Eastbourne, c.1930.

Includes holiday accounts of travels throughout Scotland, Ireland and Bermouth, 1952-75, with transparencies.

Accounts by Thomas Phillip, 3rd Lord Grantham, of yachting trip from Cowes to Plymouth, with visits ashore in Devon and Cornwall, 1813, and of travels from Edinburgh to Inverness followed by voyage in yacht to Inner Hebrides and northern Scotland,

Pym family log book of Lady Evelyn, yacht, on voyage to Norway from Southampton, 1880; Albania and Corfu via Brindisi, 1880; Ireland via Cowes, Devon and Cornwall.

Printed rules of Royal Yacht Squadron, 1891.

Will of Thomas Bradshaw, late 1st Lieutenant of HMS Pearl, with etching of sea scene, 1818.

Will of John Bates, Private Marine, HMS Blake, 1830, with engraving.

Declaration of trust reciting conveyance held in trust for brother while overseas, 13 April 1614.

Certificate of service of Richard Summerland, 1812.

Copy administration of William Travell, late seaman on HMS Veteran, July 1807.

Discharge certificate, 1902.

Service records of those who enrolled at Bedford and Luton from 1914-18

Trees in Ampthill Park marked for Parliamentary Survey regarding naval use, 1649.

Photograph of launching of HMS Neptune, 1933.

Paper regarding Parliamentary tax towards building of 32 men of war, 1678.

Letter regarding Henry Osborn's naval rank, 1747.

Estimates for carriage of timber from Chicksands to Lyon, 1739.

Paper regarding search ordered for straggling seamen, 1701.

Letter from Lady Anson regarding naval commissions, c.1740-50s.

Letter regarding possible chaplain for Plymouth Docks, c.1759

Resolve of Suffolk and other countries to build ships of war by voluntary contribution, October 1782.

Letter regarding action of Sir E. Hughes against the French in India, 2 September 1782.

Letter regarding Danish convoy taken by three privateers, 1782.

Letter regarding Dutch capturing British vessels, 1782.

Letter regarding action taken regarding Dutch privateers, 1782.

Letter regarding action of Dutch ships on Swedish and Danish coast, 1782.

Letters of Christian Russell to his wife with references to naval officer, 1756-63 (see 10/2/246 pp24, 29)

Pay allotment by marine of HMS Polyphemus to his mother at Harrold, 10 November 1806

Letters from William Lee Antonie to Edward Arrowsmith and others regarding naval academy, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Amphitrion, 1797-1802

Letter from Viscount Torrington asking Admiralty for interest for Treasury Office, 1723

Deeds regarding Robert Jackson, Royal Navy Captain, 1821

Letter regarding career of Admiral J.S. Yorke, c.1780-90

Letter with account of Trafalgar, 14 April 1810

Form of prayer for victory obtained over the French by Admiral Nelson, 1 August 1798

Letter with mention of Lord Gambier having destroyed French line of battleships in Basque lands, April 1809

Account of great naval fire at Portsmouth, 23 May 1791

Letter mentioning frigate's sighting of French and Spanish fleets off Lisbon, 10 August 1799

Letter mentioning Capt. Hancock ready to sail from Portsmouth, 28 January 1815

Poem by Revd R. Atherton on Nelson centenary of Battle of Trafalgar, 1905

Note of three Cardington boys, aged 10-11, entered on HMS Lion, 1781

Precept for general search for idle men in Renhold, 1795

Renold assessment for building ships, 1677

Shefford overseers' accounts including help to sailor, 1794-1809

Paper regarding release of man from pressgang, 1778

Paper regarding unsuccessful highwayman handed to press gang, 1761

Gaolers' bill taking James Read to London for naval service, 1812

Settlement examination of Hungarian man who served in Navy, 1812

Settlement examination of man who served in Creole frigate and merchant vessel, 1816

Note by Sir Robert Inglis regarding Lieut. Briscoe who died on the Nellish, c.1820

Correspondence regarding problems over discharge of James Newbery, 1813

Reprint of paper of 1797 regarding execution of Richard Parker for mutiny, twentieth century

