Monmouthshire Archives and Libraries

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For a list of archives and libraries on the national level, go to the Wales Archives and Libraries page.

Archives[edit | edit source]

Gwent Archives
Steelworks Road
Ebbw Vale
Blaenau Gwent NP23 6AA UK
Telephone: 01495 353363
Email: enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk
Website
Archives Collections
Local Studies Reference Library Collections
Search and copy service
List of Anglican parish registers
List of Catholic registers
List of Non-conformist registers

Gwent Archives now serves the areas covered by these authorities: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council (former Islwyn Borough area), Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council and Torfaen County Borough Council.

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Museums[edit | edit source]

Abergavenny Museum
The Castle
Castle Street
Abergavenny NP7 5EE UK
Telephone: 01873 854282
Email: abergavennymuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Website

Abergavenny Museum displays tell the story of this historic market town from prehistory through to the present day.

Big Pit National Coal Museum
Blaenafon
Torfaen NP4 9XP UK

Telephone: 0300 111 2 333
Email: bigpit@museumwales.ac.uk
Website: Big Pit National Coal Museum

Big Pit is a real coal mine and one of Britain's leading mining museums. Enjoy a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner in the Mining Galleries, exhibitions in the Pithead Baths, and Historic colliery buildings.

Blaenavon Ironworks
North Street
Blaenavon
Torfaen
Gwent NP4 9RN UK

Telephone: 01495 792615
Email: blaenavonironworks@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Website

The best preserved example of an 18 century ironworks in Western Europe and centre of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, nominated by UNESCO. The Ironworks retains its original furnaces, cast houses, and restored ironworkers' cottages.

Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths
High Street
Newport NP18 1AE UK

Telephone: 1633 422518
Email: CaerleonFortressBaths@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Website

Inside a modern covered building in today’s Caerleon you can still explore the remains of the immense natatio, or open-air swimming pool, the cramped rooms where the men slept and stored their weapons and the most complete Roman amphitheatre in Britain.

Chepstow Museum
Bridge St
Chepstow NP16 5EZ UK
Telephone: 1291 625981
Email: chepstowmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Website

Chepstow Museum reveals the rich and varied past of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. The wine trade, shipbuilding, and salmon fishing are among Chepstow’s many industries featured in displays with atmospheric settings. Photographs, programmes, and posters recall the pastimes of local people, whilst 18th and 19th century paintings and prints illustrate the everlasting appeal of Chepstow and the Wye Valley to artists and tourists alike.

Monmouth Museum (a.k.a.Monmouth Museum, alternatively known as The Nelson Museum and Local History Centre)
Market Hall
Priory Street
Monmouth NP25 3XA UK

Telephone: 1600 710630
Email: nelsonmuseum@monWebsite Monmouth Museum
Website

Monmouth Museum is home to a wonderful collection of memorabilia from the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson, including personal letters, pictures, weapons, and commemorative ceramics. There is also a large collection on Monmouth heritage including the only Monmouth Cap in existence.

Newport Museum and Art Gallery
4 John Frost Square
Newport NP20 1PA UK

Telephone: 1633 656656
Email: museum@newport.gov.uk
Wesite

The Newport Museum contains a wealth of superb material from Roman archaeology to natural history. Two notable sections deal with the Chartist uprising and the Roman mosaics at Caerwent.

Castle and Regimental Museum
The Castle
Monmouth, NP25 3BS UK

Telephone: 01600 772175
E-mail:moncasmus@icloud.com
Website
Archive

This museum tells the story of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) - from the starting point of a muster in 1539, in the reign of Henry VIII.

Civil Registration Offices[edit | edit source]

The General Register Office holds a central copy of all birth, marriage, and death registrations in England. These certificates can be ordered from their website (a login is required but it is free to register and search).


Sometimes research might be required to determine where a town or parish was in a former registration district, or even its current district. For a list of the historic and current registration districts and their parishes, see Registration Districts in Monmouthshire.


Sometimes additional help is available from local registrars. For example, proof of death and close family relationship can make more recent records available. Visit or correspond with: