Planning a visit to the Local History Centre
Opening hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9.30 – 5.30
Wednesday 9.30 – 7.00
Thursday 9.30 – 5.30
Friday 9.30 – 5.00
Saturday 9.30 – 1.00
Sunday Closed
We are normally closed on public holidays, and occasionally on other statutory days associated with these. Please telephone to check our opening hours at these times before making a special journey.
Reader ticket requirements
We operate the County Archives Research Network (CARN) ticket system. If you do not already have a CARN ticket you will need to register on your first visit. Registration is free, but we must see official proof of name, address and signature, such as driver’s licence, or a utility bill and debit card.
For more details, see the section titled CARN Tickets
Booking in advance – microfiche and microfilm readers
The research room is open to all members of the public free of charge and you will receive a friendly welcome from helpful staff. No appointment is necessary unless you intend to use the microfilm or microfiche readers.
If you intend to consult the local Census, Church of England parish registers, General Register Office (St. Catherine's House) Indexes, the International Genealogical Index or the 1881 Census Index, and local newspapers you will use a microfiche or microfilm reader during your visit. The research room can get busy so advance booking is strongly advised.
It is possible to book one two-hour session per day, or up to two sessions if you are travelling from further than a 25-mile radius from the Centre. Please contact us in advance to advise us of your needs and to book a reader if required. Please do not assume that leaving a message on our answering machine will guarantee a booking - you are advised to check directly with a member of staff at all times.
Booking in advance – public access computer
We recently introduced a public access computer to the research room. The computer enables those without internet access at home, or those who want to check something during a visit, to do so at the Centre.
In order to use the computer you will need to have a CARN ticket and to register as a computer user. Registration is free and can be completed quickly at reception. Pre-reserved sessions can be of any length up to 30 minutes. To register for the computer booking system or reserve a session, please ask at reception.
This page was last updated on 19 June 2009