Donate historical records

If you have records about the people or places of Essex, we can store and care for them in our specialist facilities.

Donated historical records are vital for the success of the Essex Record Office. We're always interested in items that tell the story of Essex's past.

What you can donate

  • volumes, papers, parchments, maps, printed material, photographs, sound recordings and videos
  • analogue and digital records
  • records from schools, courts, hospitals, local authorities, parish councils and other public bodies
  • records from parishes as the Church of England's Diocesan Record Office for Chelmsford
  • records from businesses, firms of solicitors, faith groups including nonconformist churches, local charities and societies, families and private individuals.

How to donate historical records

Please get in touch to discuss items you are interested in donating. It is helpful if you can list the items using the template provided.

Email: ero.enquiry@essex.gov.uk

Tel: 033301 32497

If you are bringing documents to the Essex Record Office, appointments with an archivist can be made on weekdays between 9am and 12noon or between 2pm and 5pm. It is helpful to have a few days' notice when making appointments.

If you are giving a document, you may want to make a donation to support its conservation and storage.