David Prior

Formerly Head of Public Services & Outreach @UKParlArchives. Researching the East India Company & Clive of India. A Vice-President of @BritRecs. Own views.

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Our #objectoftheweek is this painted silk banner in our collection, a rare survival from Cromwell's state funeral - he died #OnThisDay 3 September 1658. This is one of only 4 such banners that survive of the more than a thousand that were made. #17thCentury

[Cambridgeshire Archives @CambsArchives]

#OnThisDay

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Join us next Tuesday evening, 26 August, for one of our popular guided walks exploring 17th century Huntingdon, including royal visits, a Civil War battle, witch trials, Pepys and (of course) the Cromwell family. More details and bookings at: https://t.co/9IaozLuDPB

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

As it's #WorldCalligraphyDay, our #ObjectOfTheWeek is this lovely letter from Cromwell's mother Elizabeth, written in July 1643. It's probably the only example of her handwriting and signature - which is lovely and clear (unlike the notation below it!)

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Join us this Sunday to meet a couple of Civil War soldiers and try your hand at commanding an army at the battle of Naseby with our have-a-go game! More details at: https://t.co/7dmqFqr0Kw

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Step into the role of King Charles I or Sir Thomas Fairfax on Sunday 10 August at Huntingdon Town Hall... See if you can lead your army to victory in this beginner-friendly table top war game based on the Battle of Naseby, developed by two of our talented volunteers!

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

Today we say a fond farewell to the Victoria Tower.

As our collections move to @UkNatArchives, it’s exciting to know they’ll reach a wider audience.
Thanks for following us and look out for our new social channels focusing on the collections across the Palace.

Updates soon!

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

Maurice Bond was the Clerk of the Records from 1946 to 1981 and is pictured here with our rolled original Acts of Parliament in December 1961. The Victoria Repository was officially re-opened in July 1963, here is an invention for the grand opening of the new repository.

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

We were delighted to have a photocall with the Mayors of @CambsPboroCA and @Huntingdon_Town to announce our acquistion of a new building for us to expand into. In the next few years we will be growing! 😀For more details on this exciting project visit: https://t.co/Ha9es0Y8gm

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

The theme for the final week of our archives' Greatest Hits is ‘Surviving Disasters’. The first record is from the original manuscript House of Commons Journal in 1605. Recorded in the margins is the discovery of the 26 barrels of gunpowder planted by Guy Fawkes.

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

This is a piece of dual parliamentary history, it is a replica stained glass window depicting Simon de Montfort, who called the first parliament in 1265. This replica was used in a past parliamentary exhibition from 1965 to mark the 700th anniversary. This year marks 760 years!

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

This Women's Freedom League banner was unfurled from the Ladies Gallery of the House of Commons Chamber in October 1908 during a protest for women’s suffrage.

Find out more about this record's history and the protest on our blog https://t.co/fJv9bjG2UE

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Join us next Tuesday evening, 24 June, for one of our popular guided walks around 17th century Huntingdon, including royal visits, a Civil War battle, witch trials, Pepys and (of course) Cromwell. More details and bookings at: https://t.co/ARJT3QXCmw

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

Another of our archives ‘Greatest Hits’ is this 1806 petition from the men and women of Manchester. It was in support of the Foreign Slave Trade Abolition Bill and has over 2,000 signatures. The document is comprised of 9 sheets of parchment and is over 5 metres long.

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

You can find out more about the story of this battle, 380 years ago today, why it was important and see artefacts related to it in our current exhibit! More details at: https://t.co/xPsTClig5V Thread 2/2

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

This month is the 380th anniversary of the Battle of Naseby which took place on 14 June 1645. A series of Charles I’s coded letters were left behind at the battle and are now known as the Naseby Letters. This letter is from Charles to his nephew Prince Maurice in 1644.

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

This year marks the 400th anniversary of King Charles I’s accession to the throne in 1625. This beautiful record is the patent for nobility for the 1st Earl of Banbury. It dates from 1626, and you can see a detailed portrait of the newly crowned King in the top left corner.

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

Our next historic royal record is from 1821, with this ticket to the coronation banquet of King George IV. The banquet was so extravagant and expensive that the next coronation for William IV in 1831 did not feature a banquet.
Find out more on our blog https://t.co/9Ev18N3B0W

[Parliament Archives @UKParlArchives]

Deposited plans are another classic archive record with a vast and varied collection from railways and canals to roads and bridges. This colour plan is for the 1832 Saltash Floating Bridge (a cable ferry). The River Tamar had a ferry service there since the Norman Conquest!

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

Next Saturday, 10 May, for the 400th anniversary of his accession, King Charles I will be making a return visit...