Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society
Friends of Carmarthenshire Archives
Carmarthenshire Archives Service
Essential Information for Visitors
Opening Hours
Monday, Closed
Tuesday, 9.30am - 7.30pm
Wednesday to Friday 9.30am -
5.00pm
Public Holidays: Please telephone for details
All requests for information and advice should be directed to:
Carmarthenshire Record Office
Parc Myrddin
Richmond Terrace
Carmarthen
SA31 1DS
Tel. (01267) 228232
Fax (01267) 228237
Email Archives@Carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Website: www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
The Carmarthenshire Record Office was established in 1959, and is a service provided by Carmarthenshire County Council. The Record Office aims to collect and preserve the historical records of the county, and make them available for research by the public.
The Archives
The archives held vary from fourteenth century title deeds to modern school records to parish registers. The documents come in all shapes and sizes including parchment rolls, loose sheets of paper, title deeds with seals, volumes, diaries and maps and plans.
The Record Office has in its care thousands of records including:
• parish and non-conformist registers
• local government records, notably Carmarthenshire and Dyfed County Council records, Quarter Sessions records, borough, urban and rural district records
• records of estates, businesses, schools, hospitals, courts, families and individuals.
Anyone interested in the records we hold is welcome to visit the Record Office.
Before coming to the Record Office
You need to make an appointment to visit the search room. One week’s notice is advisable to ensure that a place is available for you. Staff will advise you whether you should reserve a table or microfilm reader, depending on which records you wish to consult. Visitors arriving without a prior booking can only be accommodated as space and facilities permit. It is also advisable to make sure that we have the items you require before you visit to ensure you do not have a wasted journey.
Try to gather as much information as possible about your subject and allow plenty of time for your visit, as searching the records can be a lengthy process.
Arriving at the Record Office
On arrival you will find a member of staff in the search room to assist you. You will be asked to sign the Searchers’ Register giving your name and address. As many of the records are irreplaceable we have a few simple rules to protect them. In
summary you are asked:
• to treat the documents with care at all times and not lean or place your writing paper on them
• to use a pencil only; no form of ink is permitted
• refrain from eating (including sweets and cough drops), drinking and smoking.
Please try not to bring any unnecessary items with you, as space is limited. Coats should be hung in the corridor on the hooks provided.
Using the Record Office
There are indexes and catalogues available in the search room to help you find the documents you wish to see. The card indexes are arranged by place name, personal name and subject. The detailed catalogues describe individual archive collections and documents within them. Once you have identified the documents you would like to see they can be requested by writing the document reference, the date and your name on the slip provided. There are also indexes and transcripts of some documents available, including many parish registers.
Microfilm
Some records are available on microfilm or microfiche only, such as some chapel registers (prior to 1837), some church parish registers, The General Register Office Index (St. Catherine’s House Index), the census returns, 18411891 and the 1992 edition of the International Genealogical Index for England and Wales.
Facilities
Photocopies from parish registers, other bound volumes, multi-membraned documents, or from any other documents which might be harmed in the process, cannot be made. However, some documents may be photocopied at the discretion of the staff
There are several publications on display for purchase, along with pencils. For those unable to visit in person there is a record-searching service. Details are available on request.
There is a refreshment area where hot drinks can be purchased. There is also a car park and toilet.
Carmarthenshire Record Office
& Archives