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About
The Archive holds the UK’s finest collection of written, printed and visual material on jazz, blues and related music, from the 1920s to the present day, including:
More than 4,000 books
Runs of around 700 journals and periodicals
Photographs, drawings, paintings, concert and festival posters and programmes
Letters, memorabilia and personal papers donated by musicians, writers, journalists and collectors
Oral histories from our Heritage Lottery Fund Intergenerational Jazz Reminiscence project.
Part of our Heritage Lottery Fund project ‘The Story of British Jazz’ was devoted to conserving and cataloguing the collection, and digitising some of the most interesting material. As a result, many photographs, journals, documents and learning resources are now freely available on our website.
Many of our holdings have not yet been digitised or fully catalogued so a visit to the Archive or enquiry by email or phone may be the best way to find what you are looking for.
Our second Heritage Lottery Funded project – the Intergenerational Jazz Reminiscence project – which started in 2016, will build on previous work to increase access and public engagement with the National Jazz Archive collections.
This ambitious 18-month programme will expand the archive’s holdings in collaboration with local and national organisations, by inviting community groups of all ages to participate at the heart of the process.
It will focus on three local areas in Essex, and one area identified by the Black Cultural Archives, and will explore the investments that different generations make in promoting, performing, supporting and documenting our jazz heritage. In each location, using materials that we currently hold as well as others supplied by local jazz clubs and Chelmsford Museums service, we will inspire members of Age UK activity centres, local jazz clubs, local youth groups and young jazz musicians to explore and discuss what music has meant and still means in their lives.
We organise three or four fundraising concerts each year, which are held in Loughton or Chingford, as well as talks and open days at the Archive.
Signing up to our monthly e-newsletter via our website keeps you in touch with all our activities and new developments.
Facilities
Accessibility
- Accessible Lift
- All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
- Disabled Parking
- Lift
- No dogs (Guide dogs accepted)
- Ramp / Level Access
- Wheelchair user accessible
Attraction Facilities
- Groups Accepted
Establishment Features
- All weather attraction
- Groups by arrangement
- Groups welcome
- Guided tours by arrangement
- Open all year round
- Toilets
Parking & Transport
- Bus stop within walking distance
- On Site Car Parking
- On site parking
- Parking (charge)
- Railway station within 5 miles - Loughton Tube Station on the Central Line.
Provider Preferences
- In town/city centre
- Indoor Attraction
- No Smoking Attraction
Specialist Features
- Marketed Towards Families
- Marketed Towards Senior Citizens
- Marketed towards student/youth
Tours and Demonstrations
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
- Guided Tours Available for Individuals
Map & Directions
Road Directions
The nearest motorway access is at junction 5 (exit northbound only) of the M11, and junction 26 of the M25. If you’re using a satellite navigation device, enter our postcode – IG10 1HD – and look out for the turning in to the library off Traps Hill.
There is a public pay-and-display car park next to the library.
Public Transport Directions
The National Jazz Archive is on the first floor of Loughton Library, which is approximately two miles beyond the north-eastern edge of London.
Loughton station on the London Underground Central Line is approximately a 10 minute walk away, with frequent trains to and from the centre of London.
Bus routes 20, 167 and 397 stop at Traps Hill and serve London and other parts of Essex, and Hertfordshire
