Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service

 

The Bedfordshire Record Office, as it was formerly known, was established in 1913 by Dr George Herbert Fowler and was the first county record office in England.  We hold the archives for the County dating from 1166 to the present day. Here is a Summary of Archive Holdings|  and answers to some Frequently asked Questions| .

A records management service was established in 1989 to serve the internal record keeping needs of Bedfordshire County Council. The service has become a national leader in detailed appraisal, listing and indexing of County Council archives; these are a vital 20th Century source for areas such as education, social conditions, house histories, local history through the planning process and the Fire Service. Records with such historical value are transferred to the archives for permanent preservation.

Since 1996 Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service has been funded by a joint arrangement between Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Borough Council.

The Archive Service has been awarded its fifth successive Charter Mark for excellence in the provision of services to its customers. Of just over 1,500 holders of the Award, we are one of only 20 five-time holders overall. Six other archive offices hold the award, but we are the only five-time holder in our field.

If you are interested in volunteering there are opportunities to get involved| with the archives and help us make the records even more accessible.

One of the most popular subjects for research is genealogy and to help you get started we are running some family history workshops| in Bedford in November and in early 2009.