Research venues

Research Venues - Where and How

This page will contain info relating to reseach venues.

• name of the place to research

• Address

• Opening times

• Accessibility

• special considerations.

• peoples experiences/thoughts that might help you

Key points in visiting any research venue.

Go equipped ( small change, pencils, paper,basic notes.........)

Plan ahead

Dont take small children- they will soon get bored and distract you.

FRC & National Archives

The Family Records Centre 1 Myddelton Street London EC1R 1UW

Website A mine of info

Disabled visitors may need to pre-book, especially a parking space special needs guidance/help availible

You do not need a Reader's Ticket to use the services of the FRC. Guide dogs permitted but no other pets. Mobile phones and pagers must be in silent mode or switched off.

For full llist of specific rules and regulations

FRC & National Archives search your bags. Guildhall & First Avenue House (wills) scan your bags. Lockers at First Avenue House are big enough to take a suitcase, I don't think any of the others are.

The entrance is on the right of the wedge-shaped building.; go up the steps or the ramp to the front door. There is an attendant who will want to check your bag. Best to go down to the basement to start with; here are toilets, refreshment area and cloakroom to leave coat (it gets warm upstairs). You will need a pound coin for a locker. Going back upstairs, walk through past the shop into big room dealing with BMD certificates.

There is an information desk, also the counter where eventually you will fill out coloured request forms and pay for your orders.

The first floor contains three areas of registers; births, marriages and deaths.

The floor above deals with census data; and there are interesting books.

The rooms, particularly the Map Room is huge, stuffy and with a very low ceiling, which personally makes me feel a bit queasy. You have to be very quiet in there and there's a couple of security guys who parade around the room - think school exams .

The register indexes are actually huge books, and heavy! Take down one book at a time and see what you can find. All the books are alphabetical by surname, Just a matter of working round all the other people, and getting through the years you want.

FRC has a sandwich carousel, drinks machines etc but they can run out. TNA has a big cafe/restaurant, but there is also a water cooler & you can take your own sarnies. National Archives.Do not eat or drink anywhere else in the building. The cafe is good and I like the fact that you can use the computer there to see if your documents are ready.

The security folk can be a bit intimidating, and they need to be vigilant may wander where you are working andcheck your belongings as you move around the building - dont feel intimidated.There's one particular man on the "going up the stairs" security check who is a mite scary! Woe betide you if you have loose papers in your possession!The research staff are all very helpful.

The bookshop is well stocked too.

Also, quick word of advice, look up what you want on A2A and order it online before you go - it's incredibly difficult to find stuff on the NA computers.

There is an information desk, also the counter where eventually you will fill out coloured request forms and pay for your orders. Leave enough time for the payment counter; quite a queue builds up from about 2 o'clock.

Staff have always been very helpful - ie printing off census from film.

You can use biro at the FRC.

It is due to close early 2008.

London Metropolitan Archives

London Metropolitan Archives address is:

40 Northampton Road,

Clerkenwell,

London,

EC1R 0HB

Opening hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 4.45pm Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am - 7.30pm see website for 2007 saturday dates

LMA website: LMA

For people with disabilties visiting the LMA disabled access services

By Tube: Circle / Metropolitan / Hammersmith & City Line to Farringdon Northern Line to Angel Rail King's Cross / St Pancras (about 1km / 0.7 miles walk) Farringdon Station (about 700 metres / 0.5 miles walk)

Bus Routes 19, 38 and 341 to Rosebery Avenue (alight at Tysoe Street or Mount Pleasant) Routes 63 and 259 to Farringdon Road (alight at Bowling Green Lane) Routes 55, 505 and 243 to Clerkenwell Road (alight at Clerkenwell Green)

Walking LMA is situated within easy walking distance of many other archives and historical institutions

LMA lies within London’s congestion Charge Zone. There are no parking spaces at LMA except for blue / orange badge holders. On street parking is metered.

