Introduction
This leaflet is intended to draw attention to the range of material
about the locality available at Canterbury Library.
The Local Studies Collection is available for reference use although
many items are not kept in the Reference Library but are stored sepa-
rately and will be produced on request.
The Collection
This consists of:
1. General material on Kent
2. A comprehensive range of sources on the
City of Canterbury and surrounding area.
3. Catalogues, indexes and guides.
Kent
a) §QQ§§
These include publications dealing with the history and topo-
graphy of the County e.g. Hasted, E. The History and
Topographical Survey of the County of Kent; Lambarde, W.
A Perambulation of Kent, as well as more specialised subjects
such as natural history, geology, agriculture, architecture,
biography.
b) Maps
There is a county—wide coverage of the first edition one—inch
Ordnance Survey series. Later editions of the small—scale
Ordnance Survey maps, specialist maps such as the Geological
Survey, Land Utilization and Footpath Maps are also available
for much of east Kent. ,
c) Periodicals
Most of the periodicals and serials of Kentish interest are
taken and back files maintained e.g. Archaeologia Cantiana,
Kent Life, Bygone Kent.
Canterbury
The library has a comprehensive collection on the City of
Canterbury.
a) Standard Works
Books including Somner, W. The antiquities of Canterbury,
Gostling, W. A walk in and about the City of Canterbury,
Urry, W. Canterbury under the Angevin Kings, are in stock.
Many specialist topics are well—represented including
archaeology, planning, architecture.
There is a comprehensive collection on Catherbury Cathedral.
1 i
Lists of Inhabitants
Sources listing inhabitants include directories, poll—books,
electoral rolls and lists of Freemen. The library has the 1841 —
1881 Census Returns on microfilm for the Canterbury area.
Newspapers
The Kentish Gazette from 1768 to date and The Kentish Post 1726 -
1768 are available on microfilm.
Original copies of some of the other local newspapers are held.
An extensive file of local press cuttings is maintained.
MQH§
These include historic plans of the City, the 1:500 scale
Ordnance Survey plan (c1874) of Canterbury, modern Ordnance
Survey l:1250 (50 inch) maps and pre—war Insurance Plans.
Illustrations
Illustrations are collected, including photographs of older
properties demolished for modern development or destroyed during
World War II.
Genealogy
As well as the main guides to the study of family history, the
library contains Indexes to wills and the Canterbury Marriage
Licences and several Parish Register Transcripts.
§pecial Collection of Music
The library contains the music scores used by the Canterbury
Catch Club, a male voice choir which flourished in the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries. A prior appointment should be made to
consult this collection.
Catalogues, Indexes and Guides
r ) )
There is an author/title/subject catalogue to the book and
pamphlet collection and a separate map catalogue.
The library also has a comprehensive index, county—wide in scope,
to the contents of periodicals and some of the books in its
collection. There is no complete index to the Newspapers at the
present time.
The printed guides to the contents of the Public Record Office
and the Kent Archives Office are also available for consultation.
Additional useful publications to be found in the library are
‘The Kent Bibliography‘ and ‘Supplement’ which lists books and
pamphlets available in libraries throughout Kent, ‘Kent
Directories Located’ and the ‘Bibliography of British Newspapers.
Kent‘ which list respectively directories and newspapers,
together with their locations.