Reference libraries
The main reference facility is located in Birkenhead Central Library, with smaller reference collections in:
Resources available across our reference libraries:
- business directories
- yearbooks
- maps
- encyclopaedias
- dictionaries
- national and local newspapers
Resources available specifically at Birkenhead Reference Library:
- local and family history resources
- 1904 Wirral Photographic Survey - digital
- census returns from 1841 to 1921, and 1939 register, available on microfilm, fiche, CD or online
- Electoral Registers from 1862 to date
- newspapers - an archive of local papers from 1862 to June 2012
- maps
- trade directories - a range of dates held from 1750s to 1970s
- cemetery records
- rolls of honour and monumental inscriptions
- council proceedings from 1880
- parish records
Resources available specifically at Wallasey Central Reference Library
- Wallasey census returns in hardback from 1841-1871. Online from 1841-1921. Also on microfiche(not sure of dates)
- Electoral registers from 1887-2012(later registers in main library)
- newspapers - an archive of local papers from 1898-1976(hard copy)and on microfiche up to 1995
- maps, including local area, from 1656
- trade directories - a range of dates held from 1766 - 1970
- cemetery records
- Rolls of honour and monumental inscriptions
- Council proceedings from 1887-2008
- Parish records(microfilm). Also hard copy 1574-1812
- Find My Past records accessible on online with the 1921 Census
Cheshire Family History drop-in help desks every Friday and volunteers throughout the week. Please contact 0151 639 2334 to check on times before calling.
Photo index
A large collection of photographs (many are in digital format) are available at Birkenhead Reference Library to view and purchase. New additions to our collection are welcome, we are able to scan and return the originals.
Copies of our photographs
£6 for 5 images and £2 per image above 5.
Wirral Remembers 1914 to 2014
Find out about Wirral Remembers materials held in Birkenhead Library
Birkenhead History Society newsletter
Issues available from 1974 to 2019.
Magazines and journals
- the Cheshire Ancestor - journal of the Family History Society of Cheshire (1987 to present)
- Lancashire Parish Register Society. Hard copy index available for Wirral articles. View the full index online
- Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. View the index online
- Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
- Borrowbox
Online reference resources
Wirral library members have free access to our online resources. You can access these resources at every Wirral library and some from at home.
Just login to your account and click on the 'online reference' tab.
Online resources available include:
Family History
Findmypast makes original historical documents available to search online, so that people can explore a collection of over two billion records to find their ancestors and trace their family tree.
Genealogy
- Findmypast.co.uk - Use a computer in any Wirral library for free access. With over 4 billion records and 11 million historic newspaper pages to explore, Findmypast is the best place to discover your family’s story.
News resources
- British Newspaper Archive: Hundreds of newspapers, including titles such as Liverpool Echo, Liverpool Mercury, Chester Chronicle, Cheshire Observer and many more.
- Borrowbox
Which? guides
- Which? Access thousands of product reviews from within Wirral Libraries - ask staff for login details.
Local and Family History
Birkenhead Reference Library holds a wealth of resources on local and family history.
A range of resources are also available at the Wirral Archives.
Contact us
Contact us at birkenheadreflib@wirral.gov.uk.
Research request
If you are not in the area you can submit a research request. The first half hour of research is free and there is a charge of £12 per half hour thereafter for this service.