Guide to using the search room

Archives, manuscripts, rare books and other fragile and irreplaceable items are produced in the Search Room at Shropshire Archives.

If you want to look at archives and other rare material, you will need to register with us and get a Shropshire Archives' Reader's Ticket. This is available if you bring identification showing your name, address and signature and two passport sized photographs. For more information about this please follow the link to 'More about visiting Shropshire Archives'.

Items produced in the Search Room need to be handled carefully. Please read through and follow the guidelines provided with your Reader's Ticket. More information is given in the publication at the bottom of the page.

In particular, please note that you cannot bring bags or coats into the Search Room and you should make notes in pencil only. A member of staff will need to release the door to let you into the Search Room. You should hand your Reader's Ticket to a member of staff when you enter the Search Room.

Sources available in the Search Room

• official records - including records of the court of Quarter Sessions, ancient boroughs, local authorities, Poor Law Unions and schools
• ecclesiastical records - records from Church of England parishes, Methodist and other non-conformist chapels
• private records - including the archives of landed estates and families, solicitors, businesses, clubs and societies
• Shropshire wills from 1858 to 1940
• photographs dating from 1842 to present
• prints, drawings and water-colours
• electoral registers

Catalogues and indexes

An increasing number of our archive catalogues are available on-line. Please select the link to 'What we hold at Shropshire Archives' for more information. You can search these catalogues on the Internet or at Shropshire Archives on the People's Network computers.

There are printed catalogues to the archive collections in binders on the Search Room shelves. There are also some card/microfiche indexes - please ask staff about these and be aware that they are incomplete and may be misleading. If you do not know which catalogue or index you need to use, please ask a member of staff for assistance.

How to order documents

1. You will need to complete a Document Request Slip for each item you want to see.
2. Please place your completed document request slips (up to three at a time) in the box provided. Your request will be dealt with as soon as possible. When your order has been brought out, you will be issued with one item or bundle at a time.
3. When you have finished with an item, please inform a member of staff who will collect the document from you.
4. Before leaving the Search Room, please let a member of staff know that you have finished. Your Reader's Ticket will then be returned to you. A member of staff will need to release the security door before you can leave.

Ordering documents in advance

We get out documents on demand except over the lunchtime period 12 noon - 1pm. You can order material in advance in person, by email or by telephone or by using the request form attached to this page.

You will need to pre-order items for Saturdays and Thursday evenings.

Also, most of our District Authority records from 1835 to 1974 are now housed at an outstore and will need to be ordered in advance. Records ordered by 8pm on Thursday should be available to view in our Search Room from the following Wednesday. The collections which are affected are DA2-DA5, DA7-DA34, DA41-DA45.

Photocopying

Most printed books and maps can be photocopied, subject to copyright restrictions and the condition of the original. The photocopying of original documents is restricted to avoid risk of damage. As a general guide, no document may be photocopied which:

• is damaged or fragile
• is bound
• is larger than A3 size
• is made of parchment
• is dated earlier than 1750
• is an original photograph
• is a valuable printed work
• contains a seal
• contains coloured ink or paint

Your own photography

If you are visiting Shropshire Archives, then you will be able to use your own camera to photograph original documents but only where this does not cause undue risk to the document.

There is a charge for a photography permit (day, week, year) and the money helps with the long term preservation of Shropshire's unique collections.

If you do want to use your own camera a member of staff must be informed and the copyright declaration signed before the item is photographed.

Please select the price list for further information about copying and photography. Alternatively our Image Services can provide high quality copies, select the link 'What Shropshire Archives can do for you' and then click on 'Image services at Shropshire Archives' for further details.

Professional researchers
If you are doing research on behalf of another person, please ask for our 'records agents copying forms'.

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