Archives and local history

Do you want to find out more about your family history, or the history of your house or your town or village?

Are you researching a school or college project?

Warrington Library archives and local studies can help you discover the answers to many of your questions!

What we hold

Warrington Library holds a fine collection of archives and manuscripts relating to Warrington and the surrounding area including:

Records of the borough of Warrington

Records of some surrounding townships

Manorial and court records

Militia records

Estate and family deeds and papers

Rentals, maps and surveys

Electoral registers

School records

Records of many local businesses, societies, clubs and institutions

Fire brigade and police

Records of some individuals of both local and national, and even international significance

We also hold an excellent collection of documentary material relating to Warrington, its people and the surrounding area, including:

Books

Pamphlets

Census returns on microfilm

Parish registers on microfilm

Voters' lists

Newspapers on microfilm

Photographs and other images (See archives on flickr)

Who can use the archives?

Anyone can use our records free of charge.  We can help if you want to trace your family tree or find out about the history of your house or area.  We can help provide resources for school and college projects.  You don't even have to have a specific purpose in mind other than an interest in some aspect of local or family history.

Catalogues, lists and indexes

Warrington was originally in the historic county of Lancashire but was transferred to Cheshire following local government reorganisation in 1974, where it remained until it became a unitary authority in 1998.

Consequently much material relating to Warrington and area is held at the record offices for both Cheshire and Lancashire.