Local Studies Resources

Books & Pamphlets

These range from general histories of the County to ones covering specific topics - such as churches, farming, mining, biographies and local villages.

Some collections also include recognised series of books such as Nichols History of Leicestershire.

Other libraries around the county have special collections that reflect the individual local history of a town, such as a collection relating to Hunting held at Melton Library.

Local Newspapers & Magazines

Local newspapers dating back to the nineteenth century provide a fascinating insight into how our ancestors lived, played and worked. Most older titles are stored on microfilm, and cuttings relating to important events, people and places are kept by many libraries.

Some libraries keep local community/regional newspapers and parish magazines. View lists below:

Current Newspapers (Word doc)

Historical Newspapers (Word doc)

Maps and Street Directories

Collections of maps include Ordnance Survey maps, railway and canal plans, street plans and shopping centre layouts, both current and historical.

Street Directories - Listed by Library and Date (Word doc)

Internet Usage

FREE broadband Internet access to information on lots of useful websites, for example:

town and village sites
details of workhouses, hospitals and businesses
1881 and 1901 censuses and the Mormons' Family Search
Victorian mapping
transcriptions and indexes of parish registers, rolls of honour and historic trade directories
trained staff to help you locate the information you are searching for
FREE use of email - a fast and easy method to correspond with fellow researchers all over the world.

Other useful resources

photographs, slides, prints and postcards
village files
memorabilia e.g. programmes, tickets, publicity produced for a short lived event
local books and leaflets to buy
videos and sound recordings - relating to living history

Staff are available to advise on sources and explain how you can make the most of our specialist items, files and indexes. Whatever your enquiry or study please don’t hesitate to ask!

Some services may only be available in larger libraries. See Library Facilities and Locations (PDF).

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

For more detailed research into local history contact the Record Office. Records of all kinds, including manuscripts (the archives of local government, institutions and families), maps and photographs are preserved and made available for research by the public. The Record Office also houses the local studies collection, including general works on Leicestershire and Rutland, local newspapers and periodicals, writings of local authors and sound recordings.

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland
Long Street
Wigston Magna
Leicester LE18 2AH

Tel: 0116 257 1080 Fax: 0116 257 1120 email: recordoffice@leics.gov.uk

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