Local studies and family history

All Herefordshire libraries have resources about their own area and the county as a whole. The major local studies collection is held in the reference section of Hereford Library.

Research facilities

You are welcome to visit the library to do personal research. If you wish to use microfilm it is advisable to book in advance to use the reader/printers to avoid a wasted journey.

We are able to carry out small enquiries but regret we do not have the capacity to undertake research on behalf of customers. The Herefordshire Archive Service has a research and copying service which may be able to assist with your enquiry:

Herefordshire Archive Service
Herefordshire Record Office
Harold Street
Hereford
HR1 2QX Office Tel No: +44 (0)1432 260750
Email: archives@herefordshire.gov.uk

Books

Most libraries will have a selection of local books for loan. Larger libraries will also have local reference sections. Hereford library has the largest range of bookstock, but lending titles on the catalogue may be requested from any Herefordshire library or on-line. Subjects covered within the local collection include history and archaeology, geology and natural history, cider, Hereford cattle, the cathedral and churches, and the lives of local people. Hereford library has full sets of the Transactions of the Woolhope Club for loan or use in the library. Among the special collections within the local studies collection the largest is the Pilley Collection, which includes many books of local interest not otherwise available.

Newspapers

Hereford has a complete file of the two main county newspapers, the Hereford Times and Hereford Journal, starting in 1770.Some years are on microfilm, others in hard copy bound volumes*. Hereford also has microfilm of some other county papers and a full run of the Ross Gazette. Local papers for Leominster, Ledbury and Kington are held on film at the local libraries.
* Please note: many of our historic local newspapers are in a poor physical condition. To enable us to preserve these important documents for future generations we have taken the decision to withdraw the most fragile ones from public use prior to starting our digitisation programme. Please check with Hereford Library which years are currently available.

Maps

Hereford Library has maps of the county dating back to the 16th century. Detailed plans of the city illustrate change and expansion in Hereford over the last 400 years.

There are historical Ordnance Survey sheets from one inch to the mile up to 25 inches to the mile. The first one inch map was published in 1831. Larger scale sheets were not issued until the 1880s.

Photographs and illustrations

Images of Herefordshire are available from a large collection of historic photographs and other illustrations.

Of note is the Alfred Watkins (1855-1935) Collection of photographs. Watkins was a pioneer photographer who combined this interest with a love of history, archaeology and the Herefordshire landscape. These all came together in his theories on ley lines as set out in the book " The Old Straight Track" (1925). The library also holds the archives of the Old Straight Track Club which Watkins founded.

As well as prints and engravings there are albums of drawings and water colours, mostly of churches and other local landmarks.

Family history

The Library Edition of Ancestry is available free of charge on public computers in all of our libraries, giving access to census returns, registration indexes and many other records.

Hereford Library has a range of additional resources to support family history research:

• Census returns on microfilm covering Herefordshire from 1841-1901
• Historical electoral registers and poll books
• County and city directories for Herefordshire in the 19th and 20th centuries
• Transcriptions of monumental inscriptions
• International Genealogical Index for Herefordshire and neighbouring counties
• Local newspapers from 1770 to the present
• Complete file of the Journal of the Herefordshire Family History Society.