GREATER MANCHESTER ARCHIVES:

a guide to local repositories.

This document was last updated on 03 April 2008

This page has been produced by the County and District archivists in Greater Manchester as a brief guide to the location of archives. Most repositories have leaflets or other publications explaining the use of their records. Public records less than thirty years old and certain other material are subject to restrictions on use.

It is advisable to give advance notice of a visit preferably by telephone. Repositories are unable to undertake prolonged genealogical searches, but are likely to be able to supply a list of local record agents, who make searches for a fee. Microfilm copies of certain records including census returns and parish registers are usually available in the appropriate local history library. It is often advisable to book a micro-reader in advance. Local authorities have created various classes of records that are common to most of them. They are therefore not given in detail, except where such records relating to a post 1974 metropolitan district are not in the custody of its own repository. Records of certain 19th century statutory bodies have been included. Archives of businesses and families, because of their numbers, can only be referred to selectively. Those mentioned are of particular importance or relate to records held elsewhere.

Greater Manchester County Record Office

Address: The County Archivist, 56 Marshall Street, New Cross, Manchester M4 5FU
Telephone (0161) 832 5284
Fax (0161) 839 3808
Email archives@gmcro.co.uk

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 9.00 - 5.00; Weds 9-1 pm 
Sat 9.00 - 12.00; 1.00 - 4.00 (second and fourth in each month).

Records:

 
  • General Register Office index 1837-2006
  • Provisional Data for Births and Deaths for 2007

    This is provisional, unchecked data, available for consultation prior to the release of the official indexes. Provisional data is released for Births and Deaths only, not Marriages.

     

  • Civil Partnerships Index- 2005 to 2007

     

  • Overseas Index- Births, Deaths & Marriages from 1761 to 2006

     

  • Adopted Children Index- 1927 to 2007
  • Public records including :
Coroners (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford)
Hospital (Altrincham, Bury and Salford)
Motor Vehicle Licensing (Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport)
Charity Commissioners
Probate (Index to grants of wills 1858-1956)
Valuation Books (see also Manchester City Archives, below).
  • Family including Egerton family Lords Wilton, Legh of Lyme Hall and Assheton of Middleton
  • Business including Manchester Ship Canal (see also Manchester City Archives, below), Rochdale Canal (see also Rochdale Central Library, below).
  • Trade Unions
  • Solicitors
  • Societies
  • Maps

 

Guides: Information for visitors (free)
  Guide to Collections (£2)
  Records of Political Parties and related organisations in Greater Manchester (50p)
  David Holt's Victorian Walks (£1.50)
  The Expert Guide to Dating Victorian Family Photographs ((£4.95 Plus 60p postage & packing)
Please make all cheques payable to 
"The Greater Manchester County Record Office"		  

Bolton Archive and Local Studies Service

Address: The Archivist, Central Library, Civic Centre, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton BL1 1SE
Telephone (01204) 332185
Fax (01204 332225)
E Mail : museum@bolton.gov.uk

Hours:

Monday    Closed Thursday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Tuesday     9.00am - 7.30pm Friday,   9.00am - 5.30pm 
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.30pm     Saturday    9.00am - 5.00pm

Records:

Principal Collections:

  • Archives: extensive records of local government, families, estates, individuals, trade and industry, clubs, societies, nonconformist churches, charities and other groups and organisations relating to the Bolton area.
  • Local Studies: books, pamphlets, articles and other published material relating to all aspects of the local, social, political, environmental, industrial and economic development of Bolton and district from the earliest times to the present day.
  • Maps and Plans: large scale ordnance survey maps and plans (various scales and editions) of the Bolton area from 1845 to date; manuscript maps and plans of the area from 1620, including estate and enclosure, turnpike roads, railways, coalmines, industrial and private development.
  • Microfilms: Bolton area census returns, I MI-I 881; local newspapers from 1823; local parish registers, nonconformist registers, Bolton burgess rolls, 1838-1900.
  • Microfiche: Bolton area census returns, 1891, International Genealogical Index, Bolton Parish Church Registers from 1837, General Register Office Index 1837-1970.
  • Oral History: tape recordings of interviews relating to the Bolton area, with transcripts, summaries and indexes.
  • Photographs: Bolton and district from about 1865 to date.
  • Whitman Collection Naughton Archive:  Notes, working drafts, proofs and correspondence of Bill Naughton (1910-1992) Bolton author and playwright, creator of Alfie, Spring and Port Wine, All in Good Time, June Evening and many other literary and autobiographical works, mainly covering the period 1950-2000 
    Please see web site at http://bold.bolton.gov.uk/naughton