A veritable treasure house. Impressive library of books on all aspects and areas of London and helpful finding aids for all parish records, electoral rolls etc arranged by London Borough. Staff helpful and lots of microfilm readers. Free water plus snacks machines in locker room. Major drawback is that it is only open alternate Saturdays though it does have late night opening during week.

Seems to be a long walk from any public transport. Few printers - and they're coin-operated and don't give change. It's worth having small change with you: 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p unless you reckon you'll be doing so much it's worth buying a card.

The General records Office , Southport

The GRO is not a venue that you can visit and conduct your own search.they do, however have occasional open days when visitors may be shown around the venue.

Quite often The GRO will have a stand at a local history fair, and advertise such events at this show. Its well worth a look if you are lucky enough to be in the area.

The tour is not so much as to help with family history research but more of an insight as the the way the venue is run and how orders for certificates are processed. There may , on these open days, be a chance to attend seminars and learn more about researching family history.

British Library IOC Reading Room, London

Address The British Library,

St Pancras,

96 Euston Road,

London,

NW1 2DB

Trains: St Pancras, King's Cross, King's Cross Thameslink and Euston Underground: King's Cross/St Pancras, Euston and Euston Square

Buses 10, 30, 73 and 91 Parking: No car parking for the public onsite.

Car parks in Marchmont Street under the Brunswick Shopping Centre and NCP in Judd Street.

Metered parking is available on Ossulston Street (6 spaces).

Visitors with disabilities are advised to look at the website for specific advice as to accessiblilty

Covered area for bicycles. There are limited spaces available for coaches, and arrangements can be made in advance by contacting Visitor Services:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7332

Opening times vary according to the day and are best confirmed on the website

(This contains the records of the East India Company -- company records, muster rolls, BMDs ships logs, check it out on a2a before you go. If you have relatives from the Raj, thenabouts or thereabouts, this is for you.) needs substitution -not clear

Registration necessary to use the facilities, but this is quick and easy. Go up the escalators and follow the signs for registration.

You fill in a form on computer, are given a queue number and wait to be called by a member of staff who will ask to see a photo ID of some sort -- passport driving licence etc, and proof of address -- bank statement, utility bill etc. there is a full list of possibilites on their web site.

They then take your photo and issue you with a readers card.

You then go down to the cloakroom where there are lockers of various sizes -- up to ones that take a suitcase! All need a one pound coin in the slot. Large see-through plastic bags are provided on a table near the entrance. Each reader is entitled to one for a laptop ( all sound must be switched off) and one for files, notebooks etc. Only pencil allowed, no sharp objects permitted, all restrictions spelled out for you on the plastic bags.

The Reading Room is on the third floor, accessible by the lifts right next to the cloakroom. Show your pass on entry. Lots of stuff on public access, indexes mainly in the form of bound volumes, available to help you know where to look on the shelf. Lots of muster rolls, BMDs etc on micro film, machines plentiful and in reasonable working order.

Items not on the shelves have to be ordered. You fill in a request form on the computer, enter your card no and create a password, then find what you want from the catalogue. This is a bit complicated but the staff are pleased to help out. Requested items take 70 minutes to arrive, so work yourself a schedule out accordingly.

Photo copies available. Check at the copy desk, staff will show you what to do or may insist on doing this for you. Copies can also be ordered for later collection or posting at a price of £1 per large sheet plus postage if applicable. They take credit cards.

Excellent loo on the same floor, quite luxurious!

Cafe available downstairs with hot and cold meals, sandwiches, soft drinks teas and coffees. Maybe wee bit pricey . Plenty of seats outside in the courtyard if the weather is fine, so take a packed meal and eat it in the fresh air.

Be prepared to have your plastic bag carefully searched when you come out. Staff are polite and courteous when doing so, and when you consider what treasures they hold, you can't blame them. Working conditions comfortable.

