Soas Library

The Archives” are George’s second home. In the absence of a decent computer system, they are the only place where he can go to research cases. Access is restricted, however, so George is always looking for new sources of information, such as the Black Library and other private collections, including spiritualist museums.

In George’s reality, the archives are probably similar to a local “Reference Library” in the UK or the local history section in your nearest library. Books cannot be removed from the library, only photocopied, and information comes in many forms, such as maps, newspapers, trade directories of shops, census returns, and wills. A large portion of the Lockwood & Co budget must go on photocopying, and when money is particularly tight, George must hand-write all his notes. No wonder he takes so long on his Archive visits!

Modern archives are digitised in our world, but George’s experience would be one of microfilm and microfiche machines at best, card catalogues and thick, dry books at worst. Hence the thick glasses he wears.

All the external shots and most of the interior shots from the TV show are filmed at the SOAS Library in Bloomsbury. Unless you are a student at SOAS, access to the SOAS Library is difficult. The SOAS website has a good photo gallery, however, and the exterior of the building is in an area accessible to the public. Since it is full of students, you are able to visit with ease.

The immediate area has some of the most iconic Lockwood & Co shots, including George’s “behave yourselves” lines and the “do you like Italian?” scene.

Not everything about the archives was filmed at SOAS. When George visits the archives with Joplin, some staircase scenes were actually filmed at The Royal College of Physicians. Whilst access to the building is limited, there is a museum on site. You will need to arrange your visit in advance as capacity is just five people.

If you visit the SOAS area, make sure to also go slightly north of the SOAS Library to Gordon Square which is the road where Lockwood and Lucy’s Taxi ride after the Black Library was filmed.

What about the real National Archives at Kew? This site is much further away and grander than the institution portrayed in the Lockwood & Co books, and the TV show. The archive contains some of the most important social history documents in the United Kingdom, and the good news is they are open for exhibitions and Behind-the-Scene tours.