Colchester
Trinity Square
Colchester
COl 1JB
Tel: 01206 245917
Fax: 01206 245901
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Colchester Library

Chelmsford
PO Box 882
Market Road
Chelmsford
CMI ILH
Tel: 01245 492758
Fax: 01245 436503
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Chelmsford Library

Basildon
The Basildon Centre,
St Martin's Square
Basildon
SS141EE
Tel: 01268 288533
Fax: 01268 286326
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Basildon Library

Braintree
Fairfield Road
Braintree
CM7 3YL
Tel: 01376 320752/01376 326057
Fax: 01376 553316
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours: Braintree Library

Brentwood
New Road
Brentwood
CM144BP
Tel: 01277 264290
Fax: 01277 261638
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours: Brentwood Library

Clacton
Station Road
Clacton on Sea
CO15 1SF
Tel: 01255 421207
Fax:01255 222531
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours:Clacton LIbrary

Harlow
The High
Harlow
CM20 1HA
Tel: 01279 413772
Fax: 01279 424612
E mail: harlow.library:essexcc.gov.uk
Opening hours:Harlow Library

Loughton
Traps Hill
Loughton
IG10 IHD
Tel: 020 8502 0181
Fax: 020 8508 5041
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours:Loughton Library

Rayleigh
132/4 High Street
Rayleigh
SS6 7BX
Tel: 01268 775830/01268 775124
Fax: 01268 745067
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours:Rayleigh Library

Saffron Walden
2 King Street
Saffron Walden
CB101ES
Tel: 01799 523178/ 01799 513642
Fax: 01799513642
Email:[email protected]
Opening hours: Saffron Walden Library

For all library Opening Hours
All libraries have online access to Ancestry Library Edition

Service available No

Fee-based?

Registrar General's Indexes from 1837 (microform), or Registrar General for Scotland's Computerised Index from 1855.

Locations Not held in Essex Libraries

At Colchester:
1841,1851,1861,1871,1881,1891,1901 Essex , including Metropolitan Essex, on microfilm
1881 census for England, Wales and Scotland on CD ROM
1851 census for Norfolk, Devon and Warwickshire on CD ROM
1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 London censuses on CD ROM (no name indexes)
Name indexes to 1851, 1861 and 1881 censuses for Essex on microfiche
Parish census listings for Essex 1695-1840, 1797-1831

At Chelmsford:
Essex 1851, 1881, 1901
1881 census for England, Wales and Scotland on CD ROM
1851 census for Norfolk, Devon and Warwickshire on CD ROM
Parish census listings, 1797 -1831

At Clacton:
1851, 1861, 1871,1881, 1891, 1901 for Tendring District on microfilm/fiche

At Harlow:
Parishes of Harlow, Latton, Netteswell, Great Parndon, Little Parndon 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881,
1891, 1901 on microfiche

At Loughton:
Chigwell1851 (includes Buckhurst Hill) on microfilm
Epping 1871 (includes Epping Upland) on microfilm
Loughton 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 on microfilm, also paper 1851-1881
Ongar 1851 on microfilm

At Saffron Walden
(All on microfilm)
Saffron Walden 1811
Saffron Walden and surrounding villages 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891
Uttlesford District 1901

At Waltham Abbey:
Waltham Abbey 1851, 1861, 1871,1881 on microfilm

All Essex Libraries: Internet access to those census returns which are available online

6(a) County and Regional Directories

At Colchester:
Kelly's Directories of Essex 1845-1937
White's Directory of Essex 1848, 1863
Pigot and Co Directory of Essex various 1823-1839
White's Directory of Suffolk 1844-1892
Kelly's Directory of Suffolk 1850-1937
Herts and Essex Trades Directory 1938-39
County of Essex Business Directory 1949-50

At Chelmsford:
Pigot & Co Directory of Essex 1823/4, 1839
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1845,1846, 1851,1855, 1859, 1862, 1867, 1871, 1874, 1878, 1882, 1886,
1894, 1898, 1899, 1906, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1917, 1926, 1929, 1933, 1937
White's Directory of Essex 1848, 1863

