On 19 January 2026, I was delighted to join Brunel University’s Records, Archives and Special Collections team as Coordinator—and from day one, it was clear I’d stepped into a treasure trove.
Coming from a pre-Brunel background in a council-run specialist library service, and with a long-standing curiosity about all things historical, I couldn’t wait to start exploring the records held here. I was not disappointed. Brunel’s Archives and Special Collections are vast, rich, and endlessly fascinating, bringing together the University’s institutional archive (including predecessor colleges and the British and Foreign Schools Society) alongside a remarkable range of literary and special collections.
These collections include social and transport history, including extensive records relating to the Channel Tunnel—an archive that reflects not only engineering achievement but also the social and political story behind one of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
One of the highlights of my first week was the opportunity to handle letters dating back to 1810, written by Joseph Lancaster. Lancaster was a key figure in the development of the monitorial education system, which spread across the UK and internationally, and later influenced the establishment of teacher training colleges. His school—later college—at Borough Road would go on to become one of Brunel University’s predecessor institutions, making these letters especially significant to our history. These documents have now been digitised, alongside transcripts, meaning they will be accessible to a much wider audience in the future—opening up new opportunities for research, teaching, and discovery.
I’ve already found myself tumbling down numerous historical rabbit holes. The breadth of material held here is immense, ranging from traditional paper records to physical artefacts, each with its own story to tell.
The Records, Archives and Special Collections team supports a wide range of enquiries, both internal and external. These include staff and student record queries, research support for students and academics, and enquiries from external researchers—ensuring that Brunel’s history remains accessible, useful, and alive.
It’s been an inspiring start, and I’m excited to see where the collections—and the curiosity they spark—will lead next.