Northamptonshire Archives - Northampton

Northamptonshire Archives: A Comprehensive Guide

Nestled within the picturesque Wootton Hall Park in Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives is a treasure trove of historical records and artifacts, offering a unique insight into the rich past of the region. This comprehensive guide will delve into the main services, location and access, featured characteristics, practical information, and positive aspects mentioned in customer reviews of this esteemed institution.

Main Services

• Archive and Record Office: Northamptonshire Archives houses a vast collection of historical documents, photographs, maps, and other records dating back to the 13th century. These resources are accessible to the public for research purposes, providing vital information for historical research, family history, and local studies.
• Exhibitions and Museums: The archives host regular exhibitions that showcase the county's rich heritage, offering visitors an engaging and immersive experience. These exhibits often feature artifacts from the archives' collection, as well as loans from other institutions.
• Educational Visits and Outreach: Northamptonshire Archives offers educational visits and outreach programs, accommodating school groups and community organizations. These initiatives aim to engage the local community with the county's history and inspire a love for learning.
• Conservation and Preservation: The archives are committed to the conservation and preservation of its collections for future generations. Specialist staff work tirelessly to maintain, repair, and digitize records, ensuring their longevity and accessibility.

Location and Access

Northamptonshire Archives is situated at Wootton Hall Park, which is approximately 1.5 miles north of Northampton town center. The address is:

Wootton Hall Park, Northampton NN4 8BQ, United Kingdom

The archives are easily accessible by various transportation methods:

• Car: The archives are located just off the A428, offering ample parking space, including designated bays for disabled users.
• Public Transportation: Bus services operated by Stagecoach and Northampton Passenger Transport operate nearby, with the nearest stop being in Wootton. The archives are approximately a 10-minute walk from the stop.

Featured Characteristics

Northamptonshire Archives boasts several unique features that set it apart from other archive services:

• Historic Building: The archives are housed within a Grade II listed building, originally constructed as a Victorian workhouse in the late 19th century. The building has been meticulously restored and adapted to accommodate the archives, offering a fascinating blend of history and modernity.
• Search Room: The archives' search room is a spacious and well-equipped facility, providing visitors with comfortable seating, individual microfilm readers, and Wi-Fi access. The search room is designed to cater to various research needs, with ample space for both individual and group study.
• Digitization Station: Northamptonshire Archives offers a dedicated digitization station, allowing visitors to copy documents, photographs, and maps using their own devices or the archives' equipment. This service enables users to preserve and share their research findings with ease.

Practical Information

Northamptonshire Archives operates the following opening hours and services:

• Opening Hours: The archives are open to the public on weekdays from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. However, it is recommended to check the archives' website or contact them directly before visiting, as opening hours may be subject to change.
• Admission: Admission to Northamptonshire Archives is free, making it an accessible and affordable resource for visitors.
• Accessibility: The archives are committed to ensuring that their facilities are accessible to all users. The building features a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, as well as accessible toilet facilities.
• Photography: Visitors are permitted to take photographs within the archives, provided that they do not cause damage or disturbance to the collections or other users. Flash photography is not allowed.

Positive Aspects Mentioned in Customer Reviews

Northamptonshire Archives has received an average rating of 4.7/5 from 18 reviews on Google My Business, demonstrating the high regard in which the institution is held by its visitors. Several positive aspects have been highlighted in these reviews:

• Knowledgeable and Helpful Staff: Many reviewers have praised the staff at Northamptonshire Archives for their expertise, friendliness, and willingness to assist with research queries. The staff's dedication to supporting visitors' research has been consistently highlighted as a key strength of the archives.
• Impressive Collections: Several reviewers have commented on the extensive and diverse collections held by Northamptonshire Archives, noting the wealth of information and insights they offer for historical research and genealogy.
• Pleasant Research Environment: Northamptonshire Archives has been commended for providing a comfortable, quiet, and well-equipped research environment, allowing visitors to focus on their studies without distraction.
• Accessibility and Parking: Some reviewers have highlighted the archives' convenient location, accessible parking facilities, and wheelchair-accessible entrance, making it an easy and enjoyable place to visit for all users.

Northamptonshire Archives is a vital resource for anyone interested in the history of Northamptonshire and its people. With its comprehensive collections, dedicated staff, and engaging exhibitions, the archives offer an invaluable service to both local residents and visitors from further afield. By preserving and sharing the county's rich heritage, Northamptonshire Archives plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of identity and belonging among its communities.

👍 Reviews of Northamptonshire Archives

Guy M.

5/5

It's an excellent resource. It really needs more visitors. The trouble is it is perhaps seen as a little elitist to use and visit such a place. However, if more people used the place they could ask for more funding which could be used to help anyone with a local history interest explore the eleven miles of records they hold. This is in no way meant to decry the staff that are there. I found them friendly and helpful. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Paul T.

5/5

Incredibly helpful staff and a really pleasant research environment

Niki K.

4/5

That was an experience. I arrived and was told they were on their lunch and nobody would help me. But they did let me come in and plug in so that was good.

People were friendly enough.

But it's really far out of the way and not really accessible by public transit.

Does have wifi.

Dandy M.

5/5

Lovely kind staff who were incredibly helpful. Appreciated their advice and guidance even when they didn't have what I needed.

I loved the display they had in the foyer on Queen Elizabeth II and how she had impacted Northamptonshire over the course of her life. Very interesting reading!

Hilly J.

5/5

I have spent many hours here researching family history, the staff are always helpful & they have an efficient document ordering system A*

Marion D.

4/5

Very friendly and helpful, just not too easy to find!

Stuart L.

5/5

Fantastic place to visit for looking up all your ancestry needs in Northampton. Staff are very helpful and will do there best to help.

Thomas F.

5/5

Thanks very much for all your help .