NPG - Turnstile Account Books

Volumes have daily entries including: date; starting number and finishing number of the entrance turnstiles; number of visitors admitted free; number of paying visitors; amount of money taken; statistics on total numbers; and occasional notes on events affecting attendance. These include details of football matches, demonstrations, political marches, royal visits, coronations and funeral processions that took place in, or affected, in the locality.

Examples of such extracts are as follows:
20th April 1907, 'A number of excursionists who came to London to see the foot ball match at the Crystal Palace between "Sheffield Wednesday" and "Everton" visited the Gallery in the forenoon'.

25th November 1920, 'Gates of Gallery closed during the passing of funeral procession of officers assassinated in Dublin'.

4th July 1937, 'Dull. Fascists march to Trafalgar Sq (disorderly) Closed Gallery 4.55pm'.

Turnstile account books began in 1896 when the Gallery opened its new premesis at St. Martin's Place. The books were a record of the daily numbers of visitors and replaced the previous visitor books, (NPG72) which visitors had signed.

Available to view by appointment in the Heinz Archive and Library Public Study Room, to make an appointment contact Archive Reception . Although records are generally available for public consultation, some information in them, such as personal data or information supplied to the Gallery in confidence, may be restricted.

The complete catalogue for this archive can be searched via the NPG Archive Catalogue .

Personal photography is permitted for research purposes only. Photocopying is not permitted.