Need to undertake research, but cannot make a visit to us? We can help.

What can we do for free?

We can provide details about our records and other sources held at the Royal Berkshire Archives (RBA) as well as how they can be used for research. We can also provide guidance on where to look for records not held at the RBA.

What do we charge for?

If we need to look at records for you, we need to charge a fee. Currently we charge £44.00 per hour with a minimum half hour charge of £22.00.

So that we can make effective use of the time you will be paying for, please provide us with as much information as you can. Please email or write to us using the guidance below:

• Make your requirements as specific as possible
• State exactly what information you are seeking
• Give us any relevant details you already have.

We will then assess your enquiry and provide feedback as to how we may be able to help you together with a quote for any research we can do. If you then wish to proceed with the research, payment is required in advance. Please see our Make a Payment page for options on how to pay.

Please note that from 15 April 2025 we will have reduced staffing levels which may affect our ability to process research requests. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Searches will be carried out either until the time paid for has been used, or until the information requested has been found (if it exists).

We will provide a summary of our findings once the research is complete. Should you require a full transcript of a document, this will also incur a fee at the half hourly rate of £22.00.

Please be advised that only the most specific of searches (e.g. one entry in a parish register) can be completed within 30 minutes. We are unable to carry out research for you over the phone.

Whether you would like us to see what we have or to carry out research on your behalf, please get in touch via our Contact Us page.