At Basildon:
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1899
White's Directory of Essex 1863

At Braintree:
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1894, 1899, 1937

At Brentwood:
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1882, 1899, 1906, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1926, 1937
Kelly's Directory of Essex (microfiche) 1823, 1846, 1855, 1859, 1862, 1871
White's Directory of Essex 1848

At Harlow:
Pigot and Co Directory of Essex 1823
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1846, 1855, 1862, 1898, 1899, 1926, 1937
White's Directory of Essex 1848, 1863

At Loughton:
White's Directory of Essex 1848
Essex Almanac 1864
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1870, 1882, 1890, 1898
Essex Almanac & County Directory 1904
Kelly's Directory of Suffolk & Essex 1929
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1933
Epping Almanac 1892
Epping, Loughton & Ongar Almanac 1920-21
Kelly's Directory of Woodford 1923, 1929, 1935, 1937, 1939

At Saffron Walden:
Pigot and Co Directory of Essex 1839
White's Directory of Essex 1848, 1863
Kelly's Directory of Essex 1890, 1902, 1914, 1929, 1937
Post Office Directory 1859

6(b) City and Town Directories

At Colchester:
Benham's Directory of Colchester 1881-1965
Perspective Press Colchester directory 1966
Regency Directory Colchester and district 1966-68
Regency Town Books Colchester 1970- 71
Kemp's Colchester and District Local Directory 1973
Kelly's Directory of Chelmsford 1931-32, 1933-34, 1938, 1943, 1947, 1949-50, 1952, 1961-1972 (incomplete)
Kelly's Directory of Southend and Neighbourhood 1925, 1926, 1936, 1940, 1950-1974 (incomplete)
Kelly's Directory of Ipswich 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Kelly's Directory of Felixstowe 1972, 1973

At CheImsford:
Stevens Directory of Chelmsford 1894/5
Chelmsford Directory and Almanac 1910-1913
Jewell's Directory of Chelmsford 1921
Kelly's Directory of Chelmsford 1927/8, 1929/30, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1949/50, 1952, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1965/6, 1967-1974
Kelly's Tradefinder of Chelmsford 1970, 1971
Chelmsford Chamber of Commerce Yearbook and Directory 1967/8, 1969/70, 1972/3, 1976/7
Chelmsford and District Book (Regency) 1967/8, 1970/1
Chelmsford Business Directory 1992
Directory of Clacton-on-Sea 1955
Colchester Directory (Benham) 1958, 1960-1963
Colchester Directory (Essex County Standard) 1964, 1965
Colchester Directory (Perspective) 1966
Kemp's Colchester and District Local Directory 1968, 1969/70, 1971, 1973
Frinton and Walton Book (Regency) 1964, 1967/9
Halstead Directory 1963, 1967/8
Harwich and Dovercourt (Regency) 1967/8
Leyton and Leytonstone Chamber of Commerce Trades Directory 1957/8
Saffron Walden Borough Directory (Harts) 1960, 1962, 1967
Southend-on-Sea and District Chamber ofCommerce Yearbook and Trade Directory 1957/8, 1958/9, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968/9, 1969/70
Thurrock Chamber of Trade Yearbook and Directory 1958, 1959
Thurrock Book (Regency) 1969/70
Thurrock Official Guide and Directory c1950
Witham Directory 1964

At Brentwood:
Brentwood 1928, 1933, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964/5, 1969

At Clacton:
Directory for Clacton-on-Sea 1888
Yearbook, Directory and guide for Clacton-on-Sea 1892
Clacton Graphic Directory 1902
East Essex Yearbook and Directories 1913, 1915
Clacton Yearbook and Directory 1920, 1922-24, 1926, 1933-38
Clacton Directory 1932, 1936, 1947
Directory of Clacton-on-Sea 1955
Frinton and Walton Directory and Almanac 1925, 1930-31
Street Directory for Frinton, Walton, 1962, 1967
Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-Naze Yearbook 1914
Frinton and Walton Blue book and Directory 1948

