MERSEYSIDE DIRECTORY
ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Knowsley Archives
a The ARK, 1st Floor, The Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby, Knowsley L32 8XY
t 0151 443 4365 e infoheritage@knowsley.gov.uk
w archives.knowsley.gov.uk
The centre has council records, manorial records, and records of petty sessions and schools. It is currently open by appointment.
Lancashire Archives
a Bow Lane, Preston PR1 2RE
t 01772 533039 e record.office@lancashire.gov. uk w tinyurl.com/lanc-archives
Records here include quarter sessions, church registers, crew lists and probate material. Liverpool Medical Institution Library a 114 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SR
t 0151 709 9125 e admin@lmi.org.uk
w lmi.org.uk
The library was founded in 1779.
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Archive
a Metropolitan Cathedral, Cathedral House, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TQ
t 0151 709 9222 e enquiries@metcathedral.org. uk w tinyurl.com/liv-cath-arch
You’ll find both cathedral and archdiocesan archives here. /LYHUSRRO 5HFRUG 2IÀFH a 3rd Floor, Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW t 0151 233 3069 w liverpool.gov.uk/archives Visitors can access microform resources, Ancestry ( ancestry. co.uk) and Findmypast ( find mypast.co.uk) when the library is open. Original archives and other material are available by appointment. Records here include indexes of births, marriages and deaths; parish registers; burial records; street directories; electoral registers; school, hospital and workhouse records; and coroners’ inquests. There is also a research service.
National Museums Liverpool: The Archives Centre
a Maritime Museum, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AQ
t 0151 478 4424 e maritime.archives@ liverpoolmuseums.org.uk w tinyurl.com/lpl-mus-arch
The centre houses Mersey Docks and Harbour Board records, merchant-shipping records, as well as material relating to slavery. Sefton Library Service a c/o Crosby Library, Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 0LQ
t 0151 257 6401 e information.services@sefton. gov.uk w tinyurl.com/sefton-lib-serv
Highlights include more than 40,000 historic photographs.
St Helens Archives Service
a The Gamble Building, Victoria Square, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1DY
t 01744 671748 e archives@sthelens.gov.uk
w tinyurl.com/st-hel-arch
Items here include reports by the St Helens Medical Officer of Health, and archives from the Vulcan Foundry and Beecham’s. Unilever Archives & Records Management a c/o Unilever R&D, Quarry Road East, Bebington, Wirral CH63 3JW t 0151 641 4551 e archives@unilever.com w unilever-archives.com
The firm’s archive at Port Sunlight is currently closed, but written inquiries can be sent to the above address. Staff are happy to answer queries by email, and you can search the catalogue online. University Of Liverpool Special Collections & Archives
a Sydney Jones Library, Chatham Street, Liverpool, L69 7WZ t 0151 794 2696 e scastaff@liverpool.ac.uk w tinyurl.com/uni-lpl-sca
Visit for records of the university and Cunard Steamship Company.
Wirral Archives
a Lower Ground Floor, Cheshire Lines Building, Canning Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 1ND
t 0151 606 2929 e archives@wirral.gov.uk
w tinyurl.com/wirral-archives
The archive holds records of schools, hospitals, workhouses and courts, plus shipbuilders Cammell Laird. Currently access is by appointment only.
GROUPS AND SOCIETIES
Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society w lfhhs.org.uk
Members run research centres in Oswaldtwistle and Chorley. Lancashire Parish Register Society w lprs.org.uk
The society publishes volumes of parish register transcriptions. Liverpool & South West Lancashire Family History Society w lswlfhs.org.uk
The society runs six local groups. North Meols (Southport) Family History Society w nmfhssouthport.co.uk This group formed in 1990. St Helens Townships Family History Society w sthelenstownshipsfhs.org.uk The society has researched the St Helens Pals: sthelenspals.org.uk.
Wigan Family & Local History Society
w wiganworld.co.uk/familyhistory The society usually holds a meeting every month.
MUSEUMS
National Museums Liverpool w liverpoolmuseums.org.uk Explore local heritage attractions.
WEBSITES
Ancestry w bit.ly/anc-lpl
The site has Liverpool parish registers, plus catholic registers, electoral rolls, crew lists and Lancashire vagrants’ registers. Findmypast w bit.ly/fmp-lpl-work
Local highlights include Liverpool workhouse records. Sefton Looking Back w sefton-digital-archive.org Explore photos back to 1850. The Archive Group w thearchivegroup.org
Learn about local repositories.