Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service

 Dr George Herbert Fowler

The Bedfordshire Record Office, as it was formerly known, was established in 1913 by Dr George Herbert Fowler (left) and was the first County record office in England.  We hold the archives for the County dating from 1166 to the present day. Here is a Summary of Archive Holdings|  and answers to some Frequently asked Questions|.

In Autumn & Winter 2010 - 2011 we are running more of our popular courses| on Thursday mornings so come along and discover more about the archives!

The Archive Service has held the Charter Mark for excellence in the provision of services to its customers since 1993. 

A records management service| was established in 1989 to serve the internal record keeping needs of Bedfordshire County Council, and since April 2009 has served the three unitary councils. The service has become a national leader in detailed appraisal, listing and indexing of Council archives; these are a vital 20th Century source for areas such as education, social conditions, house histories, and local history through the planning process and the Fire Service. Records with such historical value are transferred to the archives for permanent preservation.

From 1st April 2009 the Archive Service is jointly funded by the three councils: Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough.

We are based in the Riverside Building |at Borough Hall, Bedford.