Somerset Archives and Local Studies

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Somerset Archives and Local Studies

Provides access to the Somerset Archives and Local Studies Library For more information visit: https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/

Provides access to the Somerset Archives and Local Studies Library and the Historic Environment Record. It is part of The South West Heritage Trust, an independent charity committed to protecting and celebrating Somerset and Devon’s rich heritage.

03/09/2026

As part of our Heritage Open Day offerings on Friday 11 September (10.30am-12.30pm), we’ll be running a series of Lightning Talks on a range of topics, to fit in with HOD’s ‘Ordinary Histories’ theme. You can expect 5 minute musings on:

• Land tax records and our volunteer project to digitise and index them all

• Helpful online resources for your research, and how you can access them

• Visiting the Somerset Heritage Centre, a quick introduction

• Kingsbury Stores in Taunton, a shop front case study

• Henry and Anne Leigh, a look at a couple and their love letters in the early 19th cent

• Mary Hippisley, a family story through our collections

• What can Somerset Archives & Local Studies do for YOU?

We’ve never run lightning talks before, so how they run on the day will depend on how many of you lovely people come along! But they may well run on a loop, so if you miss one the first time you can loiter until it comes round again. Aaaaaand we’ll encourage you to grab a cup of tea and a biscuit (in exchange for a donation to SA&LS) to sip and munch while you listen.

We can’t wait to see lots of you there!

02/09/2026

Join us for our Heritage Open Day and celebrate the Everyday Histories of Somerset – the ordinary people whose daily lives have left behind extraordinary stories.

01/09/2026

On Friday 11 September we’re celebrating ‘Ordinary Histories’ with Heritage Open Day!

We are heritage. We are open. And it’ll be during the day! Tick! Aaaaand we’ll be telling some of our favourite stories from our collections.

We’ll have a tabletop exhibition, lightning talks about us, our collections, and what we do, and also be running tours of the archive strongrooms so you can see the behind-the-scenes bits normally off-limits to the public.

This free, drop-in event is running from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Somerset Heritage Centre, and we would LOVE to see you there.

Details can be found on our website, https://swheritage.org.uk/events/heritage-open-days-everyday-histories-of-somerset/, or on the Heritage Open Days local listings page.

The featured photo is taken from collection A/CHP!

27/08/2026

If you fancy learning some tips and tricks to help you read and interpret old handwriting in original archival documents we may have just the thing for you...

25/08/2026

If you fancy escaping the everyday hustle and bustle for a short while in a relaxed quiet space with a good book and a cuppa, why not join our at the Somerset Heritage Centre this Friday (28 August), 11am-1pm?

Further details, including how to find us, can be found here: https://swheritage.org.uk/events/silent-book-club/ 📚📖☕

18/08/2026

Board games can be great fun… if you can get your head around the rules! We found this one in the Luttrell Collection (ref. DD/L/3/1/2).

“Whoever throws the Number where any one else stands, then the first must give way to the last, and go back to the Place he came from” seems to be asking for trouble. Would you remember which square you were on two throws ago?

If you’re a games fan don’t forget the Explore The Play Experience at the Museum of Somerset https://swheritage.org.uk/events/explore-the-play-experience/

12/08/2026

Today is World Calligraphy Day! Here’s an image of a page from Bishop Stillington’s register dated 1465 (ref. D/D/breg/7). It features some fancy writing as well as this ornate letter 'S' ✒️

07/08/2026

For the last 7 years, our growing team of volunteers has been steadily transcribing Somerset's collection of Land Tax records. These are a fascinating but often overlooked archive listing the owners, occupiers and plots of land for every tithing and parish in the county between 1766-1832. They're a wonderful name-rich resource and can be useful for family, house and social history.

As of today, they have completed 25% of the county's returns, a staggering 167 tithings out of 671 in total! You can find PDF copies of the transcripts through the archive catalogue, index entries for the completed hundreds can be searched there too, and the high-res digitised images can be viewed on the screens in the searchroom.

We're so proud of our volunteers' achievement, and here's to the next 25%! 🎉

04/08/2026

How long does it take an archivist to tie up a bundle of parish magazines? You're about to find out...

30/07/2026

The Childhood and Fun Archives Pop-up is all ready to go at the Museum of Somerset, Taunton. It will only be there today (until mid afternoon). If you're in town feel free to drop by and say hello!

Address

Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren
Taunton
TA26SF

Website

http://www.swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives

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