Research Room
Our Create Centre Research Room has free access to family history books, CDs and premium websites, including Ancestry, Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive. Use of resources and advice is free but we appreciate donations which help us to purchase more resources.
Standard opening hours are as follows:
- Wednesday morning - 10am to 1pm
- Thursday afternoon - 1pm to 4pm
- Second Saturday morning of each month when Bristol Archives is open - 10am to 1pm
Pre-booking is not required. However, if this your first visit to the Research Room, or you have particular information you want to find, please e-mail details of the date and purpose of your visit to rrbooking@bafhs.org.uk That will help us be prepared if necessary.
Masks are no longer required in the building, and we do not now practice social distancing. At busy times, computer users sit close to one another.
If you come by car, please note that the Research Room is situated inside Bristol's Clean Air Zone which was introduced on 28 November 2022. If your vehicle does not meet the zone's emission standards, you must pay to drive within the zone, unless you have an exemption. You can find out more at on the Council website.
Arrival & Access
Enter the Create Centre and follow the signs to the Bristol Archives. If you have parked your car in the Create Centre car park, you will need to get a permit from the reception desk. Enter the Archives Exhibition area and the Research Room will be in front of you. If you end up in the Archives search room, you've missed us! Do not sign in there but do tell them that you are going to the BAFHS Research Room and you will be given directions. Please do not use the Archives lockers but take your belongings into our Research Room with you. You may use your mobile phone or digital camera to take copies of documents in our Research Room for personal use without charge.
Bristol Archives, 'B' Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.
Open
Wednesday
10 am - 1 pm
Thursday
1 pm - 4 pm
First two Saturdays of each month when Bristol Archives are open
10 am to 1 pm