Totnes Archive is situated immediately behind the Museum, and is accessed via a cobbled alleyway down the left hand side of the main building.

We welcome visitors, and are happy to assist newcomers to family and local history. 

Available Materials

One of our most popular acquisitions are editions of the local newspaper, the Totnes Times. With publications dating from 1860 to the present day. Be prepared to be enthralled with tales of Totnes' scandals, murders and mayhem.

House history is another popular area of research. The archive holds deeds and early rentals to a wide range of old properties. With access to the censuses of 1841-1911, in addition to local directories from 1830, it is often possible to trace the people who lived in a particular property over the years.

Family Research

If you conducting your own 'Who do you think you are' the Totnes Archives are a great place to start! And our archives are more than willing to help.

For Devon family historians we have parish registers on microfiche for much of the South Hams and the eastern side of Dartmoor and also files of family information.

Help can be provided to research in other parts of the country. There is nothing we like better than the challenge of finding your elusive ancestors and solving your puzzles.

In more detail you can find information relating to; Index to Coroners’ Inquests in Totnes Times 1860 onwards, Deeds, Wills and Totnes Land Tax transcriptions as well as a host of research on the First World War relating to Totnes and local area. We also have handwritten records of WWII killed and wounded in Devon, which gives age, address, and the date of event. Added to that we have a CD of the transcript of Broadhempston parish registers 1678-1900, & we are currently compiling the Bastardy records for Totnes and surroundings, 1780-1903, from various sources. 

Opening Times:
 
Currently closed in response to Coronavirus outbreak
Research service still available upon equiry

Pricing:

Use of resources:
£1.25 an hour

Research service:
£7.50 an hour.

Membership to the Friends of Totnes Museum (£10 per annum) includes free use of the Study Centre