Cambridgeshire Archives Service

09/10/2026

Posted on 'Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine'

"My 'methodology' was a series of errors": Gemini generates false records and fake screenshots of TNA website:

08/10/2026

07/10/2026

17th Century Photoshop?

Whilst preparing for an upcoming talk, our Archives Assistant Yaye came across this striking document in the records of the Bedford Level Corporation. Dating from January 1663, these are letters patent from King Charles II to John Dugdale (son of historian and Garter King of Arms William Dugdale), granting him the same privileges as the other clerks to the Lord Chancellor. It meant that he could not be indicted before any Court except the Court of Chancery, apart from for certain felonies. Sir John Dugdale was employed by Lord Chancellor Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon.

It is a beautiful document with a damaged seal attached. What is particularly special is the striking portrait of the King. The colours are impressively vibrant - a testament to excellent preservation. The aim was to enhance the King’s features to put him in a more flattering light (ruby red lips, rouge, arched brows and very voluminous wig). Early photoshop! It is likely the colours were added at an unknown later date as on closer inspection it conceals the original lines. A comparable document is placed next to it to show how it would have looked originally.

Reference R59/31/X/68/3.

21/08/2026

Would you like to see what an archivist’s dream looks like?! 😱

We recently received this fascinating accession, a trunk full of material relating to the families who lived at Conington Hall in Cambridgeshire. These records have been carefully handed down the generations before being generously given to us to take care of. The trunk is packed full of deeds, letters, photos and genealogical notes. Some items have already been passed to our conservator for some special attention, such as the great seal of George IV attached to one of the documents, and a beautiful piece of a shawl apparently given to the owner “by the Sultan of Albania” in 1801.

Our cataloguing archivist is really looking forward to getting stuck into this collection!

18/08/2026

A mystery indeed!

At Cambridgeshire Archives, we have the original framed photograph of Peak and a modern account of his disappearance (Ref:1360/OC/6/1)

On this day in 1855, Cambs officer PC Richard Peak was last seen alive.

The ‘village bobby’ for Wicken, in East Cambridgeshire, 171 years ago had been policing a crop auction at the Red Lion Inn and was last seen by the pub landlord at about 3.15am.

PC Peak, who joined the force in 1851 aged about 20, failed to report for duty in Burwell that same morning and despite a search, he was never found.

Skeletons were found in Wicken and Burwell but neither of these remains were shown to be that of PC Peak.

07/08/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐧!

On this day in 1205, King John (yes, that 'bad King John' of Robin Hood fame) granted Huntingdon its royal charter, giving the town the right to govern its own affairs and marking an important milestone in our history.

The original charter is preserved in the Cambridgeshire Libraries archives at Huntingdon Library, while a translation can be viewed at Huntingdon Town Hall.

13/07/2026

Cambridgeshire Archives History Fair is just one week away! No booking is necessary for the event or tour. If you have any questions, please email: [email protected]

10/07/2026

Ahead of England’s World Cup Quarter-Final match against Norway tomorrow night, we’ve found this notice from 1889 that playing football was banned on Parker’s Piece over the spring and summer months. Fortunately nowadays this ban is no longer in place!

It is argued that Parker’s Piece in Cambridge is where the original rules for the game were developed, leading to many calling Cambridge the birthplace of modern football ⚽️

07/07/2026

TOMORROW! Join us and uncover the stories of Huntingdonshire that span life from the cradle to the grave. Discover stories of disease and death, unusual burials, local working life, and truthful wedding advice.

We're pleased to announce our event for the Huntingdonshire History Festival! Our event 'Cradle to the Grave' will feature a variety of intriguing documents and photographs that represent life in Huntingdonshire from the cradle to the grave.
WEDNESDAY 8TH JULY
DROP IN EVENT 3:30PM - 6:30PM