We met Edward who took us to the National Archives at Kew. A very impressive complex. He has been researching here for just over six weeks as part of his PhD.

Michael and I had to register for a Reader’s Ticket before we could go through to the archives. This process took about 15 minutes including us watching a video on how to handle the documents and maps etc. We are now enrolled for the next three years.

Edward had booked two different collections to show us. One in relation to the settlement of America and the other in relation to the settlement of New South Wales. Luckily we were allowed to view these with him in a small glass room which meant we could discuss what he was showing us.

This document below was dated 4 Septemebr 1596. Some of the hand writing on these old documents is almost hieroglyphical.

We were amazed we were able to handle them (without gloves which are required for any photos). Edward explained that most of the key documents have been digitised and the original documents we were veiweing would possibly be requested 2-3 per year. Even so, it was interesting. What also was fascinating was the corrections and editing that occurred in the originals that did not appear in some transcripts of the documents. Often these provided an interesting variation on the meaning.

Take a look at this next photo where you can clearly see in legible handwriting a discussion about the attractiveness of settling NSW – it was suggesting the country could also house some of the American Loyalists. We both learnt a lot in the hour or so we had there.

For lunch we decided to have a picnic in nearby Kew Gardens. We bought a pie each for £2.50 (game pie for me and a steak and kidney for Michael). When we got to the garden gates we saw that admission cost £15 each or $54AUD for the both of us and as we only had an hour or so, we decided to eat our pies on a bench outside the gardens and save our money for a few beers at a pub with Edward later in the afternoon.