Chapter 1 Printed books and pamphlets

The Westminster History Collection contains some 23,000 books and pamphlets relating to Westminster’s local history, and is classified by a modified Dewey scheme. In addition to specialised books and pamphlets there is a large reference collection on London generally, which includes the Middlesex volumes of the Victoria History of the Counties of England, all volumes of the Survey of London, the London Survey Committee, and early surveys and histories of London and Westminster. There are many biographies of notable former residents, and some topographical books on areas outside Westminster. There are also works on the City of London and the City Livery Companies.

The library has a good collection of early guide books to London, including a fair representation of long-running series. There are publications of the Harleian Society, including parish registers, allegations for marriage licences, gentry lists, obituaries, grants of arms, and a personal name index to early Chancery proceedings. The British Index Library and the Huguenot Society Publications are also collected.

The library has the following material relating to the Middlesex Sessions:

• Middlesex Sessions books calendar 1638-1751 [with gaps]
• Calendar of the Sessions books 1689-1709 with an index
• Middlesex county records: reports 1902-1928

The pamphlet collection contains booklets, periodical articles, and ephemera. Among the more unusual items are series of original pamphlets on elections in Westminster (1796-1835) and on the Popish Plot (1678). There is a large collection of sermons preached in Westminster from the early seventeenth to the early nineteenth centuries. An extensive collection of Acts of Parliament relating to Westminster is available and is indexed chronologically and by subject.

There are also series of bound pamphlets covering a wide variety of topics and publication date range. Some of these pamphlets are scarce items, and most of them are older publications.