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The ARA card is coming

From the 1st April we will be asking new and existing customers to sign up for an ARA card so that you can access the unique resources held here. This card replaces any existing CARN card that you may already have.

You can find out more about the card – and register online at:  www.archivescard.com

Coronavirus update

Gloucestershire County Council are closing Gloucestershire Archives @ the Heritage Hub from Monday 23 March until further notice, due to the current issues relating to Covid-19. 

Gloucestershire Family History Society @ the Heritage Hub has also closed their service until further notice. 

Every effort will be made to continue offering essential services such as access to records for legal reasons.  Similarly, the Registration Service will continue to run a copy certificates service from the site. 

Look out for updates from the archives on social media and online.  If you have a few minutes you might like to #ExploreYourArchiveAtHome.  You can search our collections online or browse or contribute to our online mapping resource Know Your Place

We look forward to welcoming back our customers, volunteers, partners and friends in due course. 

  1. Gloucestershire Archives
  2. Starting your research
  3. Starting to research the history of your area
  4. Cheltenham Local and Family History Centre

Cheltenham Local and Family History Centre

For anyone who wants to know about past and present life in the Cheltenham area.

  • The Centre can be used at any time when Cheltenham Library is open
  • It is helpful to contact the library (01242 532693) in advance of your visit so that staff can advise you or retrieve material ready for your visit

Books

Wide range of books and pamphlets about Cheltenham and the surrounding area

  • Cheltenham guide books dating from 1781
  • Cheltenham electoral rolls from 1892-2001
  • Borough Council minutes from 1896
  • Victoria County History of Gloucestershire and other standard histories of Gloucestershire 

Newspapers (usually on microfilm)

  • Cheltenham Chronicle 1809-1983
  • Cheltenham Examiner 1839-1899 - Index available - Thanks to Cheltenham Local History Society
  • Cheltenham Looker-On 1833-1920
  • Gloucestershire Echo from 1884 to the present day
  • Other Cheltenham newspapers are available - please check the newspapers list for more titles

Maps

  • Maps and plans of Cheltenham dating from 1810 to the present
  • Selection of local Ordnance Survey maps at 25 inches to mile/1:2500 on microfiche
  • Selection of local Ordnance Survey maps at 6 inches to mile/1:10,000
  • Cheltenham Goad maps from 1976 to present day

Directories

  • Cheltenham street directories and annuaires, 1837-1975
  • County directories on microfiche, 1820-1939

Photographs and prints

  • Varied collection of photographs including aerial views, historic buildings, Second World War bomb damage, 1930s views by Hugo Van Wadenoyen and a small collection of early prints 

Periodicals

  • Cheltenham Local History Society - Journal
  • Charlton Kings Local History Society - Bulletins
  • Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
  • Cotswold Life

World War 1

  • Cheltenham absent voters' lists, 1920, 1921 (Spring & Autumn) and 1925 (see downloadable document to the right)

 Cheltenham Local History Society

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