Start by describing the subject, person, place, organisation or period you are researching. Giving a date range and any known reference can help the archive service identify relevant material.

Accessing records

Archive material is made available in a way that protects the record and respects any legal or administrative restriction that applies. The service may provide access to a copy or finding information where direct access to the original record is not appropriate.

Further help

If you are unsure whether the council holds the material, contact the archive service with enough detail for staff to check the collection and identify another holder where possible.

Planning your enquiry

Archive research is usually more effective when the request is focused. If you know a department, meeting, location, person or approximate date, include that information. Staff can then search the most relevant catalogue or collection rather than treating the enquiry as an unrestricted search across every record held by the council.

Planning an archive enquiry

Archive research is easier when you provide the information you already know. A date or approximate period, the council service or organisation involved, a place, person, meeting or subject can all help narrow the search. You do not need to know the reference number before asking for help, but a focused enquiry makes it more likely that the correct collection can be identified efficiently.

If the information you need is a current council record rather than archival material, the archive service may direct you to the service or information-rights route that currently holds it.