There are three main record offices in Hampshire, with the county office based at Winchester.

Hampshire Record Office is part of Hampshire County Council's Museums and Archives section of the Recreation and Heritage department. The office collects records of all kinds: minute books, letters, diaries, accounts, title deeds, maps, prints and drawings and they come in an increasing variety of formats: paper, parchment, film, audio tape and digital files. The collecting policy embraces all archives relating to Hampshire and Hampshire families, except those relating exclusively or primarily to Portsmouth or Southampton, as the record offices located there collect these.

Hampshire Record Office holds records of Local government; Hampshire County Council; borough and district councils; parish councils. The diocese of Winchester and Church of England parishes; other churches and chapels; private individuals and families. Businesses, societies, schools, charities and many other organisations.

Address: Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester SO23 8TH

Tel: 01962 846154/846148

Fax: 01962 878681

Email: enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk

Opening times: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7pm

                     Saturday from 9am to 4pm

Portsmouth Record Office is housed in the same building as Portsmouth City Museum, and holds the official records of Portsmouth City Council which survive from the 14th century; local Anglican and Non-Conformist church registers and records from the 16th century; large collections of material deposited by local businesses, families and other organisations as well as thousands of local maps and plans, photographs and picture postcards, all of which can be consulted in the first-floor public Search Room.

Address: Portsmouth City Records Office, Museum Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2LJ.

Tel: 023 9282 7261

Fax: 023 9287 5276

Email: searchroom@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm

Southampton Archives Office holds records, maps, photos, manuscripts, deeds, voters' lists - starting at 1199 and coming right up to date. The office collects, catalogues and conserves archival material for the City of Southampton

Address: Southampton City Archives, Southampton City Council, South Block, Civic Centre SO14 7LY.

Tel: 023 8083 2251

Fax: 023 8083 2156

Email: city.archives@southampton.gov.uk

Opening times: Tuesdays 12.30 to 4.30pm

Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30am to 4.30pm

There is also a wealth of information covering a vast array of subjects in the Local Studies sections in the many branches of the Hampshire County Libraries for which the telephone numbers can be found in local telephone directories.

Hampshire County Museums

There are museums in various parts of Hampshire which also contain research information on such subjects as local history, directories, parish registers etc. They are as follows:

Aldershot Military Museum in Queens Avenue, Aldershot GU11 2LG which is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Telephone: 01252 314598.

The Allen Gallery at 10-12, Church Street, Alton GU34 2BW which is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Telephone: 01420 82802.

Andover Museum at 6, Church Close, Andover SP10 1DP and open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Telephone: 01264 366283.

Eastleigh Museum at 25, High Street, Eastleigh SO50 5LF which is open from Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Telephone 023 8064 3026.

Havant Museum, 56 East Street, Havant PO9 1BS. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Telephone: 023 9245 1155.

Westbury Manor Museum, 84, West Street, Fareham PO16 0JJ and open from Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. Telephone: 01329 824895