Alderstead's archive collections can include records created or acquired through local government and local heritage activity.

What the collections are for

Archive records support accountability, local history and research by preserving material with continuing administrative or historical value. Current operational council records remain with the service or records system responsible for them until they are transferred or otherwise disposed of under the applicable records arrangements.

Finding material

Contact the archive service if you need help identifying a collection or record. A clear subject and date range are usually more useful than a very broad request for everything held on a topic.

Record context

A record is most useful when its origin and administrative context are preserved. Archive descriptions should therefore identify, where known, who created the material, the period it covers and the collection to which it belongs. This helps users understand what a record can demonstrate and avoids separating it from the evidence needed to interpret it accurately.

How collections are described

Archive descriptions record, where known, who created the material, the period it covers and the collection or administrative context in which it belongs. Keeping that context is important because a single document can be misleading if it is separated from the records around it.

Access restrictions are recorded where they apply. A restriction on one record does not mean that the whole collection is unavailable, and staff can help identify related material that can be consulted.