 

Guides, etc:   Several Leaflets are available :
  • General Information describing the service
  • Microfilm and fiche reader booking system
  • Lists of Record Agents and Researchers
  • Starting your Family Tree
  • Sources for Women's History in Bolton
Published Guides
  • Tracing your Ancestors in Bolton (£3.99 plus £1 post and packing). Available from Artifacts, the Museum Shop at e-mail address museum.shop@bolton.gov.uk
  • A Guide to Bolton Archives and Local Studies Service currently out of print but an updated version will be available soon

Bury Archive Service

Address: The Archivist, Moss Street, Bury BL9 0DG
Telephone (0161) 253 6782
Web Site http://www.bury.gov.uk/Bury/CouncilServices/Leisure/Archives/default.asp

E mail :archives@bury.gov.uk

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-4:30pm. 

 

Records:

  • Nonconformist churches 1782-date
  • Political parties 
  • Family 
  • Business
  • Trade Unions
  • Tithe maps ( parts of Bury and Prestwich parishes)
  • Schools 1726 to date
  • Clubs and Societies
  • Photographs

 
Guides etc Routes - a guide to family history in the Bury area.
Interim Guide to the Archives (also available on the web site)
 Quarterly newsletter (free)

Manchester Archives and Local Studies

Address: The Principal Archivist, Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Central Library, 
St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD (0161-234 1980)
Central Library Web Page Address http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries/arls/index.htm
E mail :archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk 

Hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm

Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm*

* Hours for booking and viewing material in the Archives section will be Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm only. Archives will now be retrieved at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Archives no longer need to be returned 20 minutes before closing - they can be returned at closing (4pm).

Records:

  • Local authority including Turnpike Trusts, Poor Law Unions (Manchester (see also Lancashire Record Office below), Chorlton, Prestwich).
  • Public records including Salford Hundred Court of Record, Manchester City Sessions and Petty Sessions, Hospitals, Valuation Maps (see also Greater Manchester Record Office, above), Territorial Army, School Grant Plans, Crew Agreements.
  • Religious including Manchester Diocese, Manchester and Stockport Methodist District (excluding Stockport circuits but including Salford, Bury (part), Oldham, Tameside, Trafford, Derbyshire (part)), Hardshaw (later Hardshaw East) Society of Friends Monthly Meeting and Preparative Meetings and other Nonconformist Churches, Jewish Synagogues and organisations.
  • Family including Carill-Worsley of Platt and the Manchester and Heaton Norris estate of Egerton of Tatton and antiquarian including Farrer MSS (co-editor of the Victoria County History of Lancashire)
  • Business including Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Ship Canal Bridgewater Department including Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company (see also Greater Manchester Record Office), Quarry Bank Mill, Calico Printers' Association, English Sewing Cotton Company, Peter Stubs, toolmaker of Warrington.
  • Trade Unions, societies and charities.
 

A guide to business archives is available at http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries/arls/busarc/index.htm

Oldham Local Studies and Archives

Address: Oldham Local Studies and Archives, 84 Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DN
website:


E mail: archives@oldham.gov.uk
Telephone (0161-911 4654)
Fax (0161) 911 4654
Disabled access via a ramp at Greaves Street entrance.
Contact: The Archives Officer, Mr. Roger Ivens
Hours: Mon, Thurs 10.00am-7-00pm; Tue 10.00am-2.00pm; 
Weds Fri 10.00-5 and Sat 10.00-4.00pm

Access : Open to the public.  
Advance booking is recommended for microform readers.

