national archives
British Library sought to acquire traitor Kim Philby’s archive, files reveal
Newly released files show officials feared a backlash if a payment was made to the widow of the notorious double agent.
John Major was warned Churchill archive could be broken up without lottery cash
Newly released official files show ministers were concerned about the purchase of the wartime leader’s papers for £12.5 million.
A TB epidemic and priests overseeing dancehalls – exhibition shows Irish history
The exhibition at Dublin Castle reflects aspects of life in independent Ireland, as revealed in the National archives.
French letters confiscated by Britain’s Royal Navy are opened 265 years on
The notes, written in 1757-8, were intended for the crew of French warship the Galatee and sent by wives, fiances, parents and siblings.
‘Serious concerns’ that NI millennium celebrations would trigger major emergency
Officials were also worried that the so-called Millennium Bug could cause medical devices to fail when the year 2000 arrived.
Officials told not to ’embarrass’ schools with McGuinness visits, records reveal
There were around 50 demonstrations in schools across Northern Ireland in response to Martin McGuinness’s appointment as education minister in 1999.
Thatcher praised Blair for response to 9/11 terror attacks
The ex-PM sent a handwritten note backing the Labour prime minister’s staunch support for the US after the attacks.
Blair was urged to keep alive Ukraine’s EU hopes, records show
Former prime minister Tony Blair was told 20 years ago that Kyiv believed the West had ‘too rosy a view’ of Vladimir Putin.
‘Lightweight’ Betjeman overlooked for poet laureate
Newly-released government files reveal bitter in-fighting over the prestigious literary appointment.