Visitor Information

What is Northumberland Archives?

Northumberland Archives is an integrated service comprising Northumberland's Archive Collections, Local Studies Library and Artefact collections relating to coalmining and social history in south east Northumberland.

Where is the Northumberland Archives Site Situated?

We are situated in the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park at Woodhorn, near Ashington in south-east Northumberland. Follow this link for a location map. The Collections Service is situated within 'The Cutter' - the new building to the rear of the site. A map showing the position of The Cutter within the larger Woodhorn site is available to view by following this link. We also have a branch office in Berwick-upon-Tweed; follow this link for more information.

What are our opening times?

The Study Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday 10 until 4 all year round.

Is There Car Parking On Site?

Yes – there is extensive car parking which is charged at £2.50 per day – free for Woodhorn members.

Is There A Bus Service To The Site?

No, the service was withdrawn due to under use.

Where Are The Nearest Railway Stations?

There is a railway station at Morpeth, 6 miles from Woodhorn and another at Newcastle upon Tyne, 18 miles from Woodhorn.

Do You Operate A Registration Service?

Yes - users must register with us before using the Study Centre. Please therefore bring identification with you on your first visit. Accepted forms of identification include; Passport, Driving Licence or a recent Utility or Council Tax Bill [within last 3 months]. Full details are available by reading the Visitor Registration Guide and you can also download a copy of the Application Form which you can complete and bring with you on your first visit..

Do I Need To Make A Booking In Advance Of My Visit? 

No - it is not necessary to make a booking. You may wish to check with staff to ensure that we hold the records that you are interested in and consulting our research guides which can be found on the Findings Aids Research / User Guides webpage. You may also wish to check our Electronic Catalogue prior to any visit to check our holdings. If you wish to listen to or watch one of our collection of audiovisual recordings - we ask that you give us 48 hours notice of your proposed visit. This will allow us to ensure that the recording you wish to listen to or watch is available in the correct format.

What Can I Bring Into The Study Centre With Me?

You can bring a pencil, any papers that relate to your research and a notepad. Any files, bags and outdoor coats must be left in the lockers outside the Study Centre. The lockers are coin-operated. Please bring a £1 coin with you, which you get back once you have finished.

How Do I Prepare For my Visit To The Study Centre?

By familiarising yourself with the Woodhorn Study Centre Rules; preparing a list of your research questions in advance of your visit; using our Electronic Catalogue to locate references in advance of your visit and reading a book that gives guidance on your research topic.

Can I Pre-order Documents That I Wish To View In Advance Of My Visit?

It is not necessary to pre-order documents in advance of your visit. We aim to deliver documents to your Research Desk within 15 minutes of the request being made. This is one of our Service Standards which can be viewed by following this link.

Am I Able To Obtain A Copy Of A Document Of Interest?

Subject to copyright restrictions and any restrictions placed by the owner of the collection we can provide photocopies of items consulted in the Study Centre. We are unable to photocopy larger items inlcuding Ordnance Survey maps but may be able to provide a digital or photographic copy of them. For further details and charges see the Reprography webpage.

Can I Reproduce A Copy of A Document in A Publication?

Most of the records that we hold are subject to intellectual property rights - generally copyright or any restrictions upon usage placed upon them by the owner. If you would like to reproduce a copy of an item in our custody you should place this request in writing - see our Publications Guide for further details. Users wishing to request permission to use an image of an item from our collections in a publication should complete one of our Publication Request Forms.

Can I Use My Laptop Computer In The Study Centre?

Yes.

Can I Make A Transcription of A Record?

Yes - but we will ask you to complete one of our Transcription Application Forms.

Can I Borrow Books From the Local Studies Collection?

No - it is a reference collection only. However, a copy of the book may be available from your local library or via the Inter-library loan system.

Can I Access The Library Catalogue Remotely?

Yes - see the Local Studies webpage for a link to the library catalogue.

Is There An Online Catalogue to the 3-D Collections?

Yes, we are adding descriptions and images of our 3-D collections to our Electronic Catalogue all the time.

Can I Purchase Refreshments on Site?

Yes - Woodhorn has a cafe where you can purchase a range of food and drink.

For further information please contact: Northumberland Archives, Woodhorn

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF

Tel: 01670 528080

E-mail: collections@woodhorn.org.uk

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10 – 4 Monday and Tuesday Closed