Manchester Central Library holds a great number of records from local churches, census returns and other local resources.
If you are researching in the Manchester area it could be well worth a trip or a telephone call to the library to see if they have the records which you require.

The complete list of documents and records available is far to extensive to go into in any great detail here but I've listed a brief outline to give a general picture of what is available.
The Library also produce a number of leaflets outlining what is available.

Many records are available for viewing on microfilm/microfische and many more are stored in the library archives department.
Records from the archives can in most cases be viewed subject to 24 hours notice to enable them to be brought from the archives to the reading area. These will be (for example) the actual registers, not copies of, as deposited by the respective churches, etc.

Census Returns

The whole of the present day City of Manchester is available for all Censuses from 1841 to 1891 except for areas which are badly damaged or missing from the originals and have therefore not been filmed.

In addition to Manchester some census returns are held from other outlying areas in various years, including Salford, Stretford, Altrincham, Sale, Droylesden and Prestwich.

Indexes available for Manchester Census Returns

1841 to 1881 - Card index of streets
1841 to 1891 - Card index of areas
1891 - Typed index of streets, in five binders representing the five registration districts of Manchester.

Parish Registers - Indexed

Monumental Inscriptions and Cemetery Records

Rate Book Index 1801 1901

Trade Directories

Ancestry Interests File

Probate Records

A National Index of Wills 1858 - 1935 is available on microfilm.

Local Maps

Ordnance Survey and other maps of the Manchester Area

Printed Sources

Manchester electoral registers from 1839.
Directories for Manchester and Salford 1772 - 1969
Some early telephone directories.
An extensive range of local newspapers.

A large selection of books about the history of the area is also available for reference and lending.



If you require more details please contact the library.

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