The archives are freely open to the public except for those records subject to statutory closures or data protection restrictions. Charges are made only for copies or for research services. Opening hours are found on the website.
Major Collections
All archive holdings are described in an online catalogue database and, more broadly, in the National Archives' Discovery database.
, including records related to Social Services, and Electoral Registers Predecessor District Councils, including Planning records Civil Parish Councils Darlington Borough Council Durham City Durham Constabulary
Other Official Public Records
inc. indictment rolls, order books, deposited plans, enclosure awards Durham Prison Petty Sessions and Magistrates Courts County Coroner - inquests Inland Revenue 1910 land valuation Motor Taxation Local Authority Schools and Colleges Poor Law Unions, including surviving workhouse records Winterton Hospital and some other local hospitals National Coal Board in County Durham, including records of predecessor coal owners and mining companies Charity Commission Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee new towns
Church Records
Ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Durham, including parish registers, minute books and tithe plans Also records of many non-conformist churches including Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Society of Friends and United Reform Church
Other Deposited Records
, and other Trade Unions Local businesses, including Consett Iron Company, Weardale Lead Mining Company, Harrison and Harrison Organs, Vaux Brewery, Castle Eden Brewery, and many others The Co-operative movement, local political parties Solicitors' practices Large estates in County Durham, such as: the Londonderry Estate, Brancepeth Castle and Estate, Strathmore Estate, Salvin of Croxdale Hall, Adamson of Gainford, Edleston of Gainford, Eldon Estate, Sherburn Hospital and Greatham Hospital. . Other families' records, including Pease, Backhouse, Mounsey and other Darlington Quaker families, Watson of Barnard Castle Antiquarian collections such as the Bowes Museum collection and the Greenwell Deeds A comprehensive collection of Ordnance Survey plans and other maps The Durham Light Infantry regimental archives Local newspapers Women's Institute branches, and other clubs and societies such as Durham Dramatic Society Sports clubs such as Bishop Auckland Football Club and Durham City Cricket Club
