The following are frequently asked questions about Archives & local history
What workhouse records do you hold?
We hold workhouse records for Withington Workhouse, Bury
Union Workhouse, and Manchester Union Workhouse (Crumpsall). Please note
that nothing survives for the Manchester Union Workhouse prior to 1907.
These records are now available on findmypast . Please see our Workhouse Records guide for more information.
What birth, marriage and death records do you hold?
The Manchester Room@City Library holds microfiche copies of the National Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths. On-line access to this index is also available on various web sites. Please see our Family History guide for more information.
Where was my ancestor buried?
The records for various City Council cemeteries can be searched on-line at Manchester Burial Records. The burial registers for Ardwick Cemetery 1838-1950 and Cheetham Hill Cemetery 1815-1968 are available on findmypast. This also includes monumental inscriptions for Rusholme Road Cemetery and Ardwick Cemetery. Free access to these digital resources is available at the Manchester Room@City Library. Other cemetery records are available on microfilm. Please see our Cemeteries records guide for more information.
Do you have free access to Ancestry.com and Findmypast.co.uk?
Free access to Ancestry is available at the Manchester Room@City Library or in any Manchester City Council library. Free access to Findmypast is available at Manchester Room@City Library.
How do I trace where an ancestor was living?
We have a range of sources that can help you. These include census records, electoral registers, directories and rate books.
What old maps do you hold?
The Manchester Room@City Library has a good collection of maps of Manchester and the surrounding area, showing the development of the city from Roman times right up to the present day. We hold the various series and scales of Ordnance Survey maps from 1848 onwards. Please see our map guide for more information.
What local newspapers do you hold?
The Manchester Room@City Library holds a wide range of Manchester newspapers on microfilm, including the Manchester Evening News. A list of what we hold can be found below. Please note that the Manchester Guardian 1821-2000 and the Observer 1791-2000 is available for free through our 24 Hour Library.
What court and prison records do you hold?
We hold court and prison records for the Manchester area. These include prison registers for Strangeways. Our prison registers 1847-1881 are available on findmypast. An on-line guide to our court and prison records is available.
What church registers do you hold?
A list of the church registers that we hold is available on-line.
What coroner's records do you hold?
Unfortunately, coroners' records frequently have been destroyed. This is certainly the case with the records of the coroner for the City of Manchester, where the only 19th century records survive are for 1851-1852. The Greater Manchester County Record Office also holds some 20th century coroners' records for Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. Please see our coroner's records guide for more information.
How can I order a copy of a parish register?
We offer a postal service for copies from the microfilms of some parish registers.
What old photographs do you hold?
The Manchester Local Image Collection provides a unique photographic record of Manchester, its people, streets and buildings from a period stretching well over 100 years. Our full collection of over 80,000 images is available online.
The Documentary Photography Archive is a special archive held at the Greater Manchester County Record Office which documents the life of the Greater Manchester region. The vast majority of the images have been catalogued, and these catalogues are now available online on a searchable database at the Access to Archives site. A selection of images from the collection can now be viewed on our Flickr photostream.
What records do you hold for Prestwich Hospital?
The Greater Manchester County Record Office holds the records of Prestwich Asylum, including patient records from 1891 onwards. Earlier admission registers are held by Lancashire Record Office. Please note patient records less than 100 years old are on restricted access. Please contact us for more information.
A CD-ROM index covering admissions 1851-1901 is available at the Manchester Room@City Library.
An education pack "Life in Prestwich Asylum" is available online.