Whitehaven Archive and Local Studies Centre

Facilites

This centre provides:

• 2 public access computers to allow brief 'look-ups' of a limited selection of useful websites containing local sources, including CASCAT, Ancestry and Find My Past
• a refreshment area
• toilets - disabled toilet currently unavailable
• wheelchair access and hearing loop

Sources available at this archive centre

These include:

• Businesses and Industries
• Church of England Parishes
• Civil Parishes
• Landed Estates, Solicitors, Societies 
• Local Authorities
• Nonconformist Churches
• Official records
• Schools
• Shipping registers and crew lists

Local studies library

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 West Cumbria up to the present day.

Other material available at this centre:

• 1881 census transcript and index to Cumberland, Westmorland and the Isle of Man 
• Census returns 1841 to 1901 for Cumberland
• Electoral rolls, 1832 to 2002
• Index to civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths (England and Wales), 1837 to 2003
• Newspapers (such as Whitehaven News and Cumberland Pacquet) 
• Ordnance Survey maps
• Probate records, Deanery of Copeland 1541 to 1858 
• Trade Directories

Many of these records are available on microfilm or fiche. Researchers intending to use the microfilms at Whitehaven Archive Centre are advised to book a microfilm reader in advance.

Book a visit

Book a visit to Whitehaven Archives

Make an order in advance

There are a number of records that require prior ordering before visiting this archive centre.

For more information on which collections these are, read our prior ordering page on the Cumbria archives website.

Deposit records

If you would like to deposit or donate records, before you visit you'll need to read our depositing records page on the Cumbria archives website.

Sign up for an Archive Card

If you want to see original archives you will need to obtain or already have a valid Archives Card.

Sign up for a Archives Card

How to get here

The train station is a 10 minute walk from the centre.

Buses are a 5 minute walk on Lowther Street and Duke Street.

There is a small car park onsite for archive users.