Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Story is home to five collections relating to County Durham. On this page we answer some of our most frequently asked questions about these collections and the services we offer. If you don't find the information you are looking for, check our Collections Information Guides, ask a member of staff or email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Story is home to five collections relating to County Durham. On this page we answer some of our most frequently asked questions about these collections and the services we offer. If you don't find the information you are looking for, check our Collections Information Guides, ask a member of staff or email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Collections at The Story are available in a number of different ways.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions
On the ground floor there is a permanent exhibition that introduces visitors to the history of County Durham. It includes items from all five of our collections as well as some wonderful loans from other museums. There is also a temporary exhibition space where we explore other topics. See the What's On section of our website for further information.
Certificate Issue
On the first floor you can find Certificate Issue, for copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates. For further information see: Ordering a copy certificate. Please note that charges apply.
Search and Discover
Also on the first floor, Search and Discover is the starting point for most research. This welcoming space includes:
- Sixteen computer terminals to access our digital collections (see below).
- Two interactive map tables to explore maps of the historic county of Durham from the 1850s to the present day.
- Two free-standing access points for our online collections search database. Includes information from all five collection areas.
- A small selection of printed works from our extensive library collection.
- A small display case to showcase items from the collections.
Digital Collections
Some of our most heavily used collections are available to view in our digital collections area, 'Search and Discover'. This space is open seven days per week and there is no need to book in advance. Sixteen work stations are available to view the following collections:
- Church of England parish registers covering baptism, banns of marriage, marriages and burials from 1538 up to about 1950. A database of registers we hold by church can be searched here.
- Non-conformist church registers including Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Society of Friends.
- Electoral registers up to 2002.
- County Durham newspapers from 1814 including Durham Advertiser, Durham Chronicle, Consett Guardian, Auckland Chronicle, etc.
- Cemetery and crematoria records.
- Durham Light Infantry records including enlistment and discharge books and war diaries.
In addition to our collections, we also provide free access to FindMyPast and the British Newspaper Archive.
Accessing original collection items
The vast majority of our collections have not been digitised, and can be viewed in our Collections Room by appointment. These collections include:
- Church of England parish registers containing entries dated from 1951 onwards. You can search The Story's full catalogue here: Church registers database
- Church of England parish records including churchwarden, tithe, and vestry records.
- Durham Light Infantry Collection - archives and objects.
- Estate and family papers including Londonderry Collection, Strathmore Collection, Brancepeth Estate, and many others.
- Local authority records including those of Durham County Council and its predecessor authorities.
- Many other record types including business, industry, charity, education, and antiquarian records, as well as a large local studies library.
Access is by appointment and a booking can be made via our website: Access our Collections - The Story. Appointment slots are generally made available one-month in advance so please keep checking back if the date you require is not yet available. If you are travelling from another part of the UK, or from overseas, and need to book your travel and accommodation several months in advance, please contact us directly with the dates of your intended visit.
Information to help you plan you visit, including opening hours is on our website.
Archive collections are usually available on demand on the day of your visit. You will need to identify the exact items you wish to see, including item reference numbers. You can request three archive items at a time. We recommend that you search the archives catalogue before your visit to find out the kinds of records we hold: Online Collection - The Story. If you aren’t sure which document you need or require advice, please email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Local Studies collections are usually available on demand, please use the catalogue to find out what we hold.
For DLI Collection medals, we require at least 72 hours' notice and pre-ordering is required.
For DLI Collection objects, we require 10 days' notice and pre-ordering is required.
Please do not book travel until you have received an email confirmation from our collections team that your objects or medals will be available.
How can I access the collections?
Collections at The Story are available in a number of different ways.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions
On the ground floor there is a permanent exhibition that introduces visitors to the history of County Durham. It includes items from all five of our collections as well as some wonderful loans from other museums. There is also a temporary exhibition space where we explore other topics. See the What's On section of our website for further information.
Certificate Issue
On the first floor you can find Certificate Issue, for copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates. For further information see: Ordering a copy certificate. Please note that charges apply.
Search and Discover
Also on the first floor, Search and Discover is the starting point for most research. This welcoming space includes:
- Sixteen computer terminals to access our digital collections (see below).
