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The Fell and Rock Climbing Club has built an extensive archive of mountaineering-related
publications, images and memorabilia. Most of this material is accessible by
members and the general public. This page describes what is available, where
it is located, and how you can access it.
Fell and Rock Journal
The Club has published a regular Journal since 1906. This was published annually
until 1971 and bi-annually thereafter. These volumes contain a wealth of
illustrated articles on all aspects of mountaineering both in the UK and
throughout the World including expeditions, new climbs, mountaineering history,
book reviews, obituaries as well as club history. A complete
index is available
online in Excel format.
Complete collections available to the public are known to exist at Lancaster
University Library, the Alpine Club in London, and KeswickLibrary. Back copies
can be found in specialist second-hand book shops or by purchase from the Club
Archivist at £10 per issue plus £3 post and packing. Early editions
of the Journal are very scarce. The first five volumes (numbers 1 to 15) are
available electronically on CD for purchase from the Club Archivist at £10
plus £1 post and packing.
Fell and Rock Library
The extensive club library is accommodated at the University of Lancaster Library.
Around 2,000 books in the main collection are available in Room B19 during
normal opening hours (see
Lancaster University website)This room is locked and members should
make application to the service desk, where on production of their membership
card they will be lent the key. Non-members
should apply for access in advance to the Honorary Club Librarian. At the
discretion of the Hon. Librarian and of the University Librarian, bona-fide
enquirers may be admitted by appointment to consult but not to borrow, books.
A printed catalogue of titles is available in the room. Additional items,
including guidebooks, maps, pamphlets and periodicals are held in the basement
stack and are not available to the public. Further enquiries should be sent
to the Club Librarian.
Files Collection
A specialist collection of mountaineering books assembled by Bobby and Muriel
Files (former president and former librarian) is held at the Armitt Library,
St Martin’s College, Ambleside. Access is available on request during
normal opening hours.
Abraham Brothers’ Photographic Collection
The club owns around 750 original glass photographic negatives made by the
Abraham Brothers in the early 20th century. These were presented to the club
by Geoffrey Abraham in 1967; the copyright in these images remains with the
Abrahams family. The images record mountaineering and climbing exploits throughout
the UK and the Alps. All the images have been copied into digital format
and a CD produced containing around 150 images. The copyright owners will
take action against unauthorised reproduction of these images for commercial
gain. Applications to view the images should be made to the Club Archivist.
Photographic Collection
There is an extensive collection of 4,000 images, all now held as 35mm slides,
covering a wide range of mountaineering subjects and stored in the club archive.
A paper catalogue has been produced. For access, please contact the Club
Archivist. Documentary Archive
Administrative and documentary records from throughout the club’s history
form an important source of information about the development of mountaineering
in the Lake District. The archive is kept at the Cumbria Record Office, County
Offices, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4RQ. A paper catalogue is available. Visitors
are welcome to consult the archive during normal opening hours. Financial and
committee records are restricted. The archive contains a varied range of materials
including early climbing record books from each of the various valleys.
Oral history
Since 1995, volunteer members have been recording the experiences of older
members to form a taped oral history. Around 25 members have now been recorded
including Harry Griffin, Sid Cross, AB Hargreaves and Ruth Harland. For access,
please contact the Oral Archivist.
Climbing memorabilia
The Club has a collection of climbing memorabilia including hardware and clothing
dating back over the last 100 years. This is kept in our Archive store. A
catalogue has been made and applications to borrow material for bone fide
exhibitions should be made to the Archivist.
Contact details
For archive and Journal enquiries, please contact FRCC Archivist, 80 Manor
Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0QS
For library enquiries, please contact FRCC Librarian, 5 Low Mill, Lancaster
Road, Caton, Lancashire LA2 9HX
For oral history enquiries, please contact FRCC Oral Archivist, Archway Cottage,
North Road, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9DT
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