Records:

Archives of Organisations

  • Records of predecessor authorities
  • Oldham County Borough
  • Urban Districts of
    • Chadderton
    • Crompton
    • Failsworth
    • Lees
    • Royton
    • Saddleworth
    • Springhead
    • Uppermill

OMajor Collections

  • Extensive record of local Co-operative Society and textile trade unions
  • Butterworth MSS including daily journal of events, 1829-43 and notes for Baines' History of Lancashire (1836)
  • Rowbottom diaries: daily events in Oldham 1787-1829
  • Personal papers of Dame Sarah and Majory Lees of Werneth Park, including suffrage material
  • Higson antiquarian collection

ORochdale Library Service

Address: Local Studies Library, Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AQ
Telephone (01706 864915)
E mail localstudies@rochdale.gov.uk
Web site http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/living/libraries.asp
Contact: Local Studies Librarian
Hours: Mon Closed Tue Closed, Weds & Fri 10.00-1.00; 2.00-5.30. Thurs 10.00-1.00; 2.00-7.30; 
Sat 9.30-1.00; 2.00-4.00

Records:

Archival material includes:

  • Municipal and other Administrative records
  • Trades Union and Political Records
  • Rochdale Pioneers Minutes
  • Methodist Archives
  • Industrial and Commercial Records
  • Manor Records
  • Family Records
  • Microfilms:
    • local census returns
    • parish registers
    • Burgess Rolls, 1858-1881
    • Wills 1553-1810
    • Poor Law and Landowners records.
  • Microfiche:
    • Mormon I.G.I. (England & Wales).

PLEASE NOTE THAT MANUSCRIPT MATERIAL IS CURRENTLY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. 
PLEASE CONTACT THE LIBRARIAN TO ARRANGE VIEWING. LISTS OF MANUSCRIPT 
MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY.

OSalford City Archives Service

Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Peel Park
The Crescent
Salford M5  4WU
Telephone : 0161-736 2649
Fax : 0161 745 9490
Email local.history@salford.gov.uk
Web Site http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/yourcom/salfordlife/aboutsalford/salfordlocalhistory/lhlibrary

Hours: Tues, Thurs & Friday 10am-5pm; Wednesday 10am-8pm

Records:
  • Local authority including Poor Law Union (Salford)
  • Religious including Nonconformist
  • Family
  • Trade Unions.
  • Societies and Charities

 

Guides   A hand list of Salford City archives (free)
Genealogical sources for the City of Salford (free)
The History of Houses (free)

Stockport Archive Service

Address: The Archivist, Central Library, Wellington Road South Stockport SK1 3RS
Telephone 0161- 474 4530
Fax 0161 474 7750
E mail :localheritage.library@stockport.gov.uk

Hours:  Mon 10.00-20.00, Tue, Fri 09.00-20.00 Wed, Thur 09.00-17.00 Sat 9.00 - 16.00.
NB it is advisable to make an appointment for visits after 5.00pm and on Saturdays.



Records :
  • Local authority
  • Public records including Borough Magistrates Court.
  • Hospitals
  • Religious including Methodist, the Stockport Sunday School
  • Family including the Bradshaw-Isherwood estate
  • Business including Christies hat manufacturers
  • Societies.

 

Guides Stockport Family History (Handlist 14)
Stockport Archives: A Guide
Guide to archive calendars, 1 -14

OTameside Archive Service

Address: The Archivist, Tameside Local Studies & Archives Centre, Central Library, Old Street,
Ashton-Under-Lyne OL6 7SG

Telephone (0161-338 2708/3831)

Web Address http://www.tameside.gov.uk/localstudies

E Mail :archives@tameside.gov.uk

Fax 0161 303 8289

Monday 9am-8pm
Tuesday 9am-8pm
Wednesday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4pm

 

Records:
  • Local authority including Turnpike Trust (Saltersbrook)
  • Public records including Hospital
  • Religious including Nonconformist
  • Family including Clarke family of Hyde, Stamford estate
  • Business including Trade Unions
  • Manchester Regiment archives

 

Guides Guide to the archive collection
Tracing your family (free) 
 

OTrafford Library Service

Address: The Local Studies Librarian, Trafford Local Studies Centre, Sale Library, 
Sale Waterside, Sale, Cheshire M33 7ZF
Telephone (0161-912 3013)
E mail trafflocals@trafford.gov.uk
Web Page http://www.trafford.gov.uk/LeisureAndCulture/Libraries/RecordsAndArchives-LocalStudies

Hours: 

Monday 9am-7.30pm
Tuesday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-7.30pm
Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4pm

Records:

