Yes, it is International Penguin Day again! This postcard c. 1942 from the Falkland Islands shows them in all their glory [X550/18/20/9]. #InternationalPenguinDay #Bedsarchives #FalklandIslands #Bedfordshire

Celebrating International Jazz Day here is an admission ticket to an Esquire Jazz Programme organized by Farmers Record Shop Record Recitals in 1958. We enjoyed the drawing of an amp on the back too! #InternationalJazzDay #Jazz #Bedsarchives #Luton #Bedfordshire

These images presented to you by our intern Ash shows an unidentified Rifle Corps and Sea Scouts marching down the Bedford High Street as apart of a parade to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. #QueenElizabethII #Coronation #Bedford #parade

We love the detail on the cartouche and scale of this map of Sandy showing the enclosed arable, pasture and meadow land belonging to Beeston Lordship Farm, 1748 #mapmonday

Throwback to the 1910's. A watercolour painting of of huts for Canadian and Portuguese soldiers in Ampthill painted by Miss C. A. Smith in 1917 discovered by our intern Ash earlier today. #watercolourwednesday #BEDFORDSHIRE #bedfordshirearchives #art #watercolour

As volunteers’ week draws to a close we say a huge Thank You to our wonderful volunteers. Last year they contributed 2880 hours (that we know about) & completed some long term projects. Read more in our annual report bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/PDFs/2022-23-a… and our forthcoming summer newsletter

Celebrating 75 years of care🥳 These two photographs show staff from Luton and Dunstable Hospital helping new mothers in 1960. Happy 75th Birthday to the NHS!! #NHS75 #NHSBirthday

Our summer newsletter is out now and celebrates some major project milestones reached by our wonderful volunteers bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/PDFs/Newslette…

Can anybody help us to figure out where this photograph was taken and when? It is a pub but unfortunately the signage is unreadable to us here at the archives!

Bedfordshire Archives will be present at this year's Heritage Open Day at the Luton Hoo Estate. Please see here - heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event… for further information! We will be on hand to discuss the history of Luton Hoo as well as all manner of archive queries!

A reminder that Beds Archive staff will be appearing at Luton Hoo's Heritage Open Day this Wednesday from 11-3. There is no need to book, feel free to stop by our stall and say hello! For more information click the link below. heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event…

“That looks amazing”.. But what does it actually say? Come along to this workshop and learn the basics to decipher historic handwriting. Session is free to attend, but must be booked. To book a place call 01234 228833 or email [email protected]

Due to a technical issue, we are currently unable to receive phone calls. You can still contact us by email at [email protected]

Our spring newsletter is out now bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/PDFs/Newslette… with exciting news for #Stotfold, #Barton, #HoughtonRegis and #Langford

Day 9 of #Smeaton300 Smeaton’s Bridge or Cardington Bridge carries a minor road over Elstow Brook between Bedford and Cardington. Built in 1778, this five arch bridge is the earliest brick bridge in Bedfordshire. See: bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHisto… Drawing from The Royal Society

This should be an interesting series. We look forward to following it through to Z.

We have been quiet for a while as we have been getting some new projects underway. We are now ready to share progress on those projects with you so expect to see more from us over the next few days.

We are a bit late to the #smeaton300 birthday party, but couldn’t let it pass without sharing this beautiful drawing - one of Smeaton's designs for Cardington Mill.

Looking forward to giving a talk to the Good Afternoon group at Biggleswade library this afternoon. I know the library has a good local studies collection; hope I can introduce them to some things from the archives they are less familiar with.

Today Beds Archives will be at Luton Hoo Walled Garden heritage open day 11 am till 3pm. It’s free why not pop along and see us.