North Devon Record Office

Visiting Us

Front View North Devon Library and Local Studies Centre

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.
(last Friday of every month: 10.00 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.

Please avoid disappointment by ringing before you plan a visit.

**No original documents will be produced during the stocktaking period (Monday, 2 February to Friday, 13 February 2009 inclusive), but we will still be open for other sources and it would be advisable to check with staff before visiting.

The North Devon Record Office will be closed on the following days in 2009

Stocktaking**2 - 13 February inclusive
Easter10 & 13 April
May Bank Holidays4 & 25 May
Late Summer Bank Holiday31 August
Christmas & New Year25 December 2009 - 1 January 2010 inclusive

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.