  • Census Returns for the Trafford District 1841-1901
  • Parish Registers (on microfilm) 
  • Local Newspapers
  • Maps
  • CD ROMS
  • Gas Industry Genealogical Index
  • Rate Books
  • Electoral Registers 
  • Local Societies
  • Photographs

 

Guides Trafford Local Studies and Archives (free)
  Sources for Family History (free) 
 

OWigan Record Office

Address: The Archivist, Town Hall, Leigh, Wigan WN7 2DY
Telephone 01942 404431
Fax: 01942 404425
E mail heritage@wlct.org
web site http://www.wlct.org/Culture/Heritage/archives.htm

Hours: Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Documents must be ordered in advance by telephone, letter or e-mail) 10 to 1.00, and 2.00 to 4.30. Other days by special arrangement

Appointments in advance

When staff are not in the building please use the telephone answering facility.


Records:
  • Local authority including Poor Law Unions (Leigh, Wigan)
  • Public records including Quarter Sessions (Wigan) Petty Sessions (Leigh, Wigan)
  • Coroner (Wigan)
  • Hospital
  • Census microfilms
  • Religious including Parish, Methodist and other Nonconformist churches
  • Family including Anderton of Ince, Crawford of Haigh estate (see also John Rylands Library, below) Holt, Leigh family, Standish of Standish
  • The Edward Hall collection of diaries (of national rather than local interest)
  • Business including Park Webb, Walker Bros
  • Trade Unions
  • Societies

 

Guides etc Guide to the Archives(1996), 
Guide to Genealogical Sources
Those Dark Satanic Mills
Wigan Through Wickham's Window
Two Athertons Murder
 Terror and Revenge the legend of Mabs Cross
Devils Hill
 Local Men at the battle of Spion Kop
A Terrible Nightmare, The Cotton Famine in Wigan & Leigh.
Standish, 800 Years of History
Around Leigh (1996)
"The Wigan Coalfield" ( 2000 )  

OWigan History Shop

Address Rodney Street, Wigan WN1 1DG

Hours: Mon 10-7, Tues-Fri 10-5; Sat 10-1 Appointment Advisable
Email heritage@wlct.org

Web Page http://www.wlct.org/Culture/Heritage/historyshop.htm

Records:

  • Microforms of church registers formerly made available at Wigan Archives Service.
  • census microforms
  • Wigan local library collections.

SPECIALIST COLLECTIONS

OChethams Library

Address: Chethams Library, Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB
Telephone 0161-834 7961
Fax 0161 839 5797
E mail       archivist@chethams.org.uk
Web site : http://www.chethams.org.uk

Hours: Mon - Fri 9.00 - 12.30, 1.30 - 4.30
An Appointment is required to view the archives

 

Records:
  • Chetham Family Papers, Hospital and Library Minute books, Nicholls Hospital Minutes.
  • Religious including Manchester Sunday School, Bishop Fraser Collection, Hulme Trust deeds
  • Business including Belle Vue and Jennison collections.
  • Family and antiquarian including F.R.Raines, J.R.Bailey, W.T.Watkin MSS.
  • Societies.

ODocumentary Photography Archive

Address: See web page: Documentary Photography Archive 
 

Records:

 
  • Photographs, contemporary and historical relating to the North West, detailed documentation of same and oral history recordings relating to the history of photography.
Guides: leaflet (free)
exhibition catalogues
guidelines on documentation & archival processing for photographers

OGreater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Address: Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester. M3 4JP
Telephone 0161-832-2244 


Records:
  • Business including engineering, machine tool, mill engines, electrical engineering, locomotive and motor car manufacture, textile (with fabric samples)
  • photographic materials and chemical firms, photographs National Paper Museum
Guides  General guide (typescript, free) 
   
 

OJohn Rylands University Library of Manchester

Address: Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
Telephone 0161-275 3738

Contact: Main Library Archivist

Web Page Address :http: //rylibweb.man.ac.uk/data1/dg/text/jrulmdg.html

Hours: Mon - Fri 9.00am - 9.30pm; Sat 9.00 - 1.00. 
NB there may be some variation in the hours during the vacation. 
A Manchester University Library card is needed and visits should preferably be by appointment.