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PRONI

Address: 66 Balmoral Avenue

Belfast BT9 6NY

Northern Ireland

Phone: +44 (028) 9025 5905 (Public Search Room)

Fax: +44 (028) 9025 5999

Email: proni@dcalni.gov.uk

Opening Hours Monday 09:00 am to 4:45 pm Tuesday 09:00 am to 4:45 pm Wednesday 09:00 am to 4:45 pm Thursday 10:00 am to 8:45 pm Friday 09:00 am to 4:45 pm

Occasionally, group visits are facilitated outside normal working hours. Contact Reader Services for details on group visits.

Public Holidays 2007

Monday 19 March Monday 28 May Monday 24 December Monday 9 April Thursday 12 July Tuesday 25December Tuesday 10 April Friday 13 July Wednesday 26 December Monday 7 May Monday 27 August

PRONI will be closed for stock-taking from Monday 26 November 2007 to Friday 7 December 2007 How to get there. By Bus: Use Metro 8 or 9 route; buses leave from Donegal Square East in Belfast City Centre. After alighting at Balmoral Avenue, it's only a short walk to the Public Record Office. By Rail: The Balmoral Railway Station on the Lisburn Road is about 400 to 500 metres away.

For further information on travel in Northern Ireland, whether by CityBus, UlsterBus or by NI Railways, see TransLink NI

By Car: PRONI is three miles south-west of Belfast City Centre by either the Lisburn or the Malone Road. Turn into Balmoral Avenue. If approaching by the M1 Motorway, leave the motorway at Exit 2, A55, direction Balmoral, King's Hall. There are very few car-parking spaces available in PRONI and these are allocated on a 'first come first served' basis although those with diabilities that make walking difficult will usually be accommodated, particularly if we are advised in advance of the visit. Cars may be parked locally, although visitors are reminded that cars cannot park in Balmoral Avenue before 9.30 am and after 4.30 pm.

Restaurant facilities: The PRONI Staff Restaurant is open to visiting members of the public between 10.00 am - 3.40 pm. A range of beverages, snacks and confectionery is served throughout the day with a full lunchtime menu service available from 12 noon to 1.40 pm

GROS

Office Locations

The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has three offices, two are located in Edinburgh and one in Dumfries:

New Register House

3 West Register Street

Edinburgh

Scotland

EH1 3YT

New Register House for registration matters and family history research is at the east end of Edinburgh's Princes Street, directly opposite the Balmoral Hotel, a few minutes walk from the main Waverley railway station, the bus station and the airport bus stop. There is no space for car parking or for baggage storage. If informed in advance we can make arrangements for customers with disabilities.

Ladywell House

Ladywell Road

Edinburgh

Scotland

EH12 7TF

Ladywell House for census, population, household and vital statistics data is located in Corstorphine on the west side of Edinburgh. Head west on the A8 from the city centre and turn left at the Drumbrae roundabout. At the second set of traffic-lights turn left into Ladywell Road. Ladywell House is on the left about 75 meters further on. The Edinburgh buildings are normally open to customers between 09:00 and 16:30 hours, Monday to Friday.

Monreith House

The Crichton

Bankend Road

Dumfries

Scotland

DG1 4ZE

Open by appointment

County venues

A list of venues within each County:

For each CRO the website is listed on the relevant county page within The British Isles section.

Please refer to this for specific directions and opening times

Bedfordshire

Address:Pilgrim Centre, 20 Brickhill Drive Bedford MK41 7PZ

Berkshire

Address: 9 Coley Avenue ,Reading,Berkshire, RG1 6AF

CARN card needed Some on site parking About a 20 minute walk from the station Don't think there's anywhere to eat or grab a drink nearby - they have a drinks machine and a place where you can eat free lockers and loos friendly and helpful staff

Buckinghamshire

Address: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies,County Hall,Walton Street,Aylesbury, Bucks. HP20 1UU

Parking is a pain Finding the CRO is tricky - it's almost on the inner ring road close to "The Blue Leanie" - a modern blue-glass-covered building that leans

Cambridgeshire

Address:Ground Floor, Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge, CB3 0AP

The County Record Office, Cambridge is located on the ground floor of Shire Hall and is very small and cramped though staff are helpful One mile north of the city centre and two miles from the railway station.

