Using the Record Office
Anyone interested in the records we hold is welcome to visit us
free of charge. Prior notification is not required unless you wish
to book a car parking space.
Many of our catalogues are now available on line and can be
searched before your visit via our Search
Online facility.
If you are unable to come in person, we can
make searches for information in response to postal,
phone or email enquiries.
Email: records.office@westsussex.gov.uk
Where such an enquiry has taken up to 30
minutes of staff time we will levy a short research fee of
£16.00. (Please note that, in line with current practice in
many other record offices, all enquiries requiring examination of
original documents by staff will attract a research fee).
For detailed research advice, family, house or local history
research please refer to our
Research Service.
Please note that fax or email enquiries will not take precedence
over postal enquiries, and will be dealt with in order of receipt.
Replies may be sent by post rather than email or fax, so please
include your postal address.
For information about talks and tours of the Record Office, please
see our
Speaker Service page.
People with disabilities
Access is available to all parts of the building open to the
public. There is one allocated parking space for disabled
drivers immediately behind the Record Office. This must be
booked in advance by phone (01243 753602) before visiting
the Record Office. Microfilm and fiche readers with large
magnification are available in the searchroom, as are large print
versions of the searchroom information leaflets. Portable
hearing induction loops are available in the reception area and in
the searchroom. All seating in the searchroom is adjustable in
height.
If there are any other ways we may be of assistance,
please contact us before your visit to discuss them.
Readers' tickets
The West Sussex Record Office is part of the County Archives
Research network (CARN) and anyone visiting the Record Office must
have a valid CARN ticket. If you do not already have a ticket you
can obtain one free of charge on your arrival. You will need
to bring with you documents containing your name, address and
signature, such as your driving licence. Tickets are valid for 4
years.
Entry to the Searchroom
Before entering the searchroom you will be asked to sign
the visitor's book and all bags, briefcases and mobile phones must
be be stored in a personal locker, situated in the Reception
Area on payment of a £1.00 returnable deposit. Transparent
bags for carrying papers and pencils into the Searchroom are
available from the Receptionist. Cameras are allowed in if booked
in advance.
The receptionist will activate the security lock on the access
door to let you in the Searchroom. Similarly, you will not be
allowed to leave the Searchroom before the staff have been able to
check that any documents which you have been using have been
returned. This helps to ensure the safety of the documents in our
care and their availability for public consultation.
Once in the searchroom, please use pencils only, and avoid
leaning on any documents to avoid damaging them.
Copies of documents
We can supply photocopies where copyright and the condition of
the item make this possible. Requests for prints from microfilm and
microfiche will normally be completed within a few working days,
but large orders may take longer. The cost of photocopies is 60p
per sheet, both for A4 and A3. Colour photocopies are now available
at £1.50 per sheet for A4 and £3.00 per sheet for A3 copies.
If requesting photocopies by post, a minimum charge of
£6.00 is levied for up to 5 black and white
photocopies or £8.00 for colour photocopies (3xA4 or
2xA3).
The basic charge for all microfilm orders is £30.00 per film and
an additional charge of 60p per frame.
Scanning of documents
We can also supply high quality scanned copies on plain
paper, subject to copyright and the condition of the
document. Scanned copies are available in either A4 or A3
format at a cost of £10.00 and £20.00 respectively. With the
acquisition of a new scanner we are now able to scan and print
documents on plain paper from A3 up to A1 size at a cost of
£40.00.
We can also supply scanned images only at the following
cost:
- Up to A4 - £6.00 per image
- A4 to A3 - £12.00 per image
- A3 to A0 - £25.00 per image
Please note that £2.50 is added to the charge if the image is
supplied on a CD.
- Additional copies are charged at half price
- Postage and Packing is £2.00 per order (UK only)
Please apply to a member of the searchroom staff for a Scanning
Order form. Requests for scans will be completed within 30
working days. Copies of the photographs shown on the Photographic
Database may be ordered by post. See the navigation at the top of
this page for an order form.
Publications
In our reception we have available for purchase a wide
range of local history material, including books, mini history
guides, videos, CDs, reproductions of photographs and documents.
These items can also be purchased online through the
WSCC eshop.
Computers
Portable computers, tape recorders, and so on, may be used
in the Record Office.
Photography
Arrangements can be made by prior appointment to bring in
your own digital camera. A fee of £10.00 is levied per day and
a photographic form must also be completed.
Car parking
Space for car parking is limited, so please book in advance
(preferably a week ahead) by phone (01243 753602) to reserve a
place. A parking charge of £3.00 is levied for either part or whole
of the morning or afternoon. The fee for the whole day is £6.00.
There is one allocated space for disabled drivers located
directly behind the Record Office. This must be booked prior to
visiting.
Refreshments
Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are available in the
visitors' tea room and a small selection of confectionary can be
purchased from reception. You are welcome to eat your own food
in the visitors' tea room or alternatively there are pubs and
restaurants nearby in the city centre.