Collections
Collections include the archives of the Cathedral (dating back to the 8th century), the records of the Diocese of Canterbury, records of individual parishes in the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, records of Canterbury City Council and its predecessor bodies, and archives of other organisations, businesses, administrations and individuals in the Canterbury area. As there are several repositories and two dioceses in Kent, please contact us if you wish to clarify where records are held, or consult the Archives Service Collecting Policy.
Please note that the archives of the Archbishops of Canterbury are held at Lambeth Palace Library.
| Make a selection from the list below: |
| Sources for the history of Whitstable (PDF 64Kb) |
Sources for researching World War II (PDF 71Kb) |
| Family history guide (PDF 2,334Kb) |
| House history Guide (PDF 79Kb) |
| Sources for Family History |
| Sources for Local History |
| Dean and Chapter of Canterbury |
| Local Government |
| Canterbury Diocese |
| Parishes in Canterbury Archdeaconry |
| Nonconformist Churches |
| Charities and Hospitals |
| Trade and Industry |
| Schools and Education |
| Artefacts |
| Family and Estate Records |
Sources for Family History
The Archives Service has provided a guide to family history research (PDF 2.3Mb) , which includes links to useful websites. The Cathedral Archives offers a paid research service.
Sources at the Cathedral Archives for family history research include:
- Church of England parish registers (and other parish records including pre-1834 poor law material) in the archdeaconry of Canterbury for the 16th-21st centuries
- Bishops' Transcripts of registers from parishes in the diocese of Canterbury for the 16th-20th centuries
- Marriage licence records for the diocese of Canterbury, 17th-19th centuries
- Printed and microfiche indexes
- Parish register transcripts for several parishes
- Microfilm and microfiche of census records, 1841-1901
As part of Kent Libraries and Archives, we can also offer onsite free access to Ancestry.com and a range of other online resources.
As a general guide, family history sources for east Kent can be found at Canterbury Cathedral Archives and for the rest of Kent (excluding Medway) at the Centre for Kentish Studies. Records for the Medway area are at Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre. Family history records for those London boroughs that were formerly part of Kent can be found at Bexley, Bromley or London Metropolitan Archives.
See the Here's History website for some useful guidance on parish records in Kent.
Sources for Local History
Sources for tracing the history of a property include:
- Maps and plans of Canterbury and other local areas, 1580-1980, especially OS 25", 1873
- 19th century railway schemes
- Tithe maps with their awards, c. 1836-1860
- Canterbury City Council and Dean and Chapter lease books and title deeds, 12th-20th centuries
- Church faculties and terriers, 17th-20th centuries
- Family and estate collections
For local history, see also the Here's History website.
Dean and Chapter of Canterbury
The Cathedral's archive dates from the 8th century and is particularly rich in charters, accounts and court material from the Middle Ages. The archive is still being added to today. It includes:
- Records of the Cathedral's estates in south-east England, London, East Anglia and beyond
- Records relating to the Cathedral and precincts buildings, and the Cathedral's properties in Canterbury
- Records relating to the monks, clergy and lay personnel of the Cathedral
- Records relating to the running of the province of Canterbury when there was no archbishop (sede vacante)
- Surviving manuscripts and service books from the medieval Cathedral
Local Government
The Cathedral Archives is the record office for Canterbury City Council. The City Council's website gives information on the Council's publication scheme and Freedom of Information.
NB. Access to some of these records requires 24 hours notice.
- City of Canterbury, 1155-date
- Fordwich borough and town council records, 1259-1968
- Bridge, Blean and Bridge-Blean Rural District Councils, 1933-1974
- Herne Bay Urban District Council, 1877-1974
- Whitstable Urban District Council, 1856-1974
- Parish council records in the Canterbury District, 1894-date
Canterbury Diocese
These records cover the administration of the Diocese, There are also records of the administration of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, which covered largely the same area until 1841, when the additional Archdeaconry of Maidstone was created.
The records include:
- Bishops' and Archdeacons' Transcripts of parish registers, 1558-1970. They include those parishes in the archdeaconry of Croydon, 1847-1970.
- Tithe maps and awards, 1836-1860
- Faculties for titleerations to church fabric, 18th century-date
Parishes in Canterbury Archdeaconry
The Cathedral Archives holds records for all parishes currently in the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, except for those for Ash next Sandwich, which are retained in the church.
Records for parishes in the Archdeaconry of Maidstone are held at the Centre for Kentish Studies. Microfilm copies and transcripts of some of these records are also held. For full details, see the Handlist of Parish Registers and Transcripts available for sale at the Archives.
The parish records include registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns, confirmations and services, sometimes dating back to 1538. For conservation reasons, these are usually consulted on microfilm. Other records include churchwardens' accounts, which occasionally predate 1538, records of the overseers of the poor including settlement records, records of the parish highway surveyors and constables, parish copies of tithe maps, liturgical books and parish magazines.
Nonconformist Churches
Canterbury Congregational Church, 1645-1960. Canterbury Methodist Church (including its site), 1492-1860. Wingham and Ash Congregational Churches, 1817-1988. Canterbury French Church, 1576-1836.
Charities and Hospitals
Maynard and Cotton's Hospital, 1599-1891. Nixon's charity, 1733-1846. Strensham's charity, 1584-1846. Ann Smith's charity, 1779-1930. St John's Hospital, 1358-1962. Eastbridge Hospital, 1150-1968. Jesus Hospital, 1559-1971. Faversham United Municipal Charities, 1572-1993.
Trade and Industry
Woollen Drapers and Tailors Company, 1529-1995. Maylam and Maylam, solicitors, 1665-1918. Holman Brothers, engineers, 1855-1969. Post Office Engineering Union, 1928-1938. Kingsford and Wightwick, solicitors, 1611-1934. Ash family brewery, 1857-1910. Sidney Terry, electrical engineer, 1913-1960.
Schools and Education
Church schools in the archdeaconry of Canterbury. Canterbury Cathedral Choir School, 1920-1970. Canterbury Diocesan Board of Education, 1838-1920. St Augustine's Missionary College, 1848-1980. Broad Street Schools, Canterbury, 1811-1932.
Artefacts
These include the collection of artefacts built up by Canon John Bargrave c1645-1660 and still housed in the original cabinets, and the vestments of Archbishop Hubert Wtitleer, who died in 1205.
Family and Estate Records
Bridges family of Goodnestone Park, 1755-1886. Hales family, 1272-1876. Oxenden family of Barham, 1440-1867.