Enquiries & Research

Research services

You are welcome to visit the Record Office and to use the documents, catalogues and indexes free of charge.
However, you may wish to make preliminary enquiries in advance to find out whether a personal visit is worthwhile; or you may not be able to come to the Record Office to look at the records yourself.
In both cases, our research services can help you.
The research services we offer are:
        * Information service
        * Record searching service

Information service

We will provide the following information free of charge:
        * about the records and other sources we hold and how they can be used for research
        * where to look for records not held at Berkshire Record Office.

Simple enquiries can often be answered by telephone, but where time is required to check sources we would prefer you to write to us or email us at the addresses at the front of this leaflet. A stamped addressed envelope is appreciated with written enquiries.

Record searching service

We can make detailed searches of our catalogues and indexes, and undertake specific searches in the records themselves, on receipt of the appropriate fee.
Normally the Record Office does not undertake searches of more than one hour at one time. This allows the Record Office to maintain a reasonable turnover of searches and permits the client to control the progress and cost of research.
Please note that this service applies only to material held in Berkshire Record Office. For searches in records held elsewhere, and for complex searches in records held at Berkshire Record Office, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) can provide a list of professional record agents. The list costs £2.50 for inland enquirers or 6 International Reply Coupons from abroad and can be obtained from AGRA's secretaries, Mr and Mrs D. Young, 29 Badgers Close, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 5RU; or you can access the list freely at www.agra.org.uk.

Commissioning a search

In order that we may use effectively the time you are paying for, please make your requirements as specific as possible. We recommend that you state exactly what information you are seeking, and give us any relevant details you have already.
Please do not send any money in the first instance. Instead, please write to us or email us, stating exactly what information you are seeking, and giving us briefly any relevant details you have already. This will enable us to assess:
        * whether we have the resources to help you
        * how long the enquiry might take
        * how much it would cost.

We will then report back to you.

If you then wish to proceed, please send payment:
        * in advance
        * by cheque made payable to Reading Borough Council
        * for overseas customers, by international money order or cheque in sterling only and drawn on a bank with a UK branch.

FEES: £15.00 per hour (minimum charge £7.50)

General

Searches will be carried out either until the time paid for has been used, or until the information requested has been found.
Only the most specific of searches (e.g. one entry in a parish register) can be completed in 30 minutes.