Local Studies Collection
The Local Studies Collection is based at the Old Town Hall, Richmond and provides access to material relating to the history of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It contains the collections previously held by the former boroughs of Barnes, Richmond and Twickenham.
Temporary closures
Regrettably a staff shortage means that the Local Studies Library will be closed on the following dates:
Friday 10 May Morning only
Saturday 18 May all day
Friday 31 May all day
Friday 7 June all day
Saturday 8 June all day
Every Thursday until further notice
Online Catalogue
With our new online catalogue you can search thousands of records from the archives of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, covering Barnes, East Sheen, Ham, Hampton, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick, Kew, Mortlake, Petersham, Richmond, Teddington, Twickenham and Whitton.
Cataloguing work is ongoing, and we are regularly updating the database. If you cannot find what you are looking for you can contact us.
The catalogue includes a large collection of building plans which have been catalogued and scanned with funding provided by HLF.
Online Resources
The Local Studies team publishes some of its local history notes about people and places in the borough online. There is also a set of illustrated timelines.
Amongst our online reference services, Richmond Libraries also has a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition, the leading family history website. Please note that this can only be used on library premises.
Education resources
From our Local Studies Collection, take a walk down Hill Street, a study of Victorian Richmond upon Thames.
History in action
We are a partner in the ThamesPilot project, which provides historic material from the archives and museums along the River Thames.
Online burial search
The Cemetery Office has an online search facility for its cemeteries' burial records. More information is on the genealogy and family history page.
Contact the Local Studies team
Local Studies
Old Town Hall
Whittaker Ave
Richmond, TW9 1TP
Telephone: 020 8734 3309
Email: localstudies@richmond.gov.uk