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Where can I find information on tracing my family history?

See our Family History webpages

Where can I find lists of sources available online?

• Visit our wills database , online catalogue, freemen of Chester database, Overleigh Cemetery database
• Access to Archives database
  The Access to Archives (A2A) database contains catalogues of archives held across England and dating from the 900s to the present day.
• The Archives Hub provides a single point of access to descriptions of archives held in UK universities and colleges. At present these are primarily at collection-level, although where possible they are linked to complete catalogue descriptions. The Archives Hub forms one part of the UK's National Archives Network, alongside related networking projects.

Local History

I’m interested in local history, how do I get started?

• A useful start is Local History Online: Getting Started.
  
• Cheshire Local History
  
• For images of Cheshire and area - Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies digital image website
  
• The Chester Image Bank
  
• The Mersey Gateway project aims to create a website with 20,000 digital images which will illustrate the history and growth of the port of Liverpool, and the development of distinct communities within the city and in towns on the Mersey. Although primarily relating to Liverpool, this website also contains Cheshire material
  
• The Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
  
• Contact your local Cheshire Library
• E-mapping Victorian Cheshire - Cheshire's tithe maps online
  

I want to trace the history of my house, where do I start?

Useful sources and links for researching buildings are available at:

• Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles
• Online House Detective

Where is the place called ...?

• For a map search Multimap
• For historical maps

General Enquiries

Adoption issues:   Where do I find information on tracing birth / adopted relatives?

NOTE:  Legislation altered the position of birth relatives making contact from Dec 2005.

• Our Lifeline pages
• Norcap
• Adoption Search Reunion

Where do I go if I have a query about public rights of way?

Contact the Public Rights of Way Unit.
 

Where can I find information about heraldry?

• Society of Genealogists:  Family History Library and Education Centre 
• College of Arms

I'm a teacher / tutor, where can I look for archive resources to use in school / further education?

• Schools History
• History Online
• Society of Archivists
• School Zone
• Learning Curve

For Cheshire schools, contact our Education Library Service
Use tithe maps to map Victorian Cheshire online

Do you have any details of places to stay?
www.visitchester.com