Devon Archives and Libraries

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Devon

Archives and Libraries

Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.

Archives

Devon Archives and Local Studies Research Guides

Devon Parish Register List: These lists include all of the Church of England parish registers, non-conformist registers and civil registers of burial and marriage, which have been received and catalogued at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter, the North Devon Record Office at Barnstaple, and the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office at Plymouth.

Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter
Great Moor House
Bittern Road
Sowton
Exeter, Devon EX2 7NL UK

Telephone: Tel: 01392 888700
Email: devonarchives@swheritage.org.uk
Website
Catalogue
Research Guides

Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter generally holds collections which relate to the whole county, including the Diocesan records, county Quarter Sessions and County Council collections. This includes estate and family collections, and solicitors’ collections which cover more than one area of Devon. Most of these records are not filmed or digitised, and are only available in their original format. The West Country Studies Library, which contains the county collection of local history material is also available at the Devon Heritage Centre. It includes published books, manuscript volumes, pamphlets, journals, maps, prints, engravings, photographs, newspapers and various files relating to local parish and family history.^[1]

North Devon Record Office, Barnstaple
Barnstaple Library
Tuly Street
Barnstaple, EX31 1EL
UK

Telephone: 01271 318792
Email: northdevon@swheritage.org.uk
Website
Catalogue

The North Devon Record Office holds collections from churches and chapels, borough courts, solicitors, estates and families, local authorities and poor law unions, hospitals, clubs, societies and charities, businesses and schools in the North Devon area. Some collections which were previously held at Exeter have been transferred to the North Devon Record Office since 1988. The Local Studies collection relating to North Devon is also available. The North Devon Athenaeum, which is a private library also shares the search room facilities.^[1]

The Box Plymouth, Museum, Gallery, and Archive
Plymouth and West Devon Archives and Local Studies
The Cottonian Research Room
37 Tavistock Place
Plymouth, PL4 8AX
UK

Telephone: 01752 308880
Email: collections@plymouth.gov.uk
Website
Family History
Archives Catalogue

Plymouth and West Devon Record Office is run by Plymouth Council. It holds archives relating to the city of Plymouth and some West Devon parishes, as well as several other South Devon parishes close to Plymouth. Local Studies collections relating to Plymouth and its surrounding area are held separately. The Local Studies Collections include resources useful to anyone researching naval history, including books, periodicals and illustrations relating to the history of the Royal Navy and its presence in Plymouth.^[1]

Torbay Archive Service
Website

We provide an archive service on behalf of Torbay Council, caring for many thousands of documents relating to the Torbay area. You can access these at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter, or via our research service. We provide three service points in Torbay where you can look at microform copies of historical records for the local area. These are located at Brixham Heritage Museum, Paignton Library and Torquay Library. An archivist also visits Torre Abbey, approximately quarterly.

Libraries

Libraries Unlimited Devonshire public library hub

Our Libraries

Online catalogue

Email:info@librariesunlimited.org.uk

Telephone: 0345 155 1001

Plymouth Libraries

Online catalogue

Telephone: 01752 305900

Email: library@plymouth.gov.uk

Plymouth Central Library Local and Family History
167 to 171 Armada Way
Plymouth, Devon PL1 1HZ UK
Telephone: 1752 588588
Email: library@plymouth.gov.uk
Website: Local and Family History

West Country Studies Library
Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter
Great Moor House
Bittern Road
Sowton
Exeter, Devon EX2 7NL UK
Website

The Charles Seale-Hayne Library
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA UK
Telephone: 1752 600600
Website: Charles Seale-Hayne Library

The Charles Seale-Hayne Library is open 24/7 and provides access to approximately 350,000 books and multimedia items, 14,000 current journal subscriptions, and a variety of different study environments. In one central location there are the resources you need to carry out research (books, journals, electronic resources), to present your work (computers, printers, photocopiers, loan equipment, shop) and experienced, friendly staff to help you.

University of Exeter Library
Stocker Rd
Exeter, Devon EX4 4PT UK
Telephone: 1392 723867
Website: Library Catalogue Search

Museums

For a long list of Devon museums, go to List of museums in Devon in Wikipedia.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum
Queen St
Exeter, Devon EX4 3RX, UK
Telephone: 1392 265858
Website: Royal Albert Memorial Museum

Exeter’s world-class museum has stunning displays and galleries, fabulous exhibitions and modern amenities. The displays reveal Devon and Exeter’s rich history and global connections. Exotic animals, birds and insects delight children and the World Cultures galleries display stunning items from all over the world.

Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life
Beck's Square
Tiverton, Devon EX16 6PJ, UK
Telephone: 1884 256295
Email: tivertontic@tivertonmuseum.org.uk
Website: Tiverton Museum

Explore the museum’s large, outstanding collections and trace the fascinating history of Mid Devon. The displays include the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ GWR steam engine, local industries (particularly lace making), farm waggons and the history of agriculture, and the every day home life of Mid Devon folk.

Civil Registration Offices

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). However, in some cases research can be more efficient working with the smaller, more specific records collections of county/district registry offices.

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 UKBMD: Registration Districts in Devon.