Somerset Local Studies
The Somerset Local Studies Library was created in 1973 from the local history, genealogical, archaeological and topographical holdings of the Somerset Library Service. Until 1996 the collection was held at Taunton Castle and in 2010 it moved to the Somerset Heritage Centre. The collection includes more than 20,000 published works relating to the history, people and places of Somerset, including books, newspapers, pamphlets, photographs and ephemera.
Books
The Somerset Studies Library holds published works relating to all aspects of Somerset life. The books are arranged on the open searchroom shelves in numerical order by subject. There are also a large number of books relating to specific places, and these are organised alphabetically by place name. As well as the books on the open searchroom shelves, there is a substantial collection of older books held in the strongrooms.
The searchroom library shelves are self-service and books may be freely used by researchers during their visit. The collection is for reference use and may not be borrowed. Please see Accessing the Library below for more information.
Newspapers
Almost all of Somerset's weekly newspapers are held on microfilm at the Somerset Heritage Centre, dating from the earliest, the Western Gazette, beginning in 1737. Most of those published before 1974 are available on a self-service basis in the searchroom and can be viewed and printed out using a reader-printer. Newspapers published after 1974 are held in the strongrooms and can be requested, Newspaper reader-printers are very popular, so booking a visit in advance is strongly advised. Please ask a member of staff about making an appointment.
See our Newspapers leaflet for more information.
Parish Information Packs
These packs include a copy of the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of the area, transcriptions from the Domesday Book, Hearth Tax and Protestation Returns, and population figures. Each entry from trade directories relating to a single place have been copied and collected together in date order, making a survey of a town or hamlet much easier. There is no parish pack for Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater or Weston super Mare, but there are place-specific trade directories for each of these towns available.
The parish packs are available in the searchroom. They can be found in blue folders on the library shelves at the end of the oversize section, and are organised alphabetically by place.
Quick Reference
The open searchroom shelves include a Quick Reference section, with the following resources:
Clerical Directories - These list the education and positions held by Anglican clergy. Directories are available for dates ranging from 1847 to date, with the directories from 1951 onwards being held in the strongrooms.
County and Town Trade Directories - These list the cities, towns, villages and hamlets of the county with a brief description of the area, including noble families, agriculture, charities and churches. County directories are available from 1822 to 1935.
Wills Indexes - These can help to trace both an individual, and help identify spouses, siblings and children. Indexes are available for the Estate Duty wills, probate of the Taunton Archdeaconry and the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
How-to Guides - Researching family and local history will always bring to light problems that cannot be solved easily. These guides and almanacs deal with specific issues, including how to read a different types of record, how to research a particular type of ancestor, or how to use specific types of resources.
Photographs
A collection of approximately 40,000 photographs relating to Somerset themes and compiled from a variety of sources is available for browsing in the searchroom. These include photographs taken by amateur and professional photographers and council departments and include illustrations for books. They are available on filing cards with contact prints and are organised alphabetically by place. They include the name of the photographer, details of the photograph and the date it was taken. Copies of these photographs are available through the Research Service. Please see our Charges page for details.
Periodicals
The following periodicals are available on open access in the searchroom:
- Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (SANHS)
- Somerset Record Society Publications
- Somerset & Dorset Notes and Queries
- Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society (SIAS)
- Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society (BIAS)
There are also a large number of periodicals available which can be ordered from the strongrooms, including parish magazines, community magazines, local authority publications, directories and almanacs, leisure and tourism publications, school prospectuses and academic serials. Please ask staff for a full list.
Somersettings Collection
The Local Studies Library also holds Somersettings, the county's collection of literature and poetry inspired by Somerset. The works include novels, short stories, poetry and prose written about or inspired by Somerset, or by authors with a close affinity to the county. Books from the Somersettings Collection can be requested from the strongrooms and can be read in the searchroom, but are for reference only and may not be borrowed.
Library of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (SANHS)
The Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society was formed in 1849 to promote the study of archaeology, historic buildings, natural history and local history with particular reference to the county of Somerset.
The South West Heritage Trust manages the SANHS Library collection of books, illustrations, periodicals and photographs, on behalf of the Society. This remarkable collection can be accessed at the Somerset Heritage Centre, and the catalogue is available through the online Local Studies Catalogue.
For more information about SANHS and the library collection please see our leaflet or visit their website at sanhs.org.
Accessing the Library
In Person
The main collections of the Somerset Studies Library are on open access shelves in the searchroom at the Somerset Heritage Centre. The items which are held in the strongrooms may be ordered either in advance or on the day. There are no access restrictions to items in the library. Please see our Planning a Visit page for more information.
Remote Enquiries
We may be able to answer an enquiry by telephone, letter or email, although longer enquires should be directed to the Research Service.
Through Your Somerset Public Library
In certain cases a library item may be transferred temporarily to a Somerset public library for a visitor to use if it is impractical for you to visit the Somerset Heritage Centre in person. This will be dependent on the age and condition of the item, and on the condition that it remain in the branch library while being used. Please ask a member of staff for more information.
More Information
For more information, see our Somerset Local Studies Library leaflet, search the online catalogue for the Somerset Studies Library, or visit the Somerset Archives and Local Studies homepage to find out more about how you can access our services.
