Collection Policy
The Record Office is the approved local repository of The National Archives so holds official records relating to the County Durham area, potentially covering the pre-1974 county area plus those parts of the North Riding of Yorkshire incorporated into the 1974 county. Modern archives relevant to Sunderland, South Tyneside (South Shields and Jarrow) and Gateshead are held by the Tyne and Wear Archives, and archives relevant to Hartlepool and Stockton are held by the Teesside Archives.
Access Policy
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.
Local Authority Records
Durham County Council, 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
Quarter Sessions inc. indictment rolls, order books, deposited plans, enclosure awards
Durham Prison
Petty Sessions and Magistrates Courts (but not records of divorces, Crown Court, Durham Assizes or wills/probate)
County Coroner - inquests
Inland Revenue 1910 land valuation
Motor Taxation
Local Authority Schools and Colleges (but not records of Durham University, except for the College of St Hild and St Bede)
Poor Law Unions, including surviving workhouse records
Winterton Hospital (the County Asylum) and some other local hospitals
National Coal Board (NCB) 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 (but not diocesan records which are held by Durham University Library)
Also records of many non-conformist churches including Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Society of Friends and United Reform Church
Other Deposited Records
Durham Miners' Association, 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 (Wynyard Hall, Seaham Harbour), Brancepeth Castle and Estate, Strathmore Estate (Streatlam and Gibside, the Bowes family), Salvin of Croxdale Hall, Adamson of Gainford, Edleston of Gainford, Eldon Estate, Sherburn Hospital and Greatham Hospital. (NB Much of County Durham was historically owned by the Bishops of Durham and by Durham Cathedral: some manorial records are held by Durham University Library) (Archives of the Earls of Durham are at Lambton Castle, and those of Lord Barnard are at Raby Castle).
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
