Worcestershire Record Office

Worcestershire Record Office has merged with Worcestershire Archaeology Service to become Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.  

The Office is located in The Hive, which is situated in Worcester city centre. 

Approximately 12 miles of archives are collected and preserved by the Archive.

Thousands of historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites are also recorded and made available to the public under the direction of their friendly and knowledgeable staff.  

These resources include photographs, maps and plans, local family records, journals and trade directories.  

Whatever your research interest, whether you are tracing your family history, want to learn more about the history of a house or your local area, you will find the documents held of use.  The documents are also useful if you are conducting research for a school, college or university assignment.

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

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

Information about Worcestershire Record Office

Collections

For information regarding their collections, please visit their Home Page.  An on-line catalogue is accessible which contains details about their collections, but this is not yet complete. The Office also has many online indexes accessible from their Collections page, which include:

• Absent Voters Index
• Apprentices Indentures
• Artists of Worcestershire
• Bishops Transcripts index
• Calendar of Prisoners 1839-1849
• Census Street Index 1871
• Divorce records
• Greenbank Wills

Indexes also include:

• Marriage Bonds and Allegations
• Marriage Licences 1853-1916
• Militia list for Kidderminster St Mary, 1824-1831
• Newspapers on microfilm
• Photographs in Berrow’s Illustrated Supplement
• Powick Hospital admissions registers 1854-1906
• Quarter Sessions
• Trade Directories
• Worcester City Planning Applications 1865-1901

Sources held at the Archives include: 

• Bishop’s Transcripts
• Cemetery Records
• Census Returns
• Electoral Registers
• Enclosure Records
• Maps
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Newspapers
• Nonconformist Registers
• Parish Registers
• Photographs
• Quarter Sessions
• School Records
• Tithe Apportionments
• Wills and Probate Records

Historic Environment Record

Access to the Historic Environment Record is also accessible, which contains approximately 54000 records referring to archaeological sites, historic buildings, and historic environment features.  These date from prehistoric finds to medieval agricultural landscapes. 

This resource holds all the county records and is also available for the City of Worcester. 

If you would like to access this resource, it is best to contact a member of staff who will be able to help you and provide you with an HER report of records that may be of interest to you.  This includes location and historical mapping.  

Once you have your HER report, you can access HER Sources and Aerial Photographs, located in the Archaeology Public Office, which are filed under their SWR number.  SWR numbers can be found in the bibliographical section of the HER report.

You are also able to access tithe maps, which are located in the map cabinets in the Archaeology Pubic Office.  

Opening Hours

Worcestershire Record Office’s opening times can be found by going to their contact us page, which includes details of their opening hours.  

Location and Directions

The Hive is situated near the racecourse and is facing the riverfront.

A number of car parks are near to The Hive, one of these being the multi-story car park at Crowngate. 

To walk to the Office, you should leave the car park at Level 2, entering the shopping centre.  You should then leave the shopping centre and walk across the flat footpath to reach the Hive’s main entrance.

Another car park is situated at Cattlemarket, which is adjacent to the Hive.  Disabled spaces are available in this car park near to the Hive.  Ramped access is accessible from this car park, and if you follow the signs on this walkway, you should reach the main entrance of the building.

If you are in a high vehicle, you can park in Croft Road Car Park, which is opposite the Hive.  You should then take the path leading under the viaduct, using the pedestrian crossing to cross the road.  You can then reach the Hive’s main entrance by following the ramped access way to the main entrance.

If travelling by train, Foregate Street Station is 0.2 miles (4 minutes) walk from the Hive. 

You should leave the station by turning left, and then turning right into Shaw Street.  Follow this road until it becomes The Butts, and the Hive is located on your right.  You can then use the steps near to the Hive’s bridge or their outside lift, which will take you to the building’s main entrance.

Of travelling by bus, Worcester Bus Station is located under Crowngate Shopping Centre.  Accessing the Hive’s bridge from the station will lead you to the main entrance.

If you cycle to the Hive, the building has two bicycle parking areas, one of which is situated opposite the main entrance and one under the viaduct located near to Cattle Market Car Park.

Booking

16 microfilm readers are available in the Office, but you do not need to book to access them. 

Photography and Photocopying

It is possible to use a digital or mobile phone camera in Worcester Record Office, but a charge is made for using this service. Some documents are not able to be photographed because of copyright laws and/or because they are fragile and easily damaged.

Although Worcestershire Record Office does permit you to photocopy documents, on payment of a fee, restrictions apply. 

You are cannot copy any document that has a seal or is fragile.  If a volume is tightly bound or a document is too large, you are not permitted to photocopy these because of the nature of the resources.

You are also, on payment of a fee, permitted to print pages from the Internet.

Computers

Computers are available in their self-service area, on which you are able to access their catalogues and indexes, a wide range of finding aids and resources.  Free access to the Ancestry website is also available.

Accessibility

The building is fully accessible to those using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs.  Ramps provide access to all areas, and lifts provide access to all floors.  Disabled toilets are also available.  

Refreshments

A cafe at available at The Hive, but visitors are also welcome to being their own food, although no hot food is allowed and you have to keep lids on hot drinks. Vending Machines are available on Level 0, which dispense hot and cold drinks as well as snacks.

Research Service

If you are unable to visit in person, Worcestershire Record Office provides a research service, in which, for a fee, they are able to conduct research on your behalf.

Readers’ Tickets

Worcestershire Record Office accepts the Archives Card