Record Office, County Hall

Record Office, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP

Tel: (01905) 766351 / 766355
Fax: (01905) 766363  Minicom: 766399

Email: RecordOffice@worcestershire.gov.uk

• We are moving our out-store of archives out of Gloucester to a new storage facility. As a result, the last collection date from Gloucester is 13 Feb 2008 and we will not be issuing anything which was stored there from 18 Feb 2008 to 5 Apr 2008.
• Please note that there are 5 visitor spaces in the top car-park reserved for Record Office visitors. These are outside the Record Office next to the disabled access spaces. If these are full, please use the visitor car park.
• The Record Office has now got its own secure covered bicycle rack near the front door which can be used by the public.

Sources available at the County Hall Branch
Please direct all general local history enquiries to this branch and family history enquiries to the History Centre.

Amongst the original records held at the County Hall Branch are:

• Administrative archives of the present and former County and some districts.
• Petty Sessions and other official records such as those of Coroners, some hospitals and poor law unions.
• Quarter Sessions records dating back to 1590.
• The extensive Worcestershire Photographic Survey.
• Records of the Diocese of Worcester.
• Ecclesiastical and Non-conformist records.
• Estate and family papers.
• School records.
• Maps and plans.
• Records of groups, societies and businesses in Worcestershire.

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Booking
It is not necessary to book in advance, although some records require prior ordering to be consulted. Therefore we strongly recommend you contact us before your visit to ensure that the relevant records are available.

Readers' tickets
To consult original documents searchers need to be members of CARN (County Archive Research Network). On your first visit to the Record Office, County Hall, you will be asked to complete a form and produce some proof of identity and current address (e.g. driving licence, medical card, bank statement or utilities bill). The CARN ticket is valid for four years and can be used in a number if Record Offices throughout the country.
Please note that original material cannot be issued unless a valid readers' ticket is produced.
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Car parking facilities and public transport
There are 5 visitor spaces in the top car-park reserved for Record Office visitors. These are outside the Record Office next to the disabled access spaces. If these are full, please use the visitor car park. Overspill parking may be found at the Countryside Centre. There is also a direct bus route from the city centre to the Record Office, the number 44. This picks up from the Crowngate bus station and outside the Cathedral. Please see our location maps for details on how to find us.

Other facilities
The Record Office is fully accessible to wheelchair users and includes disabled toilet facilities. We ask all users to deposit their bags in the lockers provided (please note there is a £1 refundable fee). Refreshments are available from the nearby Countryside Centre. Copying facilities  (23.88 KB) are available.

The staff at the County Hall Branch are here to help you. If you need any assistance or guidance, please feel free to ask. For a list of the staff at this branch, please click here.
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