This section of our website contains information about what we do and the services we provide as the official archive service for County Durham and Darlington.
Durham County Record Office is the council archive service for County Durham and Darlington. It was established in 1961, and is located in County Hall, Durham City.
We collect and preserve records of:
- the present County Durham and Darlington
- the historic county of Durham (before 1974) between the Rivers Tyne and Tees.
Our archive collections span 900 years, from about 1122 to the present day, and occupy almost six miles (9 km) of shelving. The records are stored in strong rooms where they are protected from theft and fire, and where the temperature and humidity are controlled.
We make these records available for study and research. Our Search Room and general enquiry service is temporarily closed while we prepare and move to The Story at Mount Oswald.
While we are closed you can still find out about the collections we keep by looking at our online resources.
We look forward to welcoming you to our new home in The Story at Mount Oswald later this year.
