Kirklees Archive Service

Kirklees Archive Service is located in Huddersfield Central Library and has links with the local studies collection.  

They are situated in a pedestrianised area and Huddersfield Bus and Train Stations are approximately 500 and 600 metres away respectively.  

Resources held by the Archive include business records, documents, manuscripts, maps, newspapers and photographs.

Whether you wish to trace your family history, study the history of a house, conduct research for a school, college or university assignment, 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 have any questions or require assistance.

If you have any documents relating to the history of West Yorkshire you would like to donate to the Office they would like to hear from you.  For more information regarding donating resources to the Office please view their user guide.

Information about Kirklees Archive Service

Collections

For details regarding Kirklees Archives’ collections and opening hours, please visit their Home Page and peruse their online catalogue, which has details of their collections.  

Collections held by the Office include:

• Church Records
• Family and Estate Records
• Local Authority Records
• Hospital and Health Records
• Manufacturing Business Records
• Registry of Deeds – copies of deeds 1704-1970
• Trade Union Records

Location and Directions

Parking is available at Alfred Street and Springwood because the area the Archive is located in is pedestrianised.

The Office is approximately 600 metres from Huddersfield Railway Station and 500 metres from Huddersfield Bus Station.

Booking

Making an appointment is advisable because some documents are held off-site and the search-room might be unexpectedly closed because of staffing difficulties.

It is best to tell them what resources you wish to consult because staff will then be able to advise you whether you need to reserve a table, computer or microfiche reader.  

You are required to book if you wish to consult original Archive material, but please be aware that some items can take up to 5 working days to become accessible to researchers.

Photography

Researchers are allowed to bring their own camera into the Archive and take their own photographs, but you have to purchase a photography permit before taking any photographs.  You are only permitted to use the images for personal use, subject to copyright legislation.  

For a fee, the Office is prepared to take paper or digital copies of documents on your behalf.

Computers

You are allowed to bring your own laptop and devices to the Office.

You are also allowed to use the computers in Huddersfield Library; they have 7 computers and 12 microfilm/fiche readers available for use by visitors.  Using these computers, you are able to access many websites, including Ancestry and FindmyPast.

Refreshments

No refreshment facilities are available, but many eating establishments are accessible nearby.

Accessibility

Huddersfield Library, where the Archive is based, has a disabled entrance.  A lift serves all floors of the Library, including the first floor, where the Archive is situated.  All tables are accessible to people using wheelchairs.

Research Service

If you are unable to visit in person, the Office offers a research service.

Group talks

Some talks are accessible to groups and organisations who would like to discover more about the Archive Service.  

The work undertaken by the Office is explained in these talks.  The Office does make a charge for this service, but if you are from a voluntary or community organisation, certain fees are sometimes waived.

Twitter and Facebook Accounts

West Yorkshire Archive Service has a Twitter Account, where they provide information regarding their collections, events and local history and family history related news.

They also have a Facebook page, where they detail their events, workshops, activities, provide details of their collections and answer visitors’ queries.

Research Service

The Office provides a 30 minute research facility, where they are prepared to conduct research on your behalf if you are unable to visit them.  Some searches that they can undertake might include:

• 1910 Finance Act Valuations
• Court Registers and Licencing Records
• Electoral Register
• Parish Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials
• Police Personnel
• School admission registers
• Vehicle Registrations
• West Riding Registry of Deeds Index
• Wills

If you wish a search to be made in records containing sensitive personal data, access may be restricted, and you will be informed by a member of Office staff as to how you can proceed.

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For further information regarding other Record Offices in Yorkshire, please visit my pages relating to Barnsley Archives, Bradford Archives, Calderdale Archives, Doncaster Archives, Leeds Archives, Sheffield Archives and Wakefield Archives.