Disabled access is available. Please telephone the Record Office in advance of your visit wherever possible, especially if you need a parking space reserved, or you require wheelchair access; or else inform main reception (which is up a small flight of stairs from the road level) of your requirements upon arrival at Shire Hall.

There is limited parking in the visitors car park at Shire Hall. If this is full then the car park attendant will advise you of alternative parking arrangements. Park and ride is a good option

Huntingdon Branch

Located in its own building a short distance from the Market Square, close to the Cromwell Museum. There is free long stay car parking available at the Riverside car park, about 10 minutes walk away. This car park is free.

The railway station is about ten minutes walk away, and the bus station, situated next to the Library, is about five minutes walk away.

Opening times Closed all day Monday. Tuesday–Thursday: 09.00 – 17.15 Friday: 09.00 – 16.15 Closed at lunchtimes: 12.45 – 13.45

The Record Office is open on the second Saturday in each month, from 9.00 until 12.00 noon, by appointment only.

Appointments advisable before visiting. If you have not made a prior booking, and the searchroom is full, then you will be turned away.

A valid CARN readers ticket is required. These can be issued free of charge as long as you provide official proof of name & address (such as a driver's licence, bank or pension book, gas bill, etc.).

There are no drink or food facilities in the Record Office itself, nor is there a public area to eat your own food. However, there are many cafes and pubs within easy walking distance in Huntingdon.

The searchroom is at the top of a steep flight of 21 stairs. A newly-installed stairlift now operates alongside the stairs.

Cheshire

Address: Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service,Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire. CH1 1RL.

Monday 1.00pm - 5.00pm Tuesday 9.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday 9.00am – 5.00pm Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm 3rd Saturday in the month 9.00am – 4.00pm

By Rail:It is about 30 minutes walk to the Cheshire Record Office. Free Rail Link buses run from the railway station to the city centre. Bus Bus stations and Park and Ride services are also indicated on the location map. For Cheshire Bus Services tel : 01244 602666 Parking Please note there is no car parking at the Record Office except for disabled badge holders outside the office on Duke Street. Some nearby sites and Park and Ride services

You will need a carn ticket.

It is always advisable to make an appointment before visiting. Last orders for documents 45 minutes before closing daily; there is no lunchtime production between 12.30pm – 1.30pm. (It would be helpful if document requests are presented by 12.15pm to allow enough time for production).

Cloakroom provided. Lockers are available. No large items of luggage such as large briefcases, rucksacks or suitcases.

You should read the searchroom rules, hand in your CARN ticket and sign the register.

Staff at the reception desk will allocate you a table or microfilm reader. It is advisable to pre-book this.Some of the machinery is quite old.

Your CARN ticket will be returned to you when you leave.

There are toilets available, including a toilet for disabled people. Area set aside for the consumption of readers' own refreshments with a tea / coffee machine and water dispenser. There is a wide selection of cafes, pubs etc. nearby.

Cornwall

Address: Old County Hall, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3AY Situated in Truro, Cornwall Record Office lies in the grounds of the Old County Hall site and is clearly marked by a sign stating 'County Records'.

The building is constructed on one level for easy access and toilets and a seating area are available in the foyer. There are no refreshments available at the Record Office, but a supermarket and café are located very near by.

Wheelchair access tables are available in the searchroom but please contact us before your visit to ensure maximum assistance.

Truro Railway Station is about five minutes walk away. Local bus services operate from the centre of Truro to the Railway Station.

Onsite parking at Old County Hall requires a permit which can be obtained from the Record Office. Pop in and pick up a permit before you go and park. A small number of disabled parking spaces are available immediately outside the Record Office.

