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Hertfordshire County Council

Opening hours

Christmas opening hours (until 1 Jan 2025)

Christmas opening hours

Mon 23 Dec

Closed

Tues 24 Dec

9am - 5pm

Weds 25 Dec

Closed

Thurs 26 Dec

Closed

Fri 27 Dec

9am - 12.30pm

Sat 28 Dec

Closed

Sun 29 Dec

Closed

Mon 30 Dec

Closed

Tues 31 Dec

9am - 5pm

Weds 1 Jan

Closed

Normal opening hours (from 2 Jan 2025)

Opening hours

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9am – 5pm

First Tuesday of every month, we're open until 7.30pm by appointment only. Contact us by 9am on the previous Friday to book.

Wednesday

9am – 5pm

Thursday

9am – 5pm

Friday

9am - 12.30pm

Saturday

10am – 2pm
First and third Saturday of the month.

Sunday

Closed

 

Facilities at the archives

Facilities and access

  • Wheelchair access
  • Limited parking – alternative parking in town
  • Disabled parking
  • Toilets (disabled access)
  • Free lockers
  • Study space
  • Hearing loop and magnifying equipment
  • Heritage Shop
  • Rooms and spaces for hire
  • Vending machines – hot and cold drinks, customers are also welcome to bring their own flask and refreshments to eat in our foyer. You can't bring food, drinks or bags into the reading rooms.

 

View the accessibility information for this venue

Accessibility information of venue

If you want to discuss your accessibility requirements, please email hals.enquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Photocopiers and microfilm

Photocopier

  • A4 and A3
  • Colour or black and white.

Digital microfilm readers for back and white printing, or daily permit for digital downloads to USB.

See all fees and charges.

Computers and internet

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • A4 Scanner

Computer costs:

  • No charge to use computers for archives or local and family history.
  • Other charges apply for general computer use:
    • Library members – 1 hour free, then 4p a minute.
    • Non library members – £2.50 for 30 minutes

Printing costs (A4 only):

  • 20p – single page, black and white
  • 60p – single page, colour

 

 

We have two rooms:

Archive reading room

Man searching the family history archives

For original documents including county council, parish church, family, estate and business records

Local studies library

Lionel Munby HALS meeting room

For printed and published materials, e.g. books, pamphlets, periodicals, directories, maps, photographs and sources on microfilm such as parish registers, newspapers and wills.

Services available

We regularly have events and displays, including getting started at HALS.

We also provide:

 

View original documents

You'll need a Hertfordshire Archives Reader's Ticket to view original archive documents at HALS. When you visit, bring proof of identity and address with a signature, such as:

  • driving licence
  • passport
  • recent utility bill.

Taking photos and digital copies

You can take your own pictures of documents when you come and visit. You can also download digital images from our microfilms to your memory stick. Ask us for a pass.

Prices for photos or digital downloads

  • Day pass – £10
  • Half day pass – £5
  • Annual pass – £100.

 

For a combined pass (allowing photos and downloads of microfilm images):

  • Day pass – £15
  • Half day pass – £7.50
  • Annual pass – £150.

 

Other heritage services

Visit a museum

Find a museum to visit

There are over 40 museums in Hertfordshire. From the Natural History Museum in Tring to smaller museums across the county, you'll never be short of things to do.

Each of the museums hold group tours for large visits so you can get a better experience of the history when you visit.

 

Art collection

Hertfordshire County Council art collection has a diverse range of 261 art works, including three sculptures of Queen Eleanor on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and other sculptures, oil paintings and murals in council offices, libraries, schools and academies across the county. Images of these works are on Flickr and Herts Memories for everyone to enjoy.

 

Contact Us

Privacy notice – Please read before submitting your information >

When you submit this form you are sending your information to Hertfordshire County Council (as the Data controller) HALS (Hertfordshire County Council) will collect and use the personal information that you give us, to reply to your request, and to provide the services you ask for. This personal information may include name and email address.

This information is being processed with your consent and will not be used for marketing.

We will not share this information with a third party or use it for any other purpose.

The information that you supply to us will be kept on file for 3 years. For more information, including how to remove your data, visit our website privacy policy

  • Consent

Hertfordshire Archives Facebook

Visit our heritage shop

Browse our shop for books, maps, CDs, conservation supplies and services we offer.

Visit the heritage shop

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