At Harlow:
Harlow Guide 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964-5
Harlow Trade Directory 1985
Harlow Business Directory 1989, 1992-3, 1993-4, 1995-6, 1998, 2001

At Rayleigh:
Kelly's Directory of Southend on Sea 1972/73 (Rayleigh and Thorpe) and 1973/74 (Rayleigh)

At Saffron Walden:
Saffron Walden Year Book 1853-1949/50 (incomplete)
Saffron Walden Directory 1960, 1962, 1967, 1970

6(c) Telephone Directories

At Colchester:
Colchester and Southend 1970- (incomplete)

At Harlow:
Harlow Phone Book 1984-
Cambridge Yellow Pages 1985-1990
Harlow Yellow Pages 1992-

7(a) Electoral Registers

At Colchester:
Electoral registers 1874 and 1886-2001 (incomplete) for Colchester Borough

At Chelmsford:
South Essex Register of Electors 1841
Borough of Chelmsford 1905/6, 1907/8, 1914/5
Parliamentary Register for Chelmsford Parish 1920-1935, 1937/38, 1939/40
Borough of Chelmsford 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950-1974
Rural District of Chelmsford 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952-1954,1956-1974
Chelmsford District 1974-2001

At Basildon: Billericay 1949; Basildon 1951-2001

At Braintree: Braintree District Council area and Saffron Walden 1995, 1996, 1997

At Clacton: Tendring District 1971-2002

At Hadleigh: Castle Point 2001

At Harlow: Harlow District 1958, 1960, 1962-1972, 1975-2002

At Loughton: Epping Forest District 1976-2000

At Rayleigh: 1979-

At Saffron Walden: 1973-2002

7(b) Poll Books

At Colchester:
1741-1870 for Colchester
1734-1830 for Essex

At Chelmsford:
The Poll for a Knight of the Shire for the County of Essex taken at Chelmsford 1763, 1810
The Poll for members to serve in Parliament for the Borough of Colchester 1812, 1831
Poll for the Southern Division of the County of Essex 1859, 1865

At Saffron Walden:
The Poll for a Knight of the Shire for the County of Essex taken at Chelmsford 1763

At Colchester: 1992 edition on microfiche, Family Search CD-ROM

At Chelmsford: 1992 edition on microfiche, Family Search CD ROM

At Braintree: 1988 edition on microfiche

At Brentwood: 1992 edition on microfiche

At Clacton: 1992 edition on microfiche

At Harlow: 1992 edition on microfiche

At Loughton: 1992 edition on microfiche

At Rayleigh: 1992 edition on microfiche

At Saffron Walden: 1992 edition on microfiche

All Essex Libraries: Internet access to Family Search website

At Colchester: Essex Periodical Article Index - card index to main articles in Essex periodicals, not analysis of names within articles


At Loughton: In compilation: index to local newspaper cuttings; index to the Essex Journal

At Colchester:
Essex parish registers series edited by P. W. Phillimore etc. 4 volumes 1909-1914 (printed transcripts). For reference at Colchester; lending copies also available.
Vol. 1. Marriages. Boxted 1559-1837; Gt. Horkesley 1538-1836; Lt. Horkesley 1568-1835; Wormingford 1559-1837; Ashdon 1557-1812; Navestock 1538-1812
Vol. II Marriages: Chelmsford 1539-1770
Vol.III Marriages: Chelmsford 1771-1837; Writtle 1634-1837; Widford 1619-1837
Vol. IV Marriages: Walthamstow 1650-1837; Roxwell 1559-1837; Gt. Leighs 1560-1837; Lt.
Leighs 1680- 1837

At Chelmsford:
Essex Parish Registers - marriages (vols 1-4)
*Chipping Ongar Parish Registers c1558-1750
*Fyfield Parish Registers c1538-1700
*Greensted Parish Registers c1562-1805
*Moze Parish Registers c1548-1678
*These are for baptisms, marriages and burials. Dates vary so please check with the library that they include the dates you require.


