List of charges and how to pay
Photocopies | Digital Copies | Postage | Research Service | Certificates
Camera Permits | Talks | Workshops | Reproduction Fees
Please note from February 2026 the copying service will be suspended until we re-open again in Autumn 2026.
Photocopies
Photocopying options
| Option | Charge | Format | Minimum Charge online |
|---|
| Per photocopy |
£0.50 (except from newspapers - see below) From 1st April £0.60 |
A4 or A3 black and white |
£7.20
|
Copies from Church Registers and Newspapers
| Copy | Per | Charge | Format |
|---|
|
Copies from newspapers
|
Per article |
£3.50 (From 1st April £4.00)
|
A4 or A3 black and white |
| Vehicle licensing records |
Per registration |
£5.00 (From 1st April £5.50) |
A4 or A3 black and white
|
|
Copy of a will
|
Per will |
£6.00 (From 1st April £6.50) |
A4 or A3 black and white
|
Charges for digital images and prints
These prices apply to copies of archival and printed items which cannot be photocopied, such as
- coloured items
- volumes
- fragile items
- large format items (over A3 in size)
Digital Image charges
| Option | Charge | Minimum Charge |
|---|
| Digital images sent by email |
£7.00 for up to 5 digital images and £2.00 for each subsequent image sent by email (From 1st April £8.00) |
£7.00
|
| Digital images bulk order |
£86.00 per hour. Get in touch for a personalised quote (From 1st April £90.00) |
£86.00
|
We can also provide photographic quality prints of documents from digital images.
Digital print charges
| Type of print | Price per print |
|---|
| Copy from digital capture up to A3 (colour) |
£2.00 (From 1st April £2.25) |
| Digital print on photographic paper |
A4: £8.00 (From 1st April £8.25)
A3: £12.00 (From 1st April £12.50)
A2: £18.00 (From 1st April £19.00)
A1: £40.00 (From 1st April £42.00)
|
| Large format digital print (use this option to order map copies) |
A2 (black and white): £7.00 (From 1st April £7.25)
A2 (colour): £12.00 (From 1st April £12.50)
A1 (black and white): £12.00 (From 1st April £12.50)
A1 (colour): £28.00 (From 1st April £29.00)
|
Postage and Packing
Postage rates
| Items | UK | Europe | Rest of the World |
|---|
| 1-10 sheets up to A3 |
£1.00
(£1.50 from 1st April)
|
£3.50 |
£4.50 |
| Map tube (up to 250g) |
£9.00 |
£14.00 |
Price on request |
| Certificates |
£1.80 (from 1st April) |
£3.50 |
£4.50 |
All other postage and packing charges can be given on application.
Research Service
Our professional researcher can undertake genealogical and historical research on your behalf. The cost is £35.00 per hour up to a maximum of 5 hours per order. (From 1st April £37.00)
If you need us to check information on your behalf we can carry out a specific search and look up for you at a charge of £9.00. (From 1st April £10.00)
Certificates and Official Enquiries
Certificates and official enquiries
| Enquiry type | Fee |
|---|
| Baptism/burial certificate |
£19.00 (From 1st April £25.00) |
| Catholic and Non-Anglican baptism certificate |
£19.00 (From 1st April £25.00) |
| Certified copies of Magistrate Court records |
£38.00 per court sitting (From 1st April £39.00) |
| Certification of copies |
£9.00 (From 1st April £9.25) |
| Hedgerow enquiries |
£35.00 (From 1st April £37.00) |
| Private enquiries for Right to Buy (up to 5 years) |
£18.00 (From 1st April £20.00)
|
| Private enquiries for Right to Buy (over 5 years) |
£35.00 (From 1st April £37.00)
|
Charges for taking your own photographs
We charge to issue a camera permit for you to take images for your own reference within the searchroom. This applies even if you are using a camera phone. The rates are:
- Per day - £6.00 (From 1st April £7.00)
- 4 days in a 4-week period - £18.00 (From 1st April £20.00)
Talks
Standard charge for talks and lectures at outside venues or for visits to Record Office. For a bespoke talk there is an additional charge of £35.00.
During office hours 1-2 hours duration £58.00 (From 1st April £60.00)
After 6pm 1-2 hours duration £68.00 (From 1st April £70.00)
Workshops
Workshops, for up to two hours, are charged at £12.00 per person. (From 1st April £15.00)
Reproduction Fees
For use of copies of Record Office documents in publications. Fees are per image.
Reproduction Fees
| Media | Type of rights | Fee |
|---|
| Print/ebook/website |
Non-commercial |
Free (complementary copies of publication required) |
| |
Commercial (local)/ Academic |
£34.00 +VAT (From 1st April £35.00 + VAT) |
| |
Commercial, national and international |
£75.00 +VAT (From 1st April £77.00+ VAT) |
| TV |
World rights/Broadcast to DVD |
£125.00 +VAT (From 1st April £129.00+ VAT) |
Photographs and photocopies are supplied for private research or study only. Permission must be obtained from Cheshire Archives & Local Studies before copies supplied are published in any form (in a book, on television, or on a website). Fees are subject to negotiation depending on, for example, number of images to be used, crediting, or supply of publications agreed with Local Studies Specialists.
Payments can be made by cash, cheque made payable to Cheshire West and Chester Council, or by phone using a credit/ debit card (Mastercard, Visa or Visa Delta). Do not send cash through the post.
If you are paying for research, copying or publications by credit or debit card, you can order online.
For further information contact us.