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Coronavirus update

We’re pleased to welcome pre-booked researchers and volunteers.   Please see details of our new arrangements on our Preparing to Visit page.

You will need to book your documents in advance.

Gloucestershire Family History Society will re-open in September for pre-booked visits.

If you're not able to make it in, have a look at Gloucestershire Heritage Hub for ideas and links to help you #ExploreYourArchiveAtHome.

Access to Gloucestershire resources on Ancestry for free

While Gloucestershire Libraries and Gloucestershire Family History Society’s research rooms are closed to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, customers have been unable to access digitised copies of Gloucestershire records free of charge. We’ve been working with Ancestry and can now provide free access to Gloucestershire’s digitised resources until they can welcome you back. Please use this link to access them.

  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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