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Family and local history

Red Rose Collections

Red Rose Collections is an online image archive. It has more than thirty thousand historic photographs from Lancashire Libraries. It also includes indexes to resources held at Lancashire Archives and in libraries, such as:

  • old local newspapers

  • local history books

  • Preston Guild Rolls

  • the Lancashire Police index

Lancashire Archives on Ancestry

View parish records, including Church of England baptisms, marriages and burials from Lancashire parishes.

Available at Lancashire Archives and libraries only.

Please note:

  • you can search Ancestry records on library and archives computers

  • some features, like Family Trees, are not available

  • personal Ancestry logins may not work on library or archives computers or Wi‑Fi

British Newspaper Archive

This gives you access to British Library newspapers from the early 1600s to the late 1900s. Many titles are small regional newspapers.

To use the British Newspaper Archive:

  • register on a library or archives computer, or on your own device using LancsPublic Wi‑Fi

  • create a username and password the first time

  • log in every time you use it

Available at Lancashire Archives and libraries only. At home, you can search and see results, but you cannot view or print articles.

Ancestry Institution

Ancestry Institution includes census records, birth, marriage and death indexes, military records, and public records from the UK.

Available at Lancashire Archives and libraries only.

Please note:

  • you can search Ancestry records on library and archives computers

  • some features are not available

  • personal Ancestry logins may not work on library or archives computers or Wi‑Fi

Find My Past

Find My Past includes:

  • the 1921 Census for England and Wales

  • records from England and Scotland dating back to 1200

  • census records, parish registers, occupational records, travel and migration records

Available at Lancashire Archives and libraries only. Personal logins may not work on library or archives computers or Wi‑Fi.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography includes stories about people who shaped Britain’s past, from ancient history to today. You can search by place to find people linked to your area. It also includes a special page called Lancashire Lives.

Who’s who and who was who

Who’s Who lists people who influence British life today. It has been published every year since 1849. Who Was Who lists people who influenced British life in the past.

  • Who’s Who has over 30,000 entries

  • Who Was Who has over 90,000 entries

British Library Newspapers

British Library newspapers 1730 - 1950 includes newspapers such as:

  • Burnley Express

  • Lancaster Gazette

  • Preston Chronicle

The British Library collection of national, regional and local newspapers from the 1700s to the 1900s.

Lancashire Archives collections

Lancashire Archives collections show the history of Lancashire and the people who have lived here for the last 900 years.

Mario interactive maps

Mario Maps is an online map service for Lancashire. You can zoom in to any location and see a wide range of information.

This includes:

  • historic maps

  • historic photographs

  • administrative boundaries

  • local census and social statistics

  • local services, schools, transport and council facilities

You can find guides and videos to help you use Mario Maps.

Recommended websites

Our Good Web Guide lists useful websites to help you research your family history. These sites offer advice, information and access to online historical records.