Local studies at Carlisle Library

About the local studies at Carlisle Library

The modern local studies collection in Carlisle Library was built on the bequest of William Jackson. Items have been regularly added to the library ever since the original collection was catalogued in 1909. Carlisle Library aims to collect for reference at least one copy of each book and pamphlet whose subject relates to the Lake Counties. The Carlisle collection holds tens of thousands of items, some dating back to the 17th century.

The following types of materials may be found:

• County histories (compiled from the 18th century onwards)
• trade directories (late 18th century to the 1960s)
• government and local authority publications

Subjects covered are not confined to history but include natural history, planning, social and economic conditions, literature, biography, sport, and genealogy.

Births, Deaths and Marriages, England and Wales

St Catherine House Index, Births, Marriages and Deaths. 1837 to 2004 and overseas indexes on microfiche.

Census returns

1841 to 1901 Counties of Cumberland and Westmorland on microfiche.

1881 Census Index for England, Wales and Scotland on microfiche.

Ancestry and Find my Past - free access through the libraries computers to the 1841 to 1921 census for the whole of England and Wales and 1841 to 1901 for Scotland.

Directories

1780 to 1968 (Cumberland and Westmorland). Carlisle 1792 to 1968.

Telephone directories

Cumberland, Westmorland and North Lancashire (one directory) 1931 onwards.

Electoral registers and polls books

Electoral Registers - Carlisle City 1894 to date.  Carlisle District Council Area 1974 to date.

Poll Books - various 19th Century Poll Books for County of Cumberland. 1786, 1816, 1820, 1841 to 1842, 1865 to 1866, 1868, 1871 for Carlisle.

Electoral Registers on microfilm - 1841 to 1842, 1859 to 1871, 1894 to 1847.

International Genealogical Index (IGI)

Whole of British Isles 1992 edition on microfiche.

Unpublished indexes

Card index of local worthies and obituaries.

Photographs and illustrations

Over 50,000 historic illustrations of Cumbria can be viewed online by visiting the Cumbria Image Bank website.  The library also holds thousands of prints, photographs, engravings, postcards and portraits.

Parish registers

We have a selection of printed and indexed parish registers. There is also microfilm of parish registers for all Carlisle churches, Carlisle Cemetery, Upperby Cemetery and most of the parishes in north Cumberland.

Periodicals (excluding newspapers)

• Cumbria
• Cumbria Life
• Carlisle Living
• Cumbria Family History Society Newsletter (complete: 1976 to date)
• Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
• Railway Magazine
• Gentleman’s Magazine
• Cumbria Amenity Trust Newsletter
• Carlisle / Lakeland Naturalist

Ordnance Survey maps

Large selection of Ordnance Survey maps; different editions and scales back to the 1860s.

The first edition Ordnance Survey maps for Cumbria were published in the 1850s and 1860s at 6 and 25-inch scales with second and third editions issued up to the Second World War. The main local studies libraries hold maps for their areas. 

Modern maps at 1:10,000 (6 inch), 1:2,500 (25 inch) and 1:1,250 (50 inch) are also kept.

In addition, geological, land use and town centre maps are held. We also hold many early engraved maps of the county going back to the 16th century. We can also supply the most up to date, site centred, digital mapping from Ordnance Survey (for a charge) for anywhere in the country.

Carlisle Library newspapers on microfilm

Newspapers have been published in Cumbria since 1731, although the first significant local newspaper is the Cumberland Pacquet which did not appear until 1774. Cumbria's newspaper coverage is available on microfilm because of the fragility of the originals and they are:

• Cumberland Pacquet 1774 to 1915
• Carlisle Journal 1801 to 1968 
• Cumberland News 1910 to date
• Evening News 1910 to date
• Carlisle Patriot 1816 to 1910
• Wigton Advertiser 1857 to 1940
• Newcastle Courant 1711 to 1800
• East Cumberland News 1883 to 1909
• Carlisle Examiner/ Express and Examiner 1857 to 1913  
• English Lakes Visitor and Keswick Guardian 1877 to 1911
• Northwest Observer Wigton 1999 to 2002
• West Cumberland Times 1874 to 1918, 1920 to 1921, 1925 o 1926, 1939 to 1942
• North Cumberland Reformer 1890 to 1898

World War one and World War two indexes

You can find indexes for World War one and World War two on the Cumbria Archives website. 

The Cumbria in the Great War website has information and resources about World War one.