Need a valid readers' ticket/Carn Visitors will also need pencils, as no pens are permitted in the searchroom.

Lockers provided in the foyer. The lockers use a £1 coin which is refundable. Only notepads, pencils, laptops and cameras are permitted in the searchroom.

The Record Office operates a system of timed productions. These take place every 30 minutes and in order to ensure the smooth running of the service, we ask that a maximum of 3 document request slips are submitted per collection. Please note that productions are suspended between 12:15pm and 1:30pm. Gloves and other preservation aids will be issued with documents, where necessary.

Mobile phone or pager is switched off.

When you arrive you will be asked to sign in the visitors register

Laptops and Cameras -Laptops may be used at the owner's risk and a mains operation power supply is provided.

Photography is allowed subject to a small charge and the completion of a copyright declaration form. However, we ask that you do not use a flash.

Cumberland

Address: Cumbria County Council : Archives : Record Offices : Kendal Record Office

Easy enough to find but off site parking.

Offices themselves are in the bowels of the basement but very friendly staff.

Toilets available (free)

Cafeteria/coffee shop - not known but as it's in the town centre it's not far from those facilities anyway.

Derbyshire

Matlock Records Office

Address: New Street, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG.

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 16.45hrs. Restricted service available between 12.30 - 2.00hrs. . Open one Saturday per month.

Small onsite car parking facilities, plus roadside parking. Office situated on steep hill. Matlock railway station ten minutes’ walk. Lockers provided for personal items. White gloves provided. Advisable to prebook visit and documents required. Helpful staff. Toilet facilities available.

Devon

Address:

Dorset

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Durham

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Essex

East Sussex Records Office, Lewes

No local parking facilities. Steep walk involved in reaching Records Office from train station. Prebooking recommended. Long waiting time for receipt of documents.

Air conditioning on site – advisable to take a jacket/cardigan. No onsite eating rooms, benches available outside. Local coffee bars expensive. Free toilets and lockers.

Lewes is a historic town – castle worth a visit – also some good second hand book shops.

Gloucestershire

Bristol Central Library.

Address: College Green, Bristol BS1 5TL

Opening hours Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 09.30 - 19.30 hrs. Wednesday 10.00 – 17.00hrs. Friday/Satuday 09.30 – 17.00 hrs. Sunday 13.00 – 17.00 hrs. Bristol central library has a family history room upstairs. Holds copies of microfiche of local newspapers, census returns, street directories and IGI. Small onsite café but no parking. Not child friendly. Staff normally available to offer help.

Hampshire

Address: Fascinating town or, rather, city to wander round. Very close to the station. Free parking. Garden with seats outside the building. Quite large. Very helpful staff, and last time the archivist helped search for a registration. Refreshment area on top floor, tables, chairs and vending machine Winchester Records Office You need your CARN card to get in (Don't just show it on arrival at the foyer-reception and lock it in a locker, like I did at first! you won't be able to get any interesting original records out.)

Only a couple of readers with printers.

Herefordshire

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Hertfordshire

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Huntingdonshire

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Kent

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Lancashire

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Leicestershire

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Lincolnshire

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LONDON (Middlesex)

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Norfolk

Address: A pain to get to by public transport as its out of the city centre, though there is a bus service from the rail station that drops you on the roundabout nearby. It closes at 12.00 on Saturday, but many of the parish records are available on microfilm/fiche at the Millennium Library in Norwich, which is open all day. Staff efficient, but I didn't find them as friendly as other places.

Northamptonshire

Address: Records Office Wootton Hall Park Northampton NN4 8BQ

Not easy to find, but once you have, parking is free and plentiful. All on one level in a modern building. Not really walkable from town centre or the station. Helpful staff. No refreshment facilities. Lockers for belonging (staff provide a token for use). Reader card needed.