Paper regarding promotion of Orlando Orlebar, 1811 - c.1815

Reference to Henry Ortebar about to embark on ship under Captain Jones, 1812

Letter from John Orlebar on HMS Larne in Jamaica, 1834 (also see 466A-B)

Account of Lord Bridport's victory over the French, 1795

Sketch of upper deck plan of HMS Bouncer and Snap, gunboats, c.1870

Navy estimates annotated and indexed by Samuel Whitbread III, 1860-1

Paper regarding H.M. ships to provide asylum for fugitive slaves, 1876

Paper regarding HMS Bedford, 1905

Paper regarding discovery of location of HMS Anson, 1902

Letter regarding Nelson and the Battle of the Nile, present deficiency of the navy, 1893

Receipt for picture of HMS Bedford, 1905

Service papers, 1918-26

History and letter relating to HMS Oakley, 1942-51

Naval Air Service Training Manual (1914)

Letters to T.H. Barnard with thanks for gifts to Sailors' Canteen Committee, 1914-15

Paper relating Sailors' Canteen Committee adopted T.H. Burnard as their patron, 1914-15

Certificate regarding HMS Balsam adopted by Stotfold during Warship's Week, 1942

Will of James Talbot, naval pensioner, Bedford Regiment, 1901

Dance invitation, 1927, and portrait and snapshot photographs relating to the Canadian Navy, 1920s

Letter regarding burial at sea, 1902

Records of United Services Club, Ampthill, 1920-63

Pilotage Handbook (1906-17), Printed Admiralty Charts, 1927

Dedication album and correspondence relating to HMS Bedford, 1903-5

Clothing coupons for Instructor Lieutenant Brownridge of HMS Illustrious, c.1948

Records of the Willington Depot for making knitted garments for the Royal Navy, 1941-6

Account by David Odell, HMS Verulam, submarine on Haifa Patrol, regarding encounter with ship carrying illegal Jewish immigrants, 1948

Timber return by Clerk of Peace for county, c.1808

Menu for Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmens' Families Association (SSAFA) dinner and dance, 1954

Sheet 5, includes 3 humorous menus of SS Toshi, 1891

Scrapbooks containing pictures of ships in the British Fleet, 1897-8

Printed address to navy regarding feared French invasion, 1803

Correspondence regarding shield commemorating adoption of HMS Thorn by Kempston, 1978

Poem regarding War of Jenkins Ear, mid-eighteenth century

Print of Battle of Porto Bello, 1743

Paper regarding Nelson's victory at the Nile, 1798

Paper regarding British sailors enlisting in American forces, 30 March 1813

 Poster regarding sinking of the Lusitania, 1915

Letters from Kenneth Longuet Higgins, Royal Marine, killed in the Dardanelles, 1915

Album of photographs (including site plan) charting the construction of the Royal Naval Airworks at Cardington and related papers, 1917

Mementoes, comprising painting, menu card and Christmas card, of HMS Mauretania, while hospital ship, December 1915

Letter books of HMS Quebec, 1799-1800, HMS Leviathan, 1803-4, HMS Nereide, 1801, HMS Cumberland, 1801-3

Order book of HMS Thunderer, 1801, HMS Quebec, 1799-1800, HMS Nereide, 1801-2, HMS Cumberland, 1801

Fair copy of rough log of HMS Milford, 1809-10

Fair copies of rough log of HMS Cumberland, 1802-3, HMS Leviathan, 1803

Rough log of HMS Leviathan, 1805

Muster book of HMS Leviathan, n.d.

Muster book of HMS Cumberland, c.1802

Fair copy of rough log of the voyage of HMS Africa to the Plate estuary, 1806-8

Examination of Italian sailor impressed in Navy 1731

Copy Privy Council order regarding apprehension of straggling seamen, 1759

Paper regarding illegal return of impressed man, 1781

Order and paper to Lord Lieut. for searching for straggling seamen, 1787

Papers regarding Ampthill man impressed into Navy, c.1807

Printed notice requiring volunteer from four North Bedfordshire parishes for the navy, late eighteenth century

Petition of West India merchants regarding pressing of officers, 13 April 1809

Minute book of Committee to take measures to counter mutiny at the Nore, 1797-9

Letter mentioning sighting of German submarine in mouth of Solway firth, August 1915

