Worcestershire Public Records Office
The Worcestershire Record Office is located at Level 2 (Explore the Past) of the Hive, in the Worcester city centre. The Hive is a joint public and university library in a modern landmark building that faces the riverfront, near the racecourse, at the following address:
Address:
Worcester Archive & Archaeology Service The Hive Sawmill Walk The Butts Worcester WR1 3PB
Phone Number:
01905 822866
Email Address:
archive@worcestershire.gov.uk(Archive Service),archaeology@worcestershire.gov.uk(Archaeology Service)
Website:
www.proni.gov.uk/
The Worcester Archive and Archaeology Service has three main areas that are open to visitors.
The Original Archive Area holds records of Worcestershire County Council; a large collection of Worcester City records; school and hospital records; business records and the private records of local families and estates.
The Self-Service Area holds frequently accessed resources, including microfilm copies of parish registers, newspapers, electoral registers, census records, wills, and private collections. The Local Studies and Archaeology reference library is also located in this area. Computers are available for Internet use and for searching the office’s electronic indexes and catalogues. Free access is given to the Ancestry website. Twenty-three microfilm readers are available to the public, without need to book in advance.
The Historic Environment Record (HER) contains over 26,000 records concerning archaeological sites, historic buildings, and historic environment features. These include early prehistoric finds, medieval agricultural landscapes, modern industrial structures, large-scale excavations, building records, and unique stray finds. Aerial photographs are available. Title, inclosure, and estate maps may be found in the HER public office. The Archaeology Reference Library is located just outside the HER office on the main level of the second floor. However, the Online Archaeology Library (OAL) http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/archaeology/information-and-advice/historic-environment-record/online-archaeology-library.aspx provides archaeological reports that give details of excavations, fieldwalking, building recording, and other archaeological work.
Many resources are available online. An online catalogue available at http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/CalmView/ describes the collections of documents and other items held in the archive section of the office. A selection of online indexes is available at http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/archive-and-archaeology.aspx under Search Our Records.
Photographing documents is allowed with a permit, but a Digitisation Service is offered on site, and photocopying is allowed on a limited basis.
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