Please note that, due to refurbishment, the library is closed until April 2007

Records:
  • University archive, including papers of former staff
  • Business including Guardian and other newspaper archives
  • English textile companies
  • Manchester Medical Society
 

Address: Deansgate Building, Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH
Telephone 0161-834 5343

Contact: Administrator

Hours: Mon - Fri 10.00 - 5.30, preferably by appointment; Sat 10.00 - 1.00. 
NB a Deansgate reader's ticket or Manchester University Library card is needed.

Records:
  • Western and Eastern MSS (ancient, mediaeval and modern)
  • Family including papers of many Cheshire and Lancashire families Business

Address: Methodist Archives and Research Centre, John Rylands University Library Record Office, Deansgate Manchester M3 3EH
Telephone (0161-834 5343)

Contact: Methodist Church Archivist

Hours: Mon - Fri 10.00 - 5.30; Sat 10.00 - 1.00. NB written application is needed

Records:

 
  • Methodist records excluding Circuit and Chapel records. (see also Manchester, Stockport and Wigan Record Offices, above)

ONorth West Film Archive

Address: Manchester Metropolitan University, Minshull House, 47-49 Chorlton Street, 
Manchester M1 3EU
Telephone 0161-247 3097

Fax 0161-247 3098

Web site www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk

E mail: n.w.filmarchive@mmu.ac.uk

Hours: Mon - Fri 9.00 - 5.00 viewings by appointment only;


Records:
  • 21,000 items showing life in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside from 1896 to the present. The collection includes cinema newsreels, documentaries publicity films, television programmes and home movies. Complimentary collections of photographs, taped interviews and ephemera related to the history of the region's film and cinema industries are also held.

 

Guides:     General Leaflet (free)
The Picture House a photographic album of North West Film and Cinema (pub 1988 £6.95) 
 

ONorth West Sound Archive

Address: Clitheroe Castle, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 1AZ
Telephone 01200 427897

Web Address: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/about/archive.asp

E mail: nwsa@ed.lancscc.gov.uk

Contact: Sound Archivist

Hours: Mon - Fri 9.00 -12.30, 1.30 - 4.45 preferably by appointment

100,000 recordings largely relating to the North West. 
By prior arrangement many recordings can be made available at 
The Greater Manchester Listening Centre based at G.M.C.R.O.

Records:

 
  • Collections of regional and national significance, e.g.. Solidarity, Radio Astronomy.
  • Large collections of BBC and ILR programmes, and regional oral history material, dialect and western classical music.

 

Guides:  Various regional publications & monographs
free computer information search service
leaflet on archive available.

OLancashire Mining Museum

This Museum has now closed and the records have been re-deposited at  the Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (see above)

Records:

 
  • Coalmining, Metalliferous Mining, Quarrying.
  • The Mining Reference Library has 15,000 volumes, including early works. It is the largest of its kind in Greater Manchester.
Guides:   
         
  • A brief guide to the research collections (free)
  •  Salford Museum of Mining: a guide
 
 

OSalford University Library

Address: Salford University Library, Information Services Division, Clifford Whitworth Building, 
University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT
Telephone 0161 295 2444

Hours: Term Mon-Fri 08:30-21:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-1600
Vacation. Mon - Fri 08:55-1700, Sat and Sun: 10:00-16:00

 Searchers are requested to either phone or write before visiting

 

Records:
  • Archives of 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
  • Various canal and railway engineers 
Catalogues and Guides available at http://www.isd.salford.ac.uk/specollect/ 

ADJACENT COUNTIES

OCheshire and Chester Archives & Local Studies

The City of Manchester, and Metropolitan Boroughs of Stockport, Tameside and
Trafford include areas which were formerly in Cheshire.

Address: Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester CH1 1RL
Telephone 01244 602574

Monday 1.00pm - 5.00pm 
Tuesday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
3rd Saturday in the month 9.00am – 4.00pm


Web Address: http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/recoff/home.htm
Email : recordoffice@cheshire.gov.uk

 

Records:
  • Local authority including Altrincham Borough, Bucklow Rural and Hale Urban District Councils, Poor Law Union (Bucklow)
  • Public records including Quarter Sessions
  • Coroner from 1922,
  • probate (Cheshire only)
  • Religious including Chester Diocese, Cheshire parishes, Methodist and other Nonconformist Churches
  • Family Business

 Guides:   See http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/recoff/publicat.htm for more details
        
         
 