At Loughton:
Waltham Holy Cross: Baptisms 1833-1858, 1858-1881; Burials: 1813-1843, 1844-1878;
Marriages 1837-1869, 1869-1893. Microfilm
Chigwell Parish Registers (transcribed in E.J. Erith Manuscripts relating to Chigwell, Essex which includes a surname index):
Marriages 1555-1595,1653-1748,1754-1812, 1813-1853; Burials 1555-1595.1653-1748.1748-1798.1813-1864: Christenings 1653-1746- 1746-1798
Lambourne 1709- 1812

Details of holdings are available on the Essex Libraries' catalogue: http://elan.essexcc.gov.uk

At Colchester:
Essex Wills -Archdeaconry Courts 1577-1603
Essex Wills -Commissary Court 1558-1603
Essex Wills (England) 1558-1577
Feet of Fines for Essex 1182-1603
Visitations of a number of counties

At Chelmsford:
Essex Wills -Archdeaconry Courts 1577-1603
Essex Wills -Commissary Court 1558-1588
Essex Wills (England) 1558-1577
Feet of Fines for Essex 1182-1603

At Hadleigh:
Davids - Annals of evangelical non-conformity in the county of Essex (1 vol)
Feet of fines for Essex 1182-1272, 1272-1326

At Loughton:
Chigwell, Manor of Woolston Hall; Court Books 1764-1856 (extracts transcribed by E.J. Erith)
Waltham Holy Cross Court Rolls (microfilm): 1638, 1669-1676 (with index of tenants), 1677, 1677-1704 (with index of tenants), 1680-1691, 1691-1697,1697-1704, 1704-1718, 1705-1718 (with index of tenants: includes Nazeing and Roydon Hamlet), 1718-1722,1723-1733 (with index of tenants), 1734-1748 (with index of tenants), 1749-1759 (with index of tenants), 1760- 1768 (with index of tenants). 1768-1782 (with index of tenants), 1782-1793 (with index of tenants), 1793-1800 (with index of tenants), 1800-1806 (with index of tenants), 1812-1818 (with index of tenants), 1818-1827 (with index of tenants),
Nazeing & Roydon Hamlet Court Rolls (microfilm): Nazeing: 1650, 1669-1681, 1681-1691, 1691-1697,1719-1722, 1722-1735 (with index), 1736-1754 (with index), 1754-1760 (with index of tenants), 1760-1767 (with index of tenants); Roydon Hamlet: 1670-1734,1721, 1737-1754, 1755-1760,1763-1766

At Saffron Walden:
Essex Wills -Archdeaconry Courts 1577-1603
Essex Wills -Commissary Court 1558-1588
Essex Wills (England) 1558-1577
Feet of Fines for Essex 1182-1609
Visitations of Essex
Cartulary of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in England (secunda camera - Essex)

At Colchester:
Name Index to Poor Law Settlement Papers, c1574-1865
Return of Owners of Land in Essex 1873
Monumental inscriptions for many parishes in Essex
List of persons married by licence in Essex 1668-1847
British Vital Records Index 2nd edition on CD ROM
National Burials Index for England and Wales on CD ROM
Mormon Immigration Index on CD ROM
Soldiers who died in the Great War on CD ROM
Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945 on CD ROM

At Chelmsford:
Name Index to Poor Law Settlement Papers c1574-1865
Return of Owners of Land in Essex 1873
Monumental inscriptions for many parishes in Essex
List of persons married by licence in Essex 1668-1847
British Vital Records Index 2nd edition on CD ROM
National Burials Index for England and Wales on CD ROM
Mormon Immigration Index on CD ROM
Soldiers who died in the Great War on CD ROM

At Brentwood:
Parish census listings for Essex 1695-1840, 1797-1831
Return of owners of land in Essex 1873
Name Index to Poor Law Settlement Papers, c. 1574-1865

At Saffron Walden:
Return of owners of land in Essex 1873
Substantial collection of genealogical material relating to other counties

For information about holdings in Southend and Thurrock, please see their individual entries on Familia.