Explore the historical records of North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire Archives collects and preserves the historical records of North Lanarkshire, covering the areas of Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, Shotts, Stepps and Wishaw.
This unique resource is there for you to use – free of charge.
Visit the archives to research your family history, the history of your house or your local area. We also welcome enquiries by telephone, e-mail and letter.
Archives and Local Studies are open Monday to Saturday, 12-4pm. You are welcome to drop in to use our reading room and open-access resources for research and study.
It’s usually best to speak with our staff beforehand in order to get the most out of your visit so we recommend that you book a slot by completing our booking form, calling 01698 274590 or sending an email.
We are situated in North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, High Road, Motherwell, just a short walk from Motherwell Railway Station.
Please call our Archives and Local Studies team on 01698 274590 for more information.
Curatorial Services – You can also access the museum collections which relate to Motherwell and the surrounding area, which are located within the museum store. Curators are available every Wednesday in the Heritage Centre if you have a potential object you would like to donate or if would like to view objects from the collections.
* Please note that every year in early January, North Lanarkshire Archives closes to the public for a week for essential maintenance and collection management purposes. We use this time to work on our collections to improve our service to researchers throughout the year. *
» Introduction to Family History Workshops
Join us in November for expert help in discovering your past.
» About our collections
Find out about our collections.
» Collection Highlights
Every month we will feature one of our collections.
» Enquiries
Tell us what we can help you with.
» Planning your visit
How to plan your visit.
» Donating records
Find out how to donate records.