What Records Does Bath Record Office Hold and What Does It Not Hold?

Updated

Bath Record Office holds archives, local studies and special collections documenting Bath and North East Somerset from the 12th to the 21st century. Its collections are open to everyone, but they are not a complete record of every person, building or event in the area. The office itself publishes a "What we don't hold" page, which is the clearest signal that some enquiries belong elsewhere. If you are trying to work out whether a document is likely to be here, the practical approach is to check the catalogue and research guides first, then contact staff before travelling.

What the collections cover

The office describes its holdings in three broad strands: archives, local studies, and special collections. Within those, several collection areas are named directly on the site.

Building history records

Records for building history are one of the listed collection strengths. These are the kind of documents used to trace when a property was built, who owned or occupied it, and how it changed over time. The office also ran a project called "Imagine: A hundred years of homes in Bath," which drew on records of the history of housing in Bath.

Public health records

Records of public health are a second named collection area, supported by the "Building a Healthier City" project on the history of public health in Bath. These are institutional and administrative records rather than personal medical files.

Local studies and special collections

Local studies material and special collections sit alongside the archives. The site also highlights a "Remarkable Books: Heritage Treasures of Bath Record Office" exhibition, indicating that rare and notable printed items form part of what is held.

Named digital and index resources

Several specific resources are listed, and these are useful because they tell you what has already been indexed or digitised:

  • Bath Burial Index – a searchable index of burials.
  • Bath Ancestors – a family history resource.
  • Georgian Newspaper Project – digitised or indexed Georgian-era newspapers.
  • Bath in Time image library – over 40,000 historic images of Bath and beyond, which can be discovered and purchased.
  • Archives and Local Studies catalogue – the current online catalogue for searching holdings.

Project-based collections

Current and recent projects indicate additional material: the Wessex Water Cataloguing Project (business records of Wessex Water), Sounds of the South West (digitising at-risk audio collections), and Corona Captured (documenting life during the pandemic).

What the office does not hold

The site includes an explicit "What we don't hold" page under its collections section. This is the authoritative list, and it exists precisely because a significant share of enquiries concern records that are kept elsewhere. Because the specific categories are set out on that page rather than in the general description, the reliable move is to read it directly before assuming a record is here.

As a general principle, a record office of this kind typically does not hold:

  • Records of central government or national institutions.
  • Records held by other local authorities or neighbouring archives.
  • Current operational records of organisations that still hold their own archives.
  • Personal medical records or confidential case files.

Treat that list as a prompt to check, not as a substitute for the office's own page.

How to confirm whether a specific record is held

  1. Search the online catalogue. The Archives and Local Studies catalogue is the primary finding aid. Enter the place, person, organisation or subject you are researching and note the reference numbers of anything relevant.
  2. Check the research guides. The office publishes research guides designed to help you get started on a research or project question. These usually state which records exist for a given topic and, often, which do not.
  3. Read the "What we don't hold" page. If your topic appears there, the guide or page will normally point you toward the correct holder.
  4. Use the copying and research service if you cannot visit. Staff can assist with research either on-site or remotely. This is the route for confirming a document exists before you plan a trip.
  5. Pre-book if you intend to visit. Pre-booking is essential, and opening hours are published on the visit page (for example, a recent listing showed 10am–1pm and 2pm–5pm on an open day). Handling and copying of records is subject to the office's rules, and membership cards are part of the access arrangements.

Practical points before you travel

  • Access is open to all, but access to original documents is managed, so expect handling rules and possible copying restrictions.
  • Not everything is online. The catalogue tells you what exists; it does not mean every item is digitised. Some material must be consulted on-site.
  • Images are a separate service. The Bath in Time image library is for discovering and purchasing historic images, which is a different route from consulting archival documents.
  • When in doubt, ask first. A short enquiry to the copying and research service is cheaper than a wasted journey, especially for records that turn out to be held by another repository.