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Essex Record Office

Photograph of the Essex Reocrd Office in Chelmsford, EssexThe Friends of Historic Essex supports the work of the Essex Record Office (ERO), which was set up by the County Council in 1938.

Essex was one of the first English counties to have its own Record Office, which was housed for many years in different parts of County Hall, before moving in 2000 to its present state-of-the-art building in Wharf Road, Chelmsford.

The ERO collects and preserves the written, oral and visual heritage of the county, and ensures that it remains available to both present and future generations. You can make use of the vast library of printed books and journals about Essex, as well as the original documents which form the 'raw materials' of local history. If you are interested in researching the history of your house, your family, or your local community and its landscape, then you will find something which will amaze and delight you.

It is not necessary to make an appointment to visit the Search Room at Chelmsford, although if you are making a long journey it would be sensible to make sure that the documents you want to see are available. You can do this by checking the on-line catalogue which is called SEAX and accessible from the Essex County Council website. It is possible to order documents in advance on line, although they will not be produced until you are actually in the building. For more than twenty years there has been a branch office at Colchester, but sadly this was closed at the end of March 2007 as part of County Council cuts in heritage expenditure. The original documents relating to the Colchester and Tendring areas are in the course of being transferred to Chelmsford, while some microfilms and fiches will be available in the Colchester library's local studies department.

Visitors to the Record Office at Chelmsford can use its library just by signing in with your details, but if you want to see original documents you must have a readers' ticket. These can be provided on the day of your visit as long as you can bring with you proof of your identity with a document containing your name, address and signature. For further information on how to find the Record Office please click on the link.

Getting there

The Essex Record Office headquarters in Chelmsford is on the riverside at Wharf Road. It is a 5 minute walk away from the High Street, along the riverside path from the Meadows shopping precinct. If you are travelling by car there are public car parks in Wharf Road. It is a 15 minutes walk from the rail and bus stations. Bus numbers 47, 54 and 56 stop about 5 minutes walk from the record office. For further information on how to find and contact us, please click on the link below.

Internet Link

www.essexcc.gov.uk/ero

E-Bulletin

Introducing a new way to keep up to date with Essex Record Office news and events.

A free monthly e-mail that brings details of ERO events and news straight to your inbox. Simply e-mail marilyn.hawkes@essex.gov.uk with 'subscribe to e-bulletin' in the subject box. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will never share your e-mail address or use it for any purpose other than the e-bulletin.

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Friends of Historic Essex www.historicessex.org.uk