How to Research Family History at Bath Record Office

Updated

Bath Record Office holds archives, local studies and special collections covering Bath and North East Somerset from the 12th to the 21st century, and family history is one of its named research areas. You can start online through its catalogues and indexes, then visit in person if you need original records. Pre-booking a visit is essential, so plan ahead before travelling.

What the office offers family historians

The office looks after archives, local studies and special collections that tell the story of Bath and North Somerset. Everyone is welcome to visit and access the collections. For family history specifically, the site points to these starting points:

  • Online catalogues – the Archives and Local Studies catalogue is available to search.
  • Bath Burial Index – a named family history resource.
  • Bath Ancestors – a named family history resource.
  • Georgian Newspaper Project – a themed resource that can add context or names to Bath families in that period.
  • Bath in Time image library – over 40,000 historic images of Bath and beyond, which you can discover and purchase.
  • Research guides – a set of guides designed to help you get started with your research or project.

The office also notes what it does not hold, which matters before you assume a record will be there.

Start with the online tools

  1. Search the catalogue. Use the Archives and Local Studies catalogue to see whether records relevant to a name, street or institution are held. The catalogue is described as new and now available.
  2. Check the named indexes. Try the Bath Burial Index and Bath Ancestors for people connected to the area.
  3. Use the Georgian Newspaper Project if your family was in Bath in the Georgian period and might appear in newspaper content.
  4. Look at Bath in Time for images of places linked to your family — useful for confirming a street, building or neighbourhood.
  5. Read the research guides before requesting anything. They are intended to help you get started, so they can save you from ordering records that won't answer your question.

Plan an in-person visit

If the catalogue shows original records you need to see, the visit page is the place to check practical details. The site states that pre-booking is essential, and lists opening times, getting here, accessibility, membership cards, and handling and copying records. On the day the excerpt was captured, opening hours were 10am–1:00pm and 2:00pm–5:00pm, but you should confirm current times on the Visit us page before relying on them.

Expect to find guidance on:

  • Opening times
  • Getting here
  • Accessibility
  • Membership cards
  • Handling and copying records
  • FAQs

If you can't visit in person

The office runs a copying and research service: staff can assist with your research either on-site or remotely. This is the route to use if you need something checked or copied but cannot travel. Details are under "Copying & research service."

What to check before you assume a record exists

The collections include records for building history and records of public health, alongside the family history resources. The site also has a "What we don't hold" page. Read that before concluding a record is missing or before making a special trip — it can redirect you to the right archive instead.

A practical order of work

  1. Read the research guides for your topic.
  2. Search the online catalogue.
  3. Check Bath Burial Index, Bath Ancestors and the Georgian Newspaper Project.
  4. Note the references you want to see.
  5. Book a visit, or use the copying and research service if you can't come in.
  6. On the day, follow the handling and copying rules and bring your membership card if you have one.