About Us

Where is the service based and how do I make contact?

The Cheshire Archive and Local Studies Service is based in the Cheshire Record Office at Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire. CH1 1RL, UK. Our telephone number is 01244 972574 ( NB Please note the prefix 60 has been discontinued. Please use 97) and you can email us.

Record Office Chester

What does the service do?

We are a shared service providing archive and records management services to both Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Councils.

The service collects and preserves historical records and the local studies collection relating to both the ancient and modern county of Cheshire, the diocese and the city of Chester. It makes the records available for study free of charge. Our research service can assist members of the public who are unable to visit the office. We also seek to promote awareness and interest in archives and local studies by participating in events and giving talks on a variety of topics.

In addition, the service is responsible for delivering the archives service for Warrington and Halton boroughs and includes the management of the manuscript collection housed at Warrington Library.

What can be found here?

The Cheshire Archives and Local Studies Service has in its care many thousands of records, some dating from as far back as the 12th century. These records include:

Parish registers from the 16th century onwards (for more information on Cheshire parishes and their registers, see 'Cheshire Towns and Parishes' on the Family History Society of Cheshire website)
Wills and probate records. Details of Cheshire wills for the period 1492-1940 are on our wills database, from which copies can be ordered online
Census returns 1841 – 1901. These are all available online at the Record Office via AncestryLibrary. The 1911 census is available free of charge at the Record Office via Find My Past. These databases are available on the People's Network PCs in the searchroom
Poor law records
Diocesan records
Electoral records
Nonconformist records
Maps. Our tithe maps and apportionments are online as are some of our printed maps
Deeds
Estate papers

And the records of:

Societies
Businesses
Workhouses
Hospitals
Schools
Courts
Local authorities

We also hold collections of local newspapers from the 18th century onwards, photographs and other illustrations.

You can access our catalogues online and also via the National Archives A2A website. These give details of the main groups of records held by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies Service and at Warrington Library.

The records are stored on over 11 kilometres of shelving in specially adapted strong rooms and outstores with atmospheric controls. Their care includes monitoring and repair by a specialist team of conservators.

The Local Studies Library in Cheshire Record Office is the major collection of books, pamphlets, printed maps, trade directories and other local studies material relating to Cheshire.

About this Website

This website is run in partnership between Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Councils