Gloucestershire Record Office

Gloucestershire Record Office holds documents referring to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. 

Resources held by the Archive date from the 1100s to the present day and range from medieval parchments to modern DVDs.  

Their aims are to collect and preserve documents relating to Gloucestershire and to preserve its heritage for future generations.

The resources held include many referring to local history and family history, including books and periodicals, diaries, journals, letters, manuscripts, newspapers, personal papers, photographs and quarter sessions records.

The Office then make these resources publicly accessible, so whether you are interested in local history, conduct research for a school, college or university assignment, wish to trace the history of a house, or research your family history, you will find a document useful in your research.  

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

Information about Gloucestershire Record Office

Collections

For information regarding their collections, please visit their finding items in our collections page.  

You are able to access their Genealogical Database from this page, which provides access to an Index of Wills proved at Gloucester from 1541-1858, Inventories, Nonconformist baptisms for some chapels and Gaol registers from 1815-1879.

Their parish register guide gives details of parish registers held by the Office, which is also accessible from this page.

For more details regarding sources held, you may peruse their online catalogue.  This can be used to trace the reference(s) of the document(s) you want to examine.

Whilst the main collection of resources are kept at Gloucestershire Archives, area-specific collections are kept in Local and Family History Centres in Cheltenham, Cinderford, Cirencester, Stroud, Stow and Tewkesbury.  

Collections held by the Office include:

• Census Returns
• Electoral Registers
• Estate Records
• Family Papers
• Manorial Records
• Nonconformist Records
• Parish Registers
• Tithe Apportionments
• Victoria County History Books

Collections from local organisations include:

• Astam Design Architects
• Bruton Knowles of Gloucester
• Diocese of Gloucester
• Francis Wickins and Hill of Stow-on-the-Wold
• Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Works Company
• Playne and Company of Minchinhampton
• Royal Gloucestershire Hussars – 18th to 20th centuries
• Thames and Severn Canal Company – 1792 to 20th century

Opening Hours

Opening hours can be found by going to their opening hours page.

Location and Directions

Parking is available at Gloucestershire Record Office.  The barrier will rise automatically on entry, but you need to buy a token from reception when you arrive (not currently available as building works are in progress).  Parking is free for blue badge holders and volunteers.  You are able to collect this free token from reception.

The Archive is close to Gloucester City Centre.  They are 10 minutes away from the bus and railway stations.  The closest car parks to Gloucestershire Archives are situated at Hare Lane North, Hare Lane South and Great Western Road.

Booking

You are recommended to order any documents you wish to examine before visiting. They require two working days notice if you wish to consult three documents, but if you wish to consult more than three items, please give five working days notice.  

It is necessary to know the reference of the document you wish to consult.  You are not, however, required to book a microfilm or microfiche reader.

Accessibility

The building is fully accessible, with a ramp, accessible toilet, induction loop and assistance for the visually impaired.

Computers and Wi-Fi

You are able to use your own laptop in the Archive, but if you use their electricity supply, it must have a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certificate.  They do, however, offer free portable appliance tests.  

Free WI-FI is available in the Search Room.

Photography

You are allowed to bring a camera into the Archive, and take your own photographs of documents, but some documents cannot be photographed because they are fragile and easily damaged.  A charge is made to people taking advantage of this service and a copyright declaration form must be completed.

Readers’ Tickets

Gloucestershire Archives accepts the Archives Card

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For further information regarding Record Offices in Gloucestershire, please visit my page regarding Bristol Record Office.