Archives, libraries, records - Bedfordshire

Record Office

• Bedfordshire Archives (opens in a new window)
  This is the County Record Office for Bedfordshire (Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton), and has records spanning 800 years. Its on-line catalogue provides in-depth summaries of more than 95% of its catalogued holdings. Its website includes Community Histories (opens in a new window) – pages for many towns and villages dealing with some aspects of their history – and family history pages (opens in a new window) to guide users to well-known and less well-known records. Visits by appointment.  See also the BHRS partners page.

Libraries

• Bedfordshire Heritage Library (opens in a new window)
  This is a special area in Bedford Central Library  housing items from the local history collection that are rare,   valuable or delicate and are of particular historical significance. There is a quiet space for users to consult these items – check for opening hours.
• Bedfordshire Libraries
  Bedfordshire Libraries Local and Family History page (opens in a new window) provides many links to useful sources.

• Luton Libraries (opens in a new window)
  Luton Central Library has local newspapers on microfilm, some parish registers, census records and a map collection.

Historic Environment Records for Bedfordshire

• Bedford Borough Historic Environment  Record (opens in a new window)
  Based at Borough Hall, Bedford, this holds information on archaeological sites and finds, historic landscapes, and historic buildings within Bedford Borough. There is a reference library of published and unpublished reports and photographs. The records are available to visit by prior appointment and also on-line via the Heritage Gateway (opens in a new window)

• Central Bedfordshire and Luton Historic Environment Record (opens in a new window)
  Based at Priory House, Chicksands, near Shefford, this holds information on archaeological sites and finds, historic landscapes, and historic buildings for Central Bedfordshire and Luton and includes 35,000 images. The records are available to visit by prior appointment and also on-line via the Heritage Gateway (opens in a new window).

• Luton Heritage Forum (opens in a new window)
  Formed in 2011 to help protect the architectural and archaeological heritage of Luton, this lists interesting buildings and other sites by street, or marked on a street map, with descriptions.