Our exciting project to restore the East Wing and provide a new exhibition gallery will start from early May 2024 until 2025. Areas of the building will not be open to the public during the works. Find out more on our Project Update page and check out What’s On.
Visiting the Archive
Haringey Archive and Local History
Haringey Archive Service is based at Bruce Castle Museum and Archive. Holding the London Borough of Haringey’s archive, special collections and local history library, these are available for the public to access by appointment in the Museum’s Search Room.
We welcome anyone wishing to learn more about the past of the local area. If you are intrigued by the history of a street, building or neighbourhood, or wanting to investigate records of a shop or business, or interested in stories about communities or members of your family - there’s so much to explore.
Visiting the Archive Search Room
Important Notice - Summer Closure of the Archive Search Room
As part of Bruce Castle’s MEND major building project there will be around 5 weeks’ worth of works to improve the Search Room space. There will be no public access for research from Monday 23 July until early September. This will now accommodate a decant of the Search Room from Monday 23 July for a few days. Please bear with us during this time.
From 23 July staff will have limited access to the museum, archive and local history collections. We will only be able to offer a restricted email public enquiry service. In some cases we may not be able to answer particular enquiries until the works are completed.
We do appreciate that people will be wanting to conduct research during the summer and apologise for this inconvenience. These are essential works which are part of the wider Bruce Castle MEND works and we will enjoy welcoming you back to our newly refurbished research space when we reopen. We will keep you updated on when we will be reopening via our social media platforms and website.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Search Room Opening Hours
Please note our closure period, as highlighted above.
Booking is essential.
We are here to help you get the most out of your visit and can advise on sources for your research. To discuss your visit and make an appointment please:
- email: museum.services@haringey.gov.uk
- telephone: 020 8489 4250 (option 2)
Wednesday to Friday: 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4pm
Every second Saturday of the month: 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4pm
Please remember to book your appointment.
To give you an idea of what you can expect before, during and after your visit, please read our guidance document: What to expect when visiting the Search Room (PDF, 101KB).
Remote enquiry service
If you are not able to visit in person, we can offer a limited remote enquiry service. Please email your enquiry for further advice: museum.services@haringey.gov.uk
The Archive and Local History Collections
Materials available in the collection include:
- Official records of Haringey Council and its predecessor authorities - Tottenham, Wood Green and Hornsey
- Parish records (except Parish Registers)
- Electoral registers dating from 1890 onwards
- Historical Parish and Ordnance Survey maps
- Photographs, postcards and prints illustrating Haringey’s past
- School records (Admission Registers and Log Books) for many local schools
- Records of local organisations, businesses and societies
- Special collections of material, including those relating to Alexandra Palace and the Prince of Wales Hospital
- Reference books on the history of the area
- Pamphlets and periodicals produced by local organisations
- Local street directories
- Local Newspapers
Selected lists of our archive collections are available on Discovery: The National Archives.
To find out more about other items held by the museum, please visit our Museum Collections page.
For information about births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships in Haringey visit the Certificates and Corrections page.