Surrey Record Office

Established in 1988 by Surrey County Council, Surrey Record Office is now known as Surrey History Centre, its aim being to develop the collections formerly held by Surrey Record Office, Guildford Muniment Room and Surrey Local Studies Library. 

It provides access to archives and printed materials relating to the county’s past and present, these resources dating from the twelfth century to the twenty-first century. 

The resources are held in environmentally controlled strongrooms in order to preserve the documents to ensure the history of the county and its people is accessible to future generations.

Access to the resources is available in the supervised search room and should you require assistance with your research, or have any questions, the knowledgeable and helpful staff are always on hand to give advice.

Whether you are tracing your family history, want to learn more about the history of a house or discover more about your local area, you will find the documents held of use.  

The archives are also useful to people working on a school project or completing a university degree.

If you have any documents relating to the history of Surrey you would like to donate to the Archive to safeguard them for future generations, they would love to hear from you.

Information about Surrey Record Office

Collections

For further information regarding their collections, please visit their Home Page.

They also have some online indexes including:

• Annual Reports of Reed’s School, Cobham
• Chertsey Poor Law Union admission and discharge books
• Deaths in Surrey county gaol 1798-1878
• Dennis Specialist Vehicles drawings and photographs
• Dorking, Godstone and Richmond Poor Law Union application and report books
• Guildford Workhouse births 186-1910, deaths 1887-1914 and infirmary deaths 1933-1939

Indexes also include:

• Mayford Industrial School admissions 1895-1907
• Military Records Indexes
• Patients in the St Peter’s Memorial Home (Woking)
• Princess Mary Village Homes pupils 1870-1890
• Royal Philanthropic School Registers of Admission (Redhill)
• Surrey Poor Law Union Minute Books
• Surrey tithe records CDs and DVDs name index

Collections held by Surrey Records Office include:

• Census Returns 1801-1831 – Summary Information only
• Census Returns 1841-1901 (1911 available online)
• Coroner’s Records
• County and Town Directories
• Electoral Registers
• Gentlemen’s Magazine 1731-1842
• Illustrated London News 1843-1890
• Land Tax Records
• Local Newspapers
• Maps

Resources held by Surrey Record Office also incorporate:

• Nonconformist Registers
• Parish Registers
• Poor Law Records
• Probate Records
• Quarter Sessions Records
• Roman Catholic Records
• Surrey County Council Records
• Times Digital Archive 1785-2006
• Tithe Apportionments
• Wills

Opening Hours

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

Location and Directions

The postcode if you wish to use a satnav is GU21 6NU.  Parking is available next to the building, with designated spaces for disabled readers near to the front entrance. These spaces do not usually have to be reserved, but you can if you wish.

Surrey History Centre is approximately 15 minutes walk from Woking railway station. To walk to the Office, leave the station by turning left, and continue along the High Street, crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing.  

Carry on to the double pelican crossing and walk down Goldsworth Road, then turn left and continuing down that road you will find the history centre on your left after you have passed the Morrisons roundabout.

Booking

It is always important to book before visiting in order to avoid disappointment when you arrive.  You should tell Surrey Records Office the date and approximate time you wish to visit.

Computers and Wi-Fi

You can access the Internet in Surrey Record Office, with Ancestry, FindmyPast and The Genealogist being made available free of charge.

You are able to use your own laptop in the Office, but you are asked to give them advance notice so they can reserve you a space near a power point.

Photography

It is possible to use a digital camera in Surrey Record Office, but you have to purchase a photography permit. Their fees are explained on their website.  

Some documents cannot be photographed because they are fragile and easily damaged, so it is best to ask a member of staff before taking any photographs.

Accessibility

The public entrance to the Archive has an automatic door as well as a revolving door. The automatic door opens outwards after you have pressed the red button to the right of the door.

The public reading rooms are all on the ground floor and are easily accessible. Disabled readers can also access both the locker room and the refreshment room. Disabled toilets are also accessible.

Guide dogs are welcome in the History Centre.  If you bring someone with you to help you to read documents, please give the Office advance notice.  

If you have a visual impairment, magnifying glasses can also be lent to visitors.  The Office also has a CCTV scanner which can be used to enlarge a document onto a television screen. 

This scanner is able to magnify in true colour, change the colour of the item or underline the text of a document to make old handwriting easier to read. You can also use this machine to enlarge photographs, making them easier to date. The machine can be booked for 2 hours during their opening hours.

Induction loops are installed in the seminar room, and plans are underway to install them in the foyer and reception desks.

Refreshments

A refreshments room is accessible onsite.

Surrey Record Office Shop

Many publications are available for sale in Surrey History Centre, which include:

• Archaeology Books
• Chertsey Poor Law Union Admission and Discharge Books
• Dennis Specialist Vehicles Pamphlets
• Godstone Poor Law Union Application and Report Books
• Hassell Images of Surrey
• Maps
• Ordnance Survey Historical Maps
• Quarter Sessions 1780-1820 CD
• Royal Surrey through the ages
• Surrey On Film 1914-1953
• Surrey Railway Archive DVD
• Surrey Recruitment Registers CD
• Surrey’s Sporting Life
• Tithe records

Research Service

If you are unable to visit in person, a research service is offered. 

Facebook and Twitter Accounts

The Office has a Twitter Account, @SurreyHeritage, and a Facebook page, @surreyheritage, where they provide details regarding the Office’s collections and discuss family history and local history related news.  They also respond to visitors’ queries.

Readers’ Tickets

Surrey History Centre accepts the Archives Card but you are also able to use a Surrey County Libraries Ticket to use their collections.