Nationally important Moulton archive to be made available to the public

Wiltshire residents and visitors from around the UK and elsewhere, will soon be able to delve into an important part of the county's history thanks to a national grant.

The Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre (WSHC) has secured a National Archives grant of £39,000 to make the Moulton archive accessible to the public. The centre has been working in partnership with the Moulton Trustees to preserve this unique collection for the nation.

The Moulton archive, which is deposited at the WSHC, contains the important business archives of early pioneering rubber manufacturers, Spencer Moulton, dating from 1848-1956, and the business, estate and personal archives of inventor and entrepreneur, Dr Alex Moulton of The Hall, Bradford on Avon, dating from the 19th century to the start of the 21st century.

Stephen Moulton was a friend and agent of Charles Goodyear. His work led to the growth of the rubber industry and had a far-reaching impact upon the industrial economy of the UK. Later, Dr Alex Moulton inherited his family's inventive spirit and his award-winning inventions include the revolutionary small-wheeled Moulton bicycle and a suspension system for the iconic Mini car.  The archives reflect his professional career, personal life and the evolution of the Grade 1 listed The Hall estate in Bradford on Avon.

Richard Clewer,Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Heritage said "We are pleased that the National Archives and the Moulton Trustees are helping us to open up this important archive to the public. This project highlights Wiltshire's industrial heritage and will change its perception as a rural, agricultural county. The west of Wiltshire was the birthplace of the modern British rubber industry, which made significant contributions to industrialisation and engineering. I am especially pleased that the public will also be able learn about the life of Dr Alex Moulton, whose work highlights the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that has emerged from Wiltshire, a legacy that continues today."

The grant will enable WSHC to employ an archivist and recruit volunteers to help catalogue the archive, so it can be used by visitors to the centre. The nationally recognised centre is funded by Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council and has state of the art facilities to preserve and make available more than eight miles of archives dating back 800 years. It is expected that the project to make the Moulton Archive available to the public will take about 18 months.

Dr Valerie Johnson, Director of Research and Collections at The National Archives, said: "Cataloguing is the key to revealing archival material that can be used in countless ways by individuals and communities. Today we are delighted to announce funding for the cataloguing of nine highly significant and diverse collections, enabling greater access to our collective heritage and allowing people to gain a deeper insight into the past."

The Archives Revealed programme, which is supported by The National Archives, The Pilgrim Trust and the Wolfson Foundation, transforms access to archives for a wide range of users. The programme's cataloguing grants open up collections that matter to researchers and communities, increasing public engagement with the UK's rich documentary heritage.

Last updated: 25 July 2019 | Last reviewed: 25 July 2019