Whitehaven Archive and Local Studies Centre

Please note: Archives will be available on weekdays between 9.30 am and 5 pm. Pre-ordered archives will be available between 5 pm and 7pm on Wednesdays, and between 9 am and 1pm on Saturdays (open alternate Saturdays only).

Getting to Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Whitehaven:

By car: Limited parking is available at the Archive and Local Studies Centre, behind the building.

By bus: Buses to Whitehaven stop in the town centre from which the walk will take about 5 minutes.

By train: The walk from Whitehaven railway station, which is on the Barrow-Carlisle line, will take about 10 minutes.

Sources available at this Archive Centre include:  Original historical documents dating from the twelfth century to the present day relating to the area of West Cumbria bounded by the River Derwent in the North and the River Duddon in the South. The areas around Workington, Cockermouth, and Whitehaven are amongst those for which material is available.

We hold the archives of:  Church of England Parishes **, Nonconformist Churches **, Local Authorities, Official records, Civil Parishes, Schools, Businesses and Industries, Landed Estates, Solicitors
Societies

Other material includes:  I.G.I. for Great Britain and Ireland **, Census returns 1841-1891 for Cumberland**, 1901 modern county of Cumbria**, 1881 census transcript and index to Cumberland, Westmorland and the Isle of Man **, Newspapers (such as Whitehaven News and Cumberland Pacquet) **, Ordnance Survey maps, Probate records, Deanery of Copeland 1466-1860 **, Index to civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths (England & Wales), 1837-2003**, Trade Directories

** Many of these records are available on microfilm/fiche

The Local Studies Library contains an important collection of books, illustrations, journals, reports and other printed and original materials relating to all aspects of life in Whitehaven and the surrounding area up to the present day.

The office also offers:
Refreshment area with hot drinks machine, toilets, photocopying facilities, publications for sale, research service, wheelchair access and hearing loop.