Records and Archives » Archive Blog

In this blog you will find articles about the University’s collections, its history and the work we do in the University Records and Archives team.

The Polytechnic Rambling Club

Founded in 1885, the Polytechnic Rambling Club was one of the Poly’s first clubs. The club is no longer part of the University but is still going strong.

VE Day 75

8 May 2020 marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. In this post we look at how the Regent Street Polytechnic reacted to the news.

Coronavirus and Wartime Britain

The current Coronavirus emergency has been likened to wartime Britain, so the Records and Archives team have been searching through the (online) archives from home to find a few comparisons with World War Two.

Ghosts and Pantos at the RPI

The Royal Polytechnic Institution (RPI) was famous for its magic lantern shows and Pepper’s Ghost illusion. Learn more about them here.

The Annual Garden Party

First held in 1906 for the opening of the Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground at Chiswick, the Garden Party became an annual feature of Polytechnic life. Learn more about it here.