New Highland Archive And Registration Centre

11th October 2009

The new Highland Archive and Registration Centre at Bught Road, Inverness, will open for business on Monday 26 October 2009.

The £10.5 million centre includes an archive conservation unit, a dedicated family history centre, a ceremony suite and modern office accommodation. In addition, specialist atmospheric and environmental controls have been installed to safeguard the storage of parchment, paper and records in other formats allowing the return of archives to the Highlands presently stored in Edinburgh.

The state of the art complex replaces the current archive service provided at Inverness Library, Farraline Park and the registration service at Moray House, Bank Street, Inverness. There is a regular bus service to the centre from the city centre. There is ample free parking.

To accommodate the transfer, the registration service at Moray House will close at lunch time on Thursday 22 October and reopen at Bught Road from 9 am on Monday 26 October.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the project a grant of £4,312,000 and the building was constructed by Morrison Construction, part of the Galliford Try group.

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park said: "This magnificent 21st Century facility is the key to providing a safe and fitting home for our very important archival heritage and I am delighted that it is being completed in the Year of Homecoming.

"Not only will we be able to provide a great facility for people searching their family history and Highland roots but with the moving of the Registration Service from Moray House we will be able to provide much better facilities for the public in greatly enhanced surroundings."

The Highland Council Archive Service based in Inverness, holds the records for the former county councils of Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness-shire and Nairnshire dating from 1890 and the eleven burghs within those counties, the earliest of which dates from 1455.


What Archives are Available?

Local authority archives

School and Education Records

Poor Relief Records

Valuation Rolls

Estate and Family Archives

Business and Solicitors Records

Records of Societies and Associations

Maps and Plans, including full set of 2nd edition Ordnance Survey sheets, c.1899-1905

Sasine Registers

Will registers

Harbour and Turnpike Trusts

Shipping Registers

Tartan Archive

Services available
The searchroom is open to all members of the public free of charge. Staff are always on hand to advise. An appointment is essential.

Postal, telephone and e-mail enquiries: Initial enquiries can usually be dealt with free of charge however, if more substantial research is required, charges may apply.

The Highland Council Genealogy Service, access to research material and the expertise of Genealogy staff is available for anyone wishing to carry out research. For genealogical enquiries see genealogy page.

Photocopies and copy prints up to AO size can be made, depending on copyright and the condition of the document. Where records cannot be photocopied, there is a photographic service available.

Photo
Councillor Bill Fernie chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee accepting the formal agreement with the National Archives of Scotland and the Church of Scotland to secure the transfer of historical documents from Highland Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions to Inverness.