Discover your history in local libraries

If you are interested in local and family history, as a first port of call local libraries are a good place to try; with many local libraries having a small local history collection.

Local history collections in our towns and community libraries may include books and pamphlets about the town or village (sometimes these are written by local historians)

Libraries are involved in several local history projects which can give you the opportunity to learn more about the history of your area. Your library will have information about local history groups in your area.  Many local history groups meet in their local library.

All our libraries have a subscription to Ancestry Library and it is free to use. Book through Library Online. It covers the census from 1911 onwards, the General Register Office index and other useful resources for family history.

Some local history groups meet in their local library.

Although many of our libraries hold only a small collection of local history information, a lot more resources are available in The Story.

The Story

The Story is responsible for collecting and preserving documents relating to the life and work of the people of County Durham and Darlington, their politics, religions, recreation, and health. Large numbers of historical documents have been deposited by their owners for safe keeping.

These include records of Durham County Council, other local councils in the county, Church of England parishes in the Dioceses of Durham and Ripon, non-conformist churches, National Coal Board, pre-nationalisation (pre-1947) colliery companies, landed families and estates, solicitors, businesses, schools, colleges, and individuals.

The Durham Record

The Durham Record holds over 10,000 photographs dating from around 1860 to the present day.