Whitbread family papers relating to the Navy, 1797-1815, including relating to naval news relating to West Indian affairs, mutiny at Spithead, war with America, Plymouth breakwater, pay and prize money, promotions, petitions, cases of Peter Wilson

Business records of W.H. Allen of Bedford, relating to manufacture of diesel engines etc, 19th-20th century, including naval contracts

Prize list of the Polyphemus, post 1806

Paper regarding 250 privateers waiting for prize money seized by press gang, 1810

Money left for ransom of son, a captive in `Barbaria', 1570

Reference to money given to captives of pirates, 1691

Examination of sailor who was captured by pirates in the Azores, 1730

Copy of petition to House of Lords relating to French privateers at Lundy Island, 1738

Picture of lighthouse and section through it, nineteenth century

Postcard of the Titanic, pre 1912

Account of the Titanic disaster, April 1912

Four poems regarding the Titanic, July 1912

 Letter regarding sinking of Otranto, 18 October 1918

Papers relating to New Brunswick, 1860s-1888, including shipping

Photocopy of two posters advertising the White Star Line

Watercolour of three-masted ship, nineteenth century

Photographs of W.H. Allen steamship turbines, etc., c.1880-1947

Photograph of five people on a ship, 1890s

Printed cabin plan of the twin screw SS Llandaff Castle, 1934

 Letter regarding shipping of ten carts to Glasgow from Fife, 1854

Advert card for Union Steam Ship Co. Ltd for South Africa, 1889

Bequest of shares in two ships, 1759

Bill of sale of 1/16 share in the Queen then on voyage to East Indies, 5 May 1768

Accounts regarding bills of sales of ships, 1811

Letter regarding capture of the Dolphin packet boat by the Dutch, December 1782

Letter from Nicholas Lawrence who travelled to Morocco, 1590

Account book of London silk merchant, 1648-9

Nineteenth century autograph collection with references to South Sea Co. shares, 1717-1720s

Journals of Samuel Whitbread II of Grand Tour to Scandinavia including 2, with reference to export of Norwegian timber to England, 1784

Report on trade with Ireland, 1785

Lease and release relating to William Shotbolt, late of Madras, merchant, deceased, 1733

Arrangements for John St John to travel to Batavia in East India Company's ship as an apprentice, 1719

Claims by East India Company when Hinde Cutter seized at Rio de Janeiro, 1782

East India Company records including 8a-b, index sheet to letter book, 1795

Letter book of the Royal African Company, 1727-8 (transcript CRT 180/546)

Printed prospectus of the South Sea Company, 1720

L29, papers of William Robinson including 187-341, as Commissioner of Trade and Plantations, 1754-1783, notably concerned with Africa, America, Honduras, Portugal, Board of Trade; 342-546, as Ambassador to Spain, 1760-77, including summaries of na

Whitbread family papers regarding Privy Council, 1780-1812, mainly relating to trade, particularly overseas, including lists of ships, export and import accounts

W1/3877-962, Whitbread family papers relating to America, 1800-1814, including relating to trade

Whitbread family papers relating to the slave trade, 1795-1815, including account of treatment on British ships, 1814, account of capture of slave ships

Personal papers of Capt. Richard Bastard, 1819-59 (also see Mic.83, withdrawn papers, 1798-c.1850)

Sheet two, bill of fare of SS Pekin, 1891

Programme of sports on a voyage of the Arlanza from Southampton to Buenos Aires, 1924

Sea Scout records, 1945, 1963

Letter regarding use made by Dutch merchants of neutral flags, 1782

Papers regarding cruelty on the high seas and murder of merchant seamen on ships between England and the USA, 1857-9

Paper regarding money for two boys who enter the merchant navy, 1646-7

Note of cost of alterations of the Mermaid, nineteenth century

Whitbread family papers relating to convict hulks, 1810-14

Whitbread family papers relating to wharfingers and Wet Docks Act, 1810

Whitbread family papers comprising misc. legal evidence used in naval cases, late eighteenth century

Whitbread family papers relating to prisoners of war, 1800-15, including 2708-24, Dartmoor prison, 1805-15, notably 2714, account of Inspector of Naval Hospitals, 1810