ODerbyshire

In 1936 Ludworth & Mellor civil parishes were added to Marple Urban District. 
In 1974 the Urban District became part of Stockport Metropolitan Borough

Derbyshire Record Office, Ernest Bailey Building, New Street,
Matlock, Derbyshire
Telephone 01629 580000 Ext 7347

Web site : http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/record_office

All correspondence to County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3HT

Hours: 9:30-4:45 Mon-Fri

Public records including quarter sessions: 16-20 cent probate 1858 to 1928 Religious including 
Derbyshire parishes, Methodist and other non-conformist churches. Local Authorities, estates 
and businesses

Guides:  Information for users (free)
Guide(£10)   
Parish register guide (£4) 
Nonconformist register guide (£3) plus P&P;

OLancashire Record Office

Lancashire formerly included all or part of every city and metropolitan district in Greater Manchester

Address: Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2RE
Telephone 01772 533039
Fax 01772 533050

Opening hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 8.30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5 pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday

Open on the second Saturday of each month from 10 am – 4 pm
View Saturday opening dates for 2007

Web Address: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/
E-mail: record.office@ed.lancscc.gov.uk


Records:
  • Local authority including Boroughs (Ashton-under-Lyne,  Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Stretford), Rural District (Barton-upon-Irwell), Urban Districts (Littleborough, Milnrow, Turton, Urmston, Wardle, Whitworth)
  • Turnpike Trusts
  • Poor Law Unions (Barton-Upon-Irwell, Bury, Rochdale)
  • Public records including Quarter Sessions
  • Coroner (Salford, Rochdale and Bury)
  • Taxation
  • Probate ( Chester Diocese, Lancashire south of the Ribble and including Saddleworth)
  • Privately deposited records including families and businesses
  • Religious including Manchester Diocese (tithe awards and bishops transcripts) (see also Manchester City Archives), Blackburn and Liverpool Dioceses
  • Methodist and other Nonconformist Churches.

 

Guides,  Advice to users (free)               
Finding Folk (handlist of genealogical sources) £8.50
Guide £12.75
Guide Supplement £14.95
[Guide and Supplement together £25]

 

OMerseyside

Merseyside Record Office

Address Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW

Tel: (0151) 233 5817
Fax: (0151) 233 5886
Email: recoffice.central.library@liverpool.gov.uk

Monday– Friday 9.00-18.00
Saturday 9.00–17.00
Sunday 12.00-16.00

Annual closure for stock-taking and special projects 3rd and 4th weeks in June

Car-Parking: No

Appointments: Advised

Records:
  • Merseyside County Council; 
  • Merseyside Residuary Body
  • Liverpool, Southport, Wirral coroners. 
  • Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive;
  • Merseyside Fire Service (from mid 19th century).
  • Merseyside Development Corporation.
  • Hospital Records. 
  • Methodist and United Reformed churches.
  • Social agencies e.g. Child Welfare Association; League of Welldoers. 
  • Business Records. 
  • Some Family and Estate Records.

Finding Aids:

Paper based lists and indexes. Guide to holdings. Information sheets.

Authorised Readers Tickets needed to consult archives, available by personal application only with proof of identity (name and address).

Liverpool Record Office, Local Studies and Family History Service

Address Liverpool Record Office, Local Studies and Family History Services, 4th Floor, Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW

Tel: (0151) 233 5817
      (0151) 233 5811 (bookings)

Fax: (0151) 233 5886

Email: recoffice.central.library@Liverpool.gov.uk

Monday– Friday 9.00-18.00
Saturday 9.00–17.00
Sunday 12.00-16.00

Annual closure for stock-taking and special projects 3rd and 4th weeks in June

Car-Parking: No

Appointments: Strongly advised for material on microfilm; advance booking fee for microfilm readers but no fee charged if a reader is available at the time of visit without advance booking.