- Two interactive map tables to explore maps of the historic county of Durham from the 1850s to the present day.
- Two free-standing access points for our online collections search database. Includes information from all five collection areas.
- A small selection of printed works from our extensive library collection.
- A small display case to showcase items from the collections.
Digital Collections
Some of our most heavily used collections are available to view in our digital collections area, 'Search and Discover'. This space is open seven days per week and there is no need to book in advance. Sixteen work stations are available to view the following collections:
- Church of England parish registers covering baptism, banns of marriage, marriages and burials from 1538 up to about 1950. A database of registers we hold by church can be searched here.
- Non-conformist church registers including Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Society of Friends.
- Electoral registers up to 2002.
- County Durham newspapers from 1814 including Durham Advertiser, Durham Chronicle, Consett Guardian, Auckland Chronicle, etc.
- Cemetery and crematoria records.
- Durham Light Infantry records including enlistment and discharge books and war diaries.
In addition to our collections, we also provide free access to FindMyPast and the British Newspaper Archive.
Accessing original collection items
The vast majority of our collections have not been digitised, and can be viewed in our Collections Room by appointment. These collections include:
- Church of England parish registers containing entries dated from 1951 onwards. You can search The Story's full catalogue here: Church registers database
- Church of England parish records including churchwarden, tithe, and vestry records.
- Durham Light Infantry Collection - archives and objects.
- Estate and family papers including Londonderry Collection, Strathmore Collection, Brancepeth Estate, and many others.
- Local authority records including those of Durham County Council and its predecessor authorities.
- Many other record types including business, industry, charity, education, and antiquarian records, as well as a large local studies library.
Access is by appointment and a booking can be made via our website: Access our Collections - The Story. Appointment slots are generally made available one-month in advance so please keep checking back if the date you require is not yet available. If you are travelling from another part of the UK, or from overseas, and need to book your travel and accommodation several months in advance, please contact us directly with the dates of your intended visit.
Information to help you plan you visit, including opening hours is on our website.
Archive collections are usually available on demand on the day of your visit. You will need to identify the exact items you wish to see, including item reference numbers. You can request three archive items at a time. We recommend that you search the archives catalogue before your visit to find out the kinds of records we hold: Online Collection - The Story. If you aren’t sure which document you need or require advice, please email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Local Studies collections are usually available on demand, please use the catalogue to find out what we hold.
For DLI Collection medals, we require at least 72 hours' notice and pre-ordering is required.
For DLI Collection objects, we require 10 days' notice and pre-ordering is required.
Please do not book travel until you have received an email confirmation from our collections team that your objects or medals will be available.
No, you do not require a Reader’s Ticket to access the collections at The Story.
No appointment is needed to use Search and Discover.
An appointment is needed to use the Collections Room. A booking can be made on our website: Access our Collections - The Story.
Do I need a Reader’s Ticket to visit?
No, you do not require a Reader’s Ticket to access the collections at The Story.
No appointment is needed to use Search and Discover.
An appointment is needed to use the Collections Room. A booking can be made on our website: Access our Collections - The Story.
Yes, we have free Wi-Fi, which is available throughout the site.
There is visitor car parking on-site, including disability bays and electric vehichle charging points. More information is available on our main website. Car parking at The Story.
We also have a very popular cafe where you can buy hot and cold drinks, breakfast rolls, light lunches, and cakes
To protect the original documents and objects, no food or drink is allowed in the Collections Room. We do, however, allow snacks and drinks with lids in Search and Discover. Just ask the cafe for a takeaway cup.
While you are welcome to bring your own refreshments with you, please be aware that there is no designated eating area, with only a small number of occasional chairs in Search and Discover. If the weather is fine, why not bring enjoy a picnic in our wonderful outside grounds?
Do you have free Wi-Fi, is there parking and are refreshments available?
Yes, we have free Wi-Fi, which is available throughout the site.
There is visitor car parking on-site, including disability bays and electric vehichle charging points. More information is available on our main website. Car parking at The Story.
