Visit Us

View our Christmas opening hours here.

Peterborough Archives Service is based in the city’s Central Library on Broadway. We have a dedicated search room, where you will be able to consult a wide range of resources relating to the history and culture of Peterborough and the surrounding area.

Appointments are not required to browse our reference library, but if you wish to use a microfilm/fiche reader, check electoral registers or consult original archive material, then you must contact us at least two working days before you visit the search room.

Original archive material must be requested at least two working days before your visit. Reference numbers can be found on our online database. If you cannot find the material you need in our catalogue, please contact us for advice.

You will be asked to complete a User Registration Form when you first visit the Archives. We will also ask to see some form of ID that includes your address. Please note that you are not allowed to bring food or drink into the search room.

View the online catalogue

Facilities

Our search room is equipped for independent study, with open access to our local studies reference library, trade/street directories and Ordnance Survey maps. We can comfortably accommodate up to six researchers at any one time

Shelves and drawers around the search room hold card indexes to our local studies and newspaper collections and hard-copy catalogues for many of our archive collections.

Microfilm/fiche readers are available for researchers who wish to view old newspapers or parish registers, although it is essential that these are booked in advance.

Two computers with free access to “Ancestry” may also be used by customers tracing their family history. Again, these must be pre-booked to guarantee their availability.

Facilities for listening to sound recordings (e.g. oral interviews) can be arranged, but these must be booked in advance.

Wi-Fi and power sockets for laptops are also available in the search room.

Staff-operated photocopying and scanning facilities are offered, although we do make a moderate charge for these services.

Charges

Opening times

You can contact the archives team on 01733 864160 or email us at archives.service@peterboroughlimited.co.uk

Monday

1000-1300 Open (Staffed)

1300-1700 Search room open for local studies reference only (unstaffed)

Tuesday

1000-1300 Open (Staffed)

1300-1700 Search room open for local studies reference only (unstaffed)

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

1000-1300 Open (Staffed)

1300-1700 Search room open for local studies reference only (unstaffed)

Friday

1000-1300 Open (Staffed)

1300-1700 Search room open for local studies reference only (unstaffed)

Saturday

0900-1500 Search room open for local studies reference only (unstaffed)

Sunday

Closed