Records:
  • Local Authority records from 1207 (minute books from 1550). 
  • Ecclesiastical records: Anglican parishes (from 1586)
  • R.C. parishes (from 1741); non-conformist records (from 1787); 
  • Liverpool Diocesan Registry; Jewish Records (from 1804). 
  • Boards of Guardians and other statutory bodies. 
  • Hospitals. 
  • Family, estate (including manorial) and personal papers include :

    Moore of Bank Hall, Plumbe Tempest, Marquess of Salisbury, Norris of Speke Hall, William Roscoe, Earls of Derby (see also Lancashire Record Office) 
  • Business
  • Trade Unions
  • Charities
  • Associations and Societies
  • Literary manuscripts
  • Other material includes newspapers (from 1756) and newscuttings, directories (from 1766). Census returns, slides, photographs, engravings, prints, watercolours, maps. Sound material (including the library of BBC Radio Merseyside). The reference library of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire is housed in the department.
  • Sources for family history, including indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales 1837-1996, national probate indexes 1858-1940s, and 1881 census index for England and Wales.

Please Note: no passenger lists or other records of immigration and emigration are held.

Finding Aids & Publications:

Lists, catalogues and indexes. General information sheet, Brief Guide for Family Historians, Handlist of Church of England Parish Records, Map of Church of England Parishes, Liverpool and district, c1900 etc., Hand List of Roman Catholic Parish Records, Hand List of Cemetery and Burial Records, Handlist of Non-conformist Records.

Authorised Readers Ticket needed to consult archives, rare printed books and audio-visual material, available by personal application only with proof of identity (name and address).


 

 

OWest Yorkshire Archive Service

Prior to 1974 Saddleworth was in the West Riding of Yorkshire

Address: Wakefield Headquarters, Registry of Deeds, Newstead Road, Wakefield, 
West Yorkshire WF1 2DE

Web Address http://www.archives.wyas.org.uk
The above web site has links to the other archive services in West Yorkshire. (see below)

Email :archives@wyjs.org.uk.

Please note: Historical Enquiries are not accepted

Bradford
Tel 01274 731931 
Fax 01274 734013
e-mail bradford@wyjs.org.uk		 All Offices are closed on Wednesday. There are considerable variations between offices and hours have recently been subject to last minute alteration. 
See web site for further details. 
Calderdale
Tel 01422 392636
e-mail calderdale@wyjs.org.uk		 ALL OFFICES BY APPOINTMENT
Kirklees
Tel 01484 442847
e-mail kirklees@wyjs.org.uk
Leeds
Tel 0113 262 833 
Fax 0113 262 4707
e-mail leeds@wyjs.org.uk
Wakefield
Tel 01924 295982
Fax 01924 305983
e-mail wakefield@wyjs.org.uk
Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Tel 0113 245 6362 
Fax 0113 244
e-mail yas@wyjs.org.uk

 

Records:
  • local authority including registered deeds
  • Public records including Quarter and Petty Sessions
  • Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield Parish records, non-conformist, estate records (especially Leeds)
Guides:  Services and facilities (free)
Guide to the quarter sessions records of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1637 - 1971 and other official records
Guides to Bradford Archives, Calderdale archives, Kirklees Archives, Leeds Archives, and the Y.A.S.
Guide for family Historians (presently out of print)

Other Useful Addresses:



Salford Catholic Diocese
The Presbytery
3 Todmorden Road
Burnley
Lancashire BB10 4AU

Tel 01282 422007
Fax 01282 424622
Web site www.churches-online.org.uk/salfordarchives/

Greater Manchester Police Museum
Newton Street, Manchester M1 1ES
Telephone 0161-856 3287

Including police records relating to the county

Harris Library, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP (01772 404010) 
The Baines MSS - Notes on Lancashire Parishes
Basis of topological vols. of Baines' History of Lancashire

Jewish Museum
190 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester. M8 8LW
Telephone 0161-834 9879

Website : http//www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com/

Including deposited records of the Jewish communities in the Greater Manchester region. For records of official Jewish organizations see Manchester City Archives, above

Manchester Metropolitan University Library,
All Saints Building,
Oxford Road,
Manchester M15 6BH
Telephone 0161-247 6100

Barnett Freedman, Jimmy Deane and Parry archives.
Cotton Collection, Aytoun Library (20th Century Cotton Trade in Lancashire)

Methodist Connexional Archive
See John Rylands University Library

Probate Registry,
Astley House, Quay Street,
Manchester 3
Telephone 0161-837 6070
For printed probate index 1858-1950 see Greater Manchester Record Office, above.

University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology,
The Librarian, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD
Telephone 0161-200 4933
UMIST records
JP Joule scientist
Trade Unions

© The Greater Manchester County Record Office 2007

 

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