If you have not already registered for the Archives Wales readers’ ticket you will need to do so on arrival. Please bring two documents to confirm your identity, signature and proof of address. 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.

Please note: visitors arriving without prior booking can only be accommodated as space and facilities permit.

On arrival

Coats, bags, folders, files and mobile phones are not allowed in the search rooms, they must be placed in the lockers provided.  We only allow a notebook and sufficient notes for your research to be taken into the searchroom.  

Archives are unique, irreplaceable and often fragile. To protect them we have a few simple rules.  In summary these are:

·   to treat the documents with care at all times and not lean or place your writing paper on them

·   to place all bound volumes on the book rests provided

·   to use a pencil only, no form of ink is permitted

·   no eating (including sweets and cough drops) or drinking is allowed in the search rooms

·   to please ensure your hands are clean before handling documents

·   to use a sheet of acetate under the tracing paper when tracing from maps

Using the archives

There are indexes and catalogues available in the searchroom 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. If in doubt about where to find a document ask a member of staff!

Microform and computer sources

Some records are available on microfilm only, such as some newspapers, non-conformist records and church parish registers. The census and other national records of England and Wales, and some international records are available, free of charge, via findmypast.com. and Ancestry.com