The North Devon Record Office is located on the top floor of the North Devon Library building in Tuly Street, Barnstaple, and shares this accommodation with the North Devon Local Studies Library and the Athaneum.

Opening Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Wednesday: 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

The second and fourth Saturdays of each month: 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

(Please note that this rule may not always apply, so please contact us first to check that we are actually open on a particular Saturday.)

Documents required on a Saturday and between 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. on weekdays should be ordered in advance.

Revised dates for window replacement programme. Dates for the replacement of the windows in the North Devon Local Studies Centre, originally scheduled for June, have now been confirmed.  We shall be closed from Wednesday 9 July to Thursday 17 July inclusive, with restrictions on original documents from Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July.  We apologize for any inconvience caused by the work or the delay.

**No original documents will be produced during the stocktaking period (Monday, 4 February to Friday, 15 February 2008 inclusive), although the North Devon Local Studies Centre will remain open as normal between Monday 5 and Saturday 10 Feburary.

Please avoid disappointment by ringing before you plan a visit.

The North Devon Record Office will be closed on the following days in 2008

How To Get Here

If you are driving to Barnstaple, the main approach roads are the A361, which connects with the M5 outside Tiverton; the A377 from Exeter; and the A39 from Bideford.

There is a limited train service from Exeter to Barnstaple (trains run either hourly or once every two hours), a regular coach service from Westward Ho! and Ilfracombe to London via Barnstaple and a number of bus routes connecting locations throughout North Devon and further afield.

• For further information on train times and fares, phone: (08457) 484950.
• For bus timetable enquiries, phone: (0870) 608 2 608.
• For National Express coach information, phone: (08705) 808080.

Searchroom Charges

There is no longer any charge for using the Devon Record Office search-room.

Using the Searchroom

For anyone wishing to use our search-room to research original records, we require proof of ID giving name and current address.

All documents should be handled with care, pencils being used to make notes and all volumes rested on the cushions provided. Full sets of our search-room rules are available to consult on the main search-room table.

Also available on the main search-room table are guides for locating and ordering documents. We have also produced a leaflet showing how to use our lists, indexes and other finding aids.

Powerpoints are available for the use of personal computers, provided that any noise from the computers is kept to a minimum.

An ultraviolet lamp is available for reading badly faded ink.

Staff are always pleased to give advice on handling, reading or understanding documents, using lists and indexes, etc..

Please note that the Record Office search-room is a secure area and is monitored at all times.