Gloucestershire Archives

A visit to the archives can seem daunting, however, in Gloucestershire Archives you can find many useful resources for family history researchers. Gloucestershire Archives hold parish registers and bishop's transcripts for parishes within the diocese of Gloucester, as well as probate records. A large number of other sources useful to the genealogist are available, including prison registers, electoral registers, poor law records, school registers, marriage allegations and so on. Copies of all censuses for the county between 1841 and 1901 are available to view on microfilm. You have also a free access to Ancestry

If you are new to the archives you can take a guided tour of the search room areas. The tour take place at 11:15 am every Monday, subject to staff availability. If you are interested you can contact the search room on 01452 425295.

To ensure your visit to archive is a success telephone, write or email the archives to check that they have what you're looking for. You need to bring a proof of identity with you. If it is your first visit to the archives you'll need to fill out registration form first.

When you arrive you need to leave all your bags and valuables in a locker and obtain a ticket for your visit. You will need to sign the attendance register. To the search room you can only take a pencil to take notes to prevent accidental damage to documents. You can't bring food, drink or mobile phones into the search room.

What you are allowed to take with you is a digital camera and as long as you don't use flash you are allowed to take photos. It's a good idea to take close ups of texts you are researching. Although quality might not be the best, to have records of what you've searched through is invalueable. You will need to ask permission before digitally photographing any item.

Most records on microfiche or film are available as self-service and you do not need to book a reader. There are coin-operated fiche and film printers. Printing out copies from film or fiches cost 60p per page so you need to select what needs to be printed out as to print out few pages from the parish registers can become quite expensive. Again, before you do any printing you need to ask permission.

Documents cannot be requested after 16.30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or after 19.00 on Thursdays. Documents must be returned 15 minutes before closing time.