We also have a very popular cafe where you can buy hot and cold drinks, breakfast rolls, light lunches, and cakes
To protect the original documents and objects, no food or drink is allowed in the Collections Room. We do, however, allow snacks and drinks with lids in Search and Discover. Just ask the cafe for a takeaway cup.
While you are welcome to bring your own refreshments with you, please be aware that there is no designated eating area, with only a small number of occasional chairs in Search and Discover. If the weather is fine, why not bring enjoy a picnic in our wonderful outside grounds?
It is possible to copy the majority of items in our collections, providing copyright is not infringed and the document or object is in a suitable condition for copying.
Copies can be made in a number of ways:
- A print out from the computers in Search and Discover. Charges apply.
- Using a personal camera, including a mobile phone. Flash and tripods are not permitted. Please note that this does not apply to Digitised Collections in Search and Discover. A daily charge applies.
- A digital copy taken by a member of staff. Prices for this service begin at £9.00 per image and is calculated on the size of the original document. Ask for more information in the Collections Room or email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Please note that for large copying requests, there may be a £15.00 estimate charge, payable in advance and non-refundable.
You can find a list of our fees and charges here.
Can I get copies of a document or an object?
It is possible to copy the majority of items in our collections, providing copyright is not infringed and the document or object is in a suitable condition for copying.
Copies can be made in a number of ways:
- A print out from the computers in Search and Discover. Charges apply.
- Using a personal camera, including a mobile phone. Flash and tripods are not permitted. Please note that this does not apply to Digitised Collections in Search and Discover. A daily charge applies.
- A digital copy taken by a member of staff. Prices for this service begin at £9.00 per image and is calculated on the size of the original document. Ask for more information in the Collections Room or email us at collections@thestorydurham.org.
Please note that for large copying requests, there may be a £15.00 estimate charge, payable in advance and non-refundable.
You can find a list of our fees and charges here.
Yes, it is possible to photograph the majority of items that we make available in the Collections Room, providing copyright is not infringed and the document or object is in a suitable condition for photographing. A daily camera permit is required, which allows you to take an unlimited number of photographs (the use of flash and tripods is not permitted). Charges apply.
For legal reasons, the photographing or copying of post-2002 electoral registers is not permitted.
The daily camera permit is not valid in Search and Discover where the copying of images from the screen is not permitted.
Can I take my own photographs of documents or objects?
Yes, it is possible to photograph the majority of items that we make available in the Collections Room, providing copyright is not infringed and the document or object is in a suitable condition for photographing. A daily camera permit is required, which allows you to take an unlimited number of photographs (the use of flash and tripods is not permitted). Charges apply.
For legal reasons, the photographing or copying of post-2002 electoral registers is not permitted.
The daily camera permit is not valid in Search and Discover where the copying of images from the screen is not permitted.
We are not able to provide copy baptism certificates but it is possible to get a copy of a baptism register entry.
For pre-1950 registers, you are welcome to check the register yourself in our Search and Discover space. You will need to know the name of the church and the approximate date. For post-1950 registers you will need to make a booking in our collections room to view the register: Access our Collections - The Story
If you are not able to visit us, we can check a register for you and provide a copy through our Quick Search service. The search costs £9.00 for which we will search a period of one calendar year in a single register and supply a copy of the entry, if found. Please note that the £9.00 fee covers the staff time involved to carry out the search and is non-refundable, even if no entry is found.
We can provide certified copies of a register entry, for example, if you need evidence of baptism for entry to a school, marriage, or for ordination. The cost for this service is £12.50 (£9.00 Quick Search charge, plus £3.50 for certified copy upgrade).
To request a Quick Search for a baptism entry please email collections@thestorydurham.org with the following information:
- The full name of the church.
- The start date for the year that you wish to be searched.
- The full name of individual to be searched for.
A database of the registers we hold for any given church can be viewed here. Please check if we have the relevant church and year you need or email us if you have any questions.
Once you have provided all the necessary details we will send a payment request link from our online shop for the fee.
Can I get a copy of my baptism certificate?
We are not able to provide copy baptism certificates but it is possible to get a copy of a baptism register entry.
