Contact details

Pembrokeshire Record Office
The Castle
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 2EF
Telephone: 01437 763707
E-mail: record.office@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Web site: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk (search for Pembrokeshire Record Office)

 

Finding us

Pembrokeshire Record Office is situated in the former Town and County gaol within the grounds of the Castle overlooking the town of Haverfordwest.

There are several routes which lead to the Record Office, the main ones being as follows:

Southwards on the A40 from Fishguard: follow the A40 towards the town centre.  At the roundabout near Morrison supermarket take the third exit.  At the next roundabout (by the Skoda garage) take the third exit.  At the next (mini) roundabout take the first exit and then turn immediately left into Church Street.  St Martin's Church will be on your left.  Continue up Church Street which leads to Queen's Square (a small square with cars parked centrally).  At the top end of the square go into Castle Street (between two rows of houses).  The gates to the Castle grounds are ahead of you.  There is on-site parking.

Throughout look for the brown tourist signs for the Castle, Record Office and Museum which are all on the same site.

Westwards on the A40 from St Clears and the M4: at the first roundabout on the way in to Haverfordwest take the first exit and the right hand lane when the lanes divide.  At the next roundabout take the fourth exit (the County Hotel will be on your left) and take the left hand lane.  At the next roundabout near Morrison supermarket take the first exit.  Thereafter follow the southwards directions from the Skoda garage roundabout onwards.

Parking
There is visitor parking within the Castle grounds.  A permit system is in operation and these permits are obtained on arrival at the Record Office from any member of staff when you sign in.  Parking is free of charge.

By bus/train
The railway station is about 15 minutes' walk away and involves a walk up a steep hill.  The bus station is about 10 minutes' walk away and also involves a walk up a steep hill.  There are taxi ranks at both of these stations.

Find us on a Google Map

 

Records held

Pembrokeshire Record Office holds a variety of historical sources including documents, maps, plans, photographs, newspapers, deeds and film and sound recordings relating to many aspects of the history of Pembrokeshire.  It holds the records of its parent authority and its predecessor authorities, local and family businesses, local societies, churches and chapels, landed estates and schools.

 

Opening times

Monday - Thursday 9am - 4.45pm (10am - 4.45pm on first Monday of the month)
Friday 9am - 4.15pm
First Saturday in the month (except Bank Holiday weekends) 9.30am - 12.30pm

Last documents are issued 15 minutes prior to closing time.

 

Accessibility

There are designated parking spaces for disabled visitors to the office and the main search room is wheelchair accessible.  A portable induction loop is available.  Magnifying glasses may be borrowed from the enquiry desk and there is a disabled toilet located off the main entrance foyer to the search room.  Information leaflets are available in both standard and large print formats.

 

Facilities

Food: Haverfordwest is well served by local cafés and restaurants, many of which are within walking distance.
Toilets: Public toilets are available including a disabled access toilet.
Shop: The Record Office sells a limited number of local and family history books sourced from local authors as well as in-house publications on tracing family and local history.

 

Appointments

There is no requirement to make an appointment prior to your visit, but the search room on occasions gets very busy.  You may book a microfilm/fiche reader in advance to avoid disappointment.

 

Readers' tickets

Currently no reader's ticket is required.  However, you are expected to sign the register book on each visit and agree to abide by the search room rules.

 

Lockers

Lockers are provided within sight of the main search room.  No coins are required.

 

Copying and use of cameras

The office has in place a copying policy but staff can provide photocopies within copyright guidelines and providing this does not damage the document.  Cameras may also be used to photograph documents within the same guidelines.  Fees apply for some of these services.

 

Use of laptops

Personal laptops are permitted in the search room.  It is preferred that these are run on batteries since power supply sockets are limited.

 

Research service

A research service is available for those unable to visit the office.  The charge is £15 per hour (£7.50 for half-hour short searches).  Requests for research should be made in writing (either letter or e-mail) and should include an initial hour's search fee.  Cheques should be made payable to "Pembrokeshire County Council".

 

Children and young people

There is no lower age limit for use of the facilities.