From sacks of correspondence belonging to a well known author to archives from the Battle of Waterloo (and the odd wooden leg), Sara Wheeler reflects on the joys of Britain's personal archives.

'I have loved almost every day I have ever spent in an archive,' Sara writes, 'and not just because dead people are so easy to get along with.'

But she fears that idiosyncratic borough and country archives will suffer because of budget cuts.

Producer: Adele Armstrong Sound: Peter Bosher Production coordinator: Liam Morrey Editor: Bridget Harney