University of Westminster Archives

We hold the records of the clubs and societies affiliated to the Regent Street Polytechnic. The most famous of these were the Polytechnic Harriers, Polytechnic Boxing Club, Polytechnic Fencing Club and the Polytechnic Cycling Club. There were also smaller clubs for Darts, Billiards and Snooker, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Rifle Shooting, Rambling, Swimming and Water Polo, Rugby and Roller Skating. In many instances the clubs include records of both mens’ and womens’ activities and records date back to the 1870s. They include large numbers of photographs, results of fixtures, names of members, and ephemera relating to social activities.

The Archive includes material relating to the 1908 London Olympics, including the Marathon route and a register of competitors. There are also records of the long-running Polytechnic Marathon competition (forerunner of the London Marathon). There are also architectural and legal records relating to the swimming pool and gymnasium at 309 Regent Street, and to the Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground at Chiswick.

We also hold records of the student sports societies of the Polytechnic of Central London and the University of Westminster which include Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Billiards, Boxing, Cricket, Cross-country, Fencing, Football, Gliding, Golf, Hockey, Korfball, Netball, Judo, Lawn Tennis, Modern Dance, Mountaineering, Rifle Club, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shorinji Kempo, Sky Diving, Squash, Sub-Aqua, Table Tennis, Ten-Pin Bowling, Trampolining, Volleyball, Water Skiing, Weight Training.