Northumberland

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Nottinghamshire

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Oxfordshire

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Rutland

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Shropshire

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Somerset

Address: Somerset Record Office Obridge Road Taunton TA2 7PU

Telephone 01823 278805 (enquiries), 01823 337600 (appointments)

Opening Hours: Monday 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm Tuesday - Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Alternate Saturdays 9.15 am - 12.15 pm

Not within easy walking distance of the station but there are plenty of taxis. There is a small car park.

Appointments are essential and you will need a Reader's Ticket so take proof of ID. CARN tickets are acceptable.

Quite small and cramped and on one level. Free lockers, basic drinks available (make it yourself and put money in the box). Cotton or latex gloves (sold at reception) are required if you view original documents.

Friendly and helpful staff who photocopy while you wait.

Staffordshire

Walsall Local History Centre

Address: Essex Street, Walsall, WS2 7AS

Opening hours. Monday closed. Tuesday 09.30 – 17.30 hrs. Wednesday 09.30 – 19.00 hrs. Thursday 09.30 – 17.30 hrs. Friday 09.30 – 17.00 hrs. Saturday 09.30 – 13.00 hrs.

Onsite car parking facilities. Few minutes walk from Walsall town centre. CARN ticket required. No appointment necessary unless you wish to use microfilm/fiche readers. Staff knowledgeable and friendly– willing to provide guidance on an individual basis and help with the setting up of machines.

Suffolk

Address: Free parking. No refreshment facilities as such, but a table and a few chairs with drinks machine. Very helpful.

Surrey

Southwark Local History Centre:

Address: 211 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JA

Limited on street parking. NCP car park in Snowsfields. Close to Borough tube station, 10 mins walk to London Bridge rail station. Appointments not necessary, although advisable if you wish to use microfilm readers.

Disabled access and toilet facilities. No onsite refreshment facilities – plenty in surrounding area.

One FTF member has commented that they found the building very difficult to locate, rooms very cramped and although the staff tried to help, their knowledge was limited.

Sussex

Address: East Sussex Records Office, Lewes

Easiest to get there by train as nowhere to park nearby, be prepared for the steep walk into town.Always book a seat before you go

Be prepared for a long wait if you are ordering up items from the strong room The air conditioning keeps the room cool, so take a cardy/jacket even when it's hot outside There's not too many places to eat nearby mainly pricey coffee bars, so take a packed lunch. There is no where to eat inside the record office itself, although there are benches available outside, which make a nice place to sit and eat when the weather's warm & dry

Toilets are free as well as the lockers. Lewes is a historic town - if you have time visit the castle and if you have time for shopping, take a look at the second hand book shops

Warwickshire

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Westmoreland

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Wiltshire

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Worcestershire The Worcestershire Record Office has two public branches Enquiries concerning the use of original documents should be referred to the County Hall Branch. Family history enquiries should be referred to the History Centre.

Address: Record Office, County Hall,Spetchley Road,Worcester,WR5 2NP

Worcestershire Library & History Centre Trinity Street,Worcester,WR1 2PW

Opening hours for both

Mon & Fri 9.30am - 7.00pm

Tue-Thur 9.30am - 5.30pm

Saturday 9.30am - 4.00pm

Book to use the facilities at either branch.Plenty of search room assitants to aid in your searching. The most appropriate branch for family historians to visit is the History Centre.

There is no car park at the History Centre Fully accessible to wheelchair users and includes disabled toilet facilities. There is a rest area with hot and cold drinks available. Bags in the lockers provided. Copying facilities are available.

The History Centre is also a distribution centre for records compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Yorkshire

Address: North Yorkshire County Council: Local studies

Very easy to find but limited parking spaces. Very helpful staff. Free loos. Small coffee room for patrons usage and only a small donation requested.

Usual restrictions regarding paper, pencils etc and change needed for the print offs.

The East Yorkshire CRO has just moved to the new Treasure House