TNA podcast: Shop Workers

TNA offer the audio portion of a presentation from 25 August 2009 by one of their best presenters, Audrey Collins. "Shop Workers: tracing your retail ancestors" is at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/shop-workers.htm.

Much of the material relates to business records rather than to individuals. You may get more of an idea of the work life of one of your ancestors by scanning the archives of one of the major retailers like the John Lewis Partnership at http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=85216f42-b4a0-4921-84ab-65239c68c92d&NavigationId=761, or Sainsburys at http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/Collections/LibraryArchives/SainsburyArchive/Default.htm.

For local businesses check the listings under the National Register of Archives at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/catalogues-and-online-records.htm. You may find the page worth bookmarking as it has many other useful links.