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A year in the Archives: Spotlight on our newest collections

Peterborough Archives Service is a dedicated team comprised of three employees and a number of hard-working volunteers committed to preserving Peterborough’s rich history and providing a welcoming space for anyone who wishes to visit and learn more. Throughout 2025 we have catalogued many new collections adding over 1,000 items to our catalogue. Our team have selected a glimpse at some of their favourite new collections available to view with an appointment.

James' picks:

Peter Boizot

Ref: PAS/BOI

Peter James Boizot, MBE was an English entrepreneur, restaurateur, politician, art collector and philanthropist. He is best known as the founder of Pizza Express. He was born in Peterborough in 1929, and died 5 December 2018. After his passing, material was collected by his family and passed to Peterborough Archives Service. The collection is great because it provides profound insights into the life of a man who contributed so much to our city.

Photographs within PAS/BOI/4/1/2 show him with politicians, royalty and collecting his MBE and reflect the successful life he had. I found the letter PAS/BOI/3/1 his father gave to him on his 21st birthday to be a moving demonstration of the love a father has for his son. His father wrote:

“I am very proud of your progress and way of life up to the present, and trust your journey through life will continue on the same lines...”

County School for Girls

Ref: PAS/CSG

Peterborough County Grammar School for Girls opened on September 17th, 1904, as a Pupil Teachers Training Centre situated in Broadway. In 1911 a purpose-built school was opened on the corner of Lincoln Road and Cobden Avenue, and this was the site of the school until 1981. In 1982 the school closed, and teachers and pupils moved to the Ken Stimson Community School in Werrington. PAS/CSG/2/1 is a photograph from the beginning of the 20th century. It was fascinating looking at the fashion worn by the ladies at the time. The names of the ladies written on the back also gives us invaluable information to identify them which can be quite rare. I wondered about what kind of lives these young women lead and how they were impacted by the events of the 20th century. School magazines PAS/CSG/4 give a fascinating window into life at the school. There were interesting articles and stories, detailing school trips to sports success.

Pullan Collection

Ref: PAS/PUL

A relative of L C Pullan donated a collection containing photographs of staff and students at St Peters College. St Peter's College was open from 1857 to 1921 and was based at Peterscourt. It was great to learn what one of Peterborough’s finest buildings was used for in the past. L C Pullan is featured in some of the photographs, and he was responsible for teacher training during the First World War. Family legend is that L C Pullan was seen as being too kind to his students and was not allowed to continue at the school after 1921. PAS/PUL/1/7 is a group photograph with some of the men holding long smoking pipes. For me it was an intriguing find because I had never realised how long some smoking pipes could be.

Elisabeth's pick:

Baker Perkins Archive

Ref: PAS/BP

Baker Perkins is a local engineering company whose origins date back to the 19th century, when two North Americans (Joseph Baker and Jacob Perkins) emigrated to England. From the invention of the humble flour scoop and sifter, the company that was to become known as Baker Perkins grew to become one of the main manufacturers of equipment and plant for bakeries, large and small, around the world. From bakery, biscuit, confectionery and snack products to breakfast cereals, across the globe, supermarket shelves are stacked with foods made on equipment supplied by Baker Perkins.

However, what many people may not realise is that they also produced armaments and 'field' ovens during both World Wars, and, over the years, machinery for the chemical, printing and laundry industries. At one time they even had their own company aeroplane, during the 1960s!

When I started working on the collection, it seemed to be all about different sorts of ovens, dough dividers and kneading machinery! However, there is so much more to the history of this local company. I think many of those employees, now retired, would agree that it was a good place to work, which is why no doubt so many stayed for 30, 40 years or more, right from starting as an apprentice.

The company had a very successful apprentice school which was pioneering in some of its training programmes. The Apprentice School building which still stands, and the office next to it are all that remains of the 'Westwood Works' Site. HM Prison Peterborough now stands in its place.

As I delved further into the documents and photographs, I started to really appreciate the sense that the company seemed like one big family who looked after one another. Reminiscences are fond and humorous, and it is clear how passionate many were about their workplace and the history of the company, with the annual reunions which were well attended, and the setting up of the Baker Perkins Historical Society by current and retired employees.

Baker Perkins Sports and Social Club was very active, and popular with staff and their partners, offering a wide range of events and sporting activities. They had their own clubhouse and sports field off site. Within the archive there are no less than 26 separate sports or activities that were on offer at some point, one being the Retired Members' Section, with annual dinners being organised for them. They even had a caravan and camping section for members! Many employees were also involved in the amateur dramatic society which became known as 'Westwood Works Musical Society', producing shows for many years, and staging them in large theatres, such as The Embassy.

The company also sought to provide opportunities for employees to receive first class care when serious health problems were experienced. To meet this need, the company developed a strong association with Manor House Hospital and many employees became members of the scheme.

Baker Perkins still have offices in Peterborough, designing and manufacturing food processing equipment, but on a smaller site.

Amanda's picks:

Josephine and Robert Steels Collection

Ref: PAS/JRS

This collection was donated by Josephine Steels (née Bell) and consists of personal papers and photographs relating to her, her husband Robert Steels and her sister Patricia Bell. All three worked for Baker Perkins and this collection has some items from their time there, including papers related to the application process and awards for their long-time service. During World War Two, Josephine and Patricia volunteered with a local social branch of the American Red Cross and Josephine received many letters from American and British service men which are preserved in this collection. Robert was a dedicated member of St John’s Ambulance Brigade, and this collection has some interesting papers and photographs related to his service.

There are many fascinating items within this collection, but I found the photographs to be incredibly compelling. Josephine and Robert looked to have had a wonder life together and enjoyed holidays in Spain with friends and family. The captions were particularly amusing. There was a carefree joy to the Steels’ and although I never knew them, I feel connected.

Trinity Presbyterian & Congregational Church

Ref: PAS/TPCC

Secession from Westgate Congregational Church in January 1861 led to the formation of a second congregational church which took the name ‘Trinity’. With the patronage of William Vergette they were able to acquire a house and land in Priestgate, and on that bit of land they built themselves a new church. Trinity Congregational Church opened on 14 March 1865, and a detached Sunday School/church hall was added in 1880.

In 1942 the church took in the Presbyterian Congregation (founded in 1939), and both formally merged in 1948. The increasing cost of building maintenance led the congregation to sell the church in 1969 in order to fund the building of St Andrew’s in Ledbury Road. The final service at Trinity was held at the end of November 1972, and St Andrew’s was Dedicated and opened on 2nd December, the church later becoming a member of the URC denomination.

This collection is comprised of a variety of minute books and records which date back to 1900. The minute books are highly detailed and cover the combination of the two churches in 1942. There are also five volumes of the Trinity Church Magazine (1909-1914) which was published monthly and features church news and events, short stories, serialised fiction, and missionary reports from around the world.

Church minute books might not seem like an interesting read, but they certainly can be. I was particularly invested in the meeting minutes which covered a long drawn-out ordeal over the firing the choir master.

Most of the records in our collections may be freely consulted in our dedicated search room, located within Peterborough’s Central Library. Our search room also houses hundreds of local-interest books, some of which may be borrowed and read at home.

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