Buckinghamshire Record Office

Buckinghamshire Record Office’s collections cover Buckinghamshire, including parts of the county now in Berkshire and Milton Keynes. 

The Office is based in County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury.  

The Office’s aim is to preserve and collect documents relating to the area and to promote their use, serving educational, recreational, cultural and administrative needs. 

Their resources come from a broad range of organisations and private individuals.

Resources held by the Office include census returns, maps, microfilmed parish registers, local newspapers, maps and approximately 35000 wills.  

They also hold many local history books, some of which can be lent to members of the public.

Whether you wish to study your family history, conduct research for a school, college or university assignment, research the history of a house or discover more about your local area, you will find the documents held of use. 

The knowledgeable and helpful staff are always on hand to help should you require assistance.

Information about Buckinghamshire Record Office

Collections

For information regarding their holdings, please peruse the on-line catalogue of their archives.  

Resources include:

• County and District Council records
• Estate records: Aubrey-Fletchers, Hampdens, Carringtons and Fremantles
• Historic maps
• Local newspapers
• Nonconformist registers
• Pamphlets
• Parish Registers
• Quarter and Petty Sessions records
• Wills proved by the Archdeaconry of Buckingham

Many other resources are available, which include 1872 Beer House List, licensed marriages in the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, school admission registers and SWOP, which is a list of historical images of High Wycombe and the surrounding area.

Online resources also include Trade Directories dating from the mid-eighteenth century to the 1930s and a database of prisoners in Aylesbury County Gaol in the 1870s.  Whilst some entries only include their photograph, some entries include more details such as details of their crime and their punishment.

Opening Hours

Opening hours may be found by going to the appropriate section of their Contact Us page.

Location and Directions

Parking is not available at County Hall, but there are numerous long and short stay car parks in the town centre which are within five or ten minutes walking distance of Buckinghamshire Record Office.

Booking

It is advisable to book a microfilm or microfiche reader before visiting to avoid disappointment, especially if travelling a long distance. It is important to book if you wish to peruse maps because the large map table is often reserved well in advance.

Photography

You are able to use a digital camera.  They make a daily charge for people taking advantage of this service.  Not all documents can be photographed because some archives are fragile and can be easily damaged.

Accessibility

The Office is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs.

Research Service

If you are unable to visit in person, they offer a Research Service.  They make a minimum charge relating to one hour’s research, but will not undertake research for more than three hours.  A list of Independent Research Agents is also available.

Twitter Account

Buckinghamshire Archives has a Twitter Account available at @CenBucksStudies.  They use this Account to provide details about the Archive.

Readers’ Tickets

Buckinghamshire Archives accepts the Archives Card