For pre-1950 registers, you are welcome to check the register yourself in our Search and Discover space. You will need to know the name of the church and the approximate date. For post-1950 registers you will need to make a booking in our collections room to view the register: Access our Collections - The Story
If you are not able to visit us, we can check a register for you and provide a copy through our Quick Search service. The search costs £9.00 for which we will search a period of one calendar year in a single register and supply a copy of the entry, if found. Please note that the £9.00 fee covers the staff time involved to carry out the search and is non-refundable, even if no entry is found.
We can provide certified copies of a register entry, for example, if you need evidence of baptism for entry to a school, marriage, or for ordination. The cost for this service is £12.50 (£9.00 Quick Search charge, plus £3.50 for certified copy upgrade).
To request a Quick Search for a baptism entry please email collections@thestorydurham.org with the following information:
- The full name of the church.
- The start date for the year that you wish to be searched.
- The full name of individual to be searched for.
A database of the registers we hold for any given church can be viewed here. Please check if we have the relevant church and year you need or email us if you have any questions.
Once you have provided all the necessary details we will send a payment request link from our online shop for the fee.
Yes, The Story is the permanent home of the DLI Collection.
While the DLI Museum and Art Gallery closed in 2016, The DLI Collection moved to The Story in June 2024, an exciting new local history centre which brought into one central location the story of the history and heritage of the county, as told through historic records, photographs and objects.
The Story has sector leading storage facilities, which provides a permanent home for the whole DLI Collection. This has allowed us to explore the stories of the Regiment and those who were involved within them, sharing them with the public through our exciting exhibitions within The Story and engaging future generations with our outreach and education programs.
The former DLI Museum and Art Gallery is reopening as The Light in August 2026 after undergoing redevelopment and expansion. It will include a new permanent exhibition devoted to the history of the Regiment: We Are The Durhams.
Medals and objects are available to view in the Collections Room at The Story by appointment: Access our Collections - The Story. Please note that advance notice is required to view these items (see above for more information).
Is The Story the permanent home of the DLI Collection?
Yes, The Story is the permanent home of the DLI Collection.
While the DLI Museum and Art Gallery closed in 2016, The DLI Collection moved to The Story in June 2024, an exciting new local history centre which brought into one central location the story of the history and heritage of the county, as told through historic records, photographs and objects.
The Story has sector leading storage facilities, which provides a permanent home for the whole DLI Collection. This has allowed us to explore the stories of the Regiment and those who were involved within them, sharing them with the public through our exciting exhibitions within The Story and engaging future generations with our outreach and education programs.
The former DLI Museum and Art Gallery is reopening as The Light in August 2026 after undergoing redevelopment and expansion. It will include a new permanent exhibition devoted to the history of the Regiment: We Are The Durhams.
Medals and objects are available to view in the Collections Room at The Story by appointment: Access our Collections - The Story. Please note that advance notice is required to view these items (see above for more information).
DLI Collection objects and medals
Please email collections@thestorydurham.org with images of the items you would like to donate, including as much information you have on the item, including details of the previous owner.
Please do not bring in items to The Story to donate without first making an appointment with our team.
Archives and printed material (including DLI Collection photographs or documents)
Please email a description of the documents to collections@thestorydurham.org, including photographs if possible. We will then get back to you to advise if your documents fall within the remit of our Collections Policy and, if so, arrange a time for them to be dropped off or collected.
How do I donate documents and objects to The Story?
DLI Collection objects and medals
Please email collections@thestorydurham.org with images of the items you would like to donate, including as much information you have on the item, including details of the previous owner.
Please do not bring in items to The Story to donate without first making an appointment with our team.
Archives and printed material (including DLI Collection photographs or documents)
Please email a description of the documents to collections@thestorydurham.org, including photographs if possible. We will then get back to you to advise if your documents fall within the remit of our Collections Policy and, if so, arrange a time for them to be dropped off or collected.
We do not do valuations. For this you would need to contact a reputable auction house or antique dealer. We also do not identify items for enquirers but we do answer questions relating to our collections.
Do you value or identify items?
We do not do valuations. For this you would need to contact a reputable auction house or antique dealer. We also do not identify items for enquirers but we do answer questions relating to our collections.