St.Helens History homepage

Panorama of Victoria Square, St Helens

St Helens Local History and Archives Library
Central Library, Gamble Institute, Victoria Square, St. Helens. Merseyside WA10 1DY
Tel: 01744 456952
Fax: 01744 20836
Email: localhistory&archivesservices@sthelens.gov.uk

Victoria Square is a large public space situated at one side of the main shopping area of St Helens.It accommodates the Onslow Ford bronze of Queen Victoria,the town’s war memorial and is a pleasant environment in which to sit.The buildings overlooking the square are all of Victorian construction and consist of the business premises of several professions,the Town Hall and the Central Library.Within the Central Library,the Local History & Archives section is placed on the first floor and provides  203 sq. metres of Search Room space.

Holdings
The Local History and Archives Library holds the historic records of:
- St. Helens Borough Council and some of its old constituent authorities e.g. the Urban Districts of Billinge and
  Winstanley, Haydock, Newton-le Willows and Rainford.
- several local business archives,
- family estate papers
- local history collections of books, pamphlets, local newspapers, maps and photographs.
- there are also extensive genealogical records of a local,national and international nature.

Search Room facilities consist of:
- 34 seating spaces
- 4 large tables for the consultation of records
- 4x 35mm. microfilm readers,2 x 16mm. microfilm readers,4x microfiche readers
- 4 public computers
- photocopying,digital scanning and microform copying are also available.

Accessibility
- All microform readers are button operated.
- Chairs of varying height are available for those using bi / varifocal reading glasses.
- Magnifying lens are available on request
- The Search Room can be accessed from street level by most wheelchairs including those of the larger motorised type.
- Three different types of computer mouse are available to assist those with arm/hand problems.

Conservation & preservation
To assist the library in the long term preservation of the records ,book rests,map weights, pencils,researcher gloves etc are available.We would also ask members of the public to ask for staff guidance in the event of discovering a fragile book or document in need of conservation.

Appointments
Although most of the general local history stock in the Search Room may be consulted without an appointment it is advisable to book before visiting the library, as microform readers and computers are  often in great demand.
Archives and records from collections stored elsewhere in the building, may either be consulted the same day or within 48 hours depending on the type of material requested.

Data Protection Act 1998 etc
We reserve the right to refuse access to certain files where this might contravene Data Protection or be injurious to the fabric of the record. For further guidance please consult a member of staff.

View of the Local History and Archives Library Search Room showing staff working with schools