Peterborough Archives Service (incorporating Local Studies) provides access to a wide range of resources that can be used to research the heritage and culture of Peterborough and the surrounding area.

Our extensive collections, dating from the medieval period to the present, include original historical documents, maps, drawings, photographs, newspapers and books, as well as film and sound recordings. Our mission is to preserve these records and make them available to anyone who wishes to discover more about the history of their local area, family or house.

We promote lifelong learning and education through talks and workshops, and offer tours and exhibitions to showcase our activities and collections. Access to the archives is free, although we make moderate charges for photocopying, scanning and some research requests. Staff are on hand to help you find the information you need.

Access

Most of the records in our collections may be freely consulted in our dedicated search room, located within Peterborough’s Central Library. Our search room also houses hundreds of local-interest books, some of which may be borrowed and read at home.

Visit Us  

Donations

Do you have historical records that you would like to be preserved for future generations to see? If so, then you may be able to donate them to us. We collect all kinds of records that help us to better understand the history, culture or people of Peterborough. Unfortunately, we cannot accept everything that is offered to us.

We do not generally collect:

• Artefacts, works of art or objects, unless there is a special relationship between the artefact and associated archives and good reasons for keeping them together;
• Material that does not have a Peterborough connection;
• Duplicates of material already held in our collections.

If you are thinking of donating material to the archives, please contact us using the link below.

Contact Us 

Research

If you cannot visit the Archives in person, then staff may be able to undertake research for you at a small cost. We charge £15 for 30 minutes’ research, or £30 for one hour, although quick checks are usually free.

We also make moderate charges for photocopying and scanning.

Charges 

Access our Archives Online

Before visiting us, you may find it useful to consult our online catalogue to see what records we hold that might be of interest to your research. Our catalogue can be searched from anywhere in the world.

Archives Catalogue 

Support Peterborough Archives and Volunteer

We rely on the support of a dedicated team of volunteers to help us sort and catalogue new material, to index old newspapers and to run events. If you would like to work as a volunteer in the archives, please contact us on 01733 864160 or email us at archives.service@peterboroughlimited.co.uk