Merionethshire Record Office

Merionethshire Record Office collects and preserves resources relating to the history of Gwynedd, and makes them accessible to the public.

The resources cover 400 years and are on a wide range of medium, including books, CD-Roms, documents, letters, manuscripts, maps and plans, newspapers, periodicals and photographs.  

Covering many different topics, the resources are useful whether you are tracing your family history, conducting research for a school, college or university project, studying the history of a house, or are interested in local history, you will find the documents held of use.

These resources include books and periodicals, census returns, diaries, letters, manuscripts, newspapers, parish registers, wills and testaments, manorial documents and quarter sessions records.

They have knowledge and helpful staff who are always available to help should you require assistance. 

If you have any records relating to Gwynedd that you may like to donate to safeguard them for the future, they would love to hear from you.  These resources may be gifted to them or deposited on loan.

Information about Merionethshire Record Office

Collections

For information regarding their directions, opening hours and collections, please visit the appropriate sections of their Home Page and their collections page.  These collections include:

• Bishop’s Transcripts
• Census Returns
• Chapel Records
• Directories
• Electoral Registers
• Estate Records
• Marriage Licences
• Parish Registers
• Probate Records
• Roman Catholic Records
• Tithe Records
• Wills

You can search their collections on-line by using the Rhagorol On-line catalogue which contains details of a great number of their collections. The catalogue contains 12000 pages and 2000 images, but only a small percentage of their collections are included. Details of documents are presented in the language used at the time the document was prepared so some documents are presented in Welsh.

Booking

It is prudent to book a microfilm reader at Gwynedd Archives before you visit to avoid disappointment, especially if you are travelling some distance.

Location and Directions

Document Handling

You may only view three documents, six photographs or one volume at a time. You can order more than this, but the other documents and/or photographs will be kept behind the counter until you are ready to consult them.

Photography and Photocopying

Gwynedd Archives does not allow people to use cameras, camera phones or scanning equipment.

Most documents are able to be photocopied, but only if doing so will not cause damage to the document. Bound copies of newspapers are not able to be copied. After a photocopy has been made you need to fill in a photocopy order form.  You also need to fill in a reproduction request form to take photocopies of documents in publications.

Accessibility

The building is fully accessible.

Research Service

A research service is offered for anyone unable to visit in person.  For further details please peruse the appropriate section of the Home Page.  A charge is made to people wishing to take advantage of this service.

Tours and Events for Schools

If you wish the Education Officer to visit a school, this can be arranged, with them presenting images of photographs, maps, newspapers and documents during the event.  

Schools are welcome to visit the Archive if they would like to have a tour of the Office and its collections.

Readers’ Tickets

Merionethshire Archives accepts Archives Cards.