Tracing your family history? Researching your house history? Interested in your town, village or community? Investigating an aspect of Borders life?
The facilities at the Heritage Hub are open to anyone to come and undertake their own research. The service is free, with charges only made for photocopies and printouts.
If you are unable to visit us, you may wish to take advantage of our Enquiry Services where you can choose from a number of options.
Basic Enquiries
We offer an initial free 30 minute enquiry service. In the time available, we will:
- Check a record where you are able to give a specific date and place.
- Advise on sources appropriate to your research.
- Advise on the cost of supplying relevant printouts/photocopies.
- Advise on the use of our Remote Research Service.
REMOTE RESEARCH SERVICE
For a more detailed response to enquiries, we offer a Remote Research Service.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What topics do you research?
We will research any topic relating to the heritage of the Scottish Borders – that is the four counties of Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire.
What do you provide?
At all levels of service we will provide a package that includes:
- A specified length of research time.
- A report on sources consulted and results found – both positive and negative. Please note we cannot guarantee that our research will find the details you require, but we will do our best to provide relevant information from Heritage Hub resources and will also advise on other sources or organisations that may be able to help.
- Photocopies or printouts of relevant material.
- Suggestions on further avenues for your research.
How do I request a search?
We ask you to give us a description of the information you are looking for, relevant information you already know, and what sources you have already consulted. To ensure the most efficient use of the research time, it is important that you are specific as possible, particularly regarding names, dates and places.
The form must be printed, signed personally and then returned with your payment.
It cannot be returned electronically.
How much will it cost?
The current charge is £20.00 per hour.
- One hour is ideal if you want a search of indexes to census returns, old parish records and monumental inscriptions for help with some basic family history research or if you require a newspaper report where you can give at least the month and year.
- Two hours is appropriate for research that requires a search for specific names or events in material that is not indexed (e.g. certain census returns, newspapers, archive material such as valuation rolls, poor law records and school log books).
- Three hours is suitable for in-depth research over a range of records and archives.
- Postage and administration charges are included.
How do I pay?
Advance payment in sterling is required for all requests, with payment by cheque or International Money Order, drawn on a British bank and made payable to Scottish Borders Council.
We can also accept payment by debit or credit card.
If no positive results are obtained, we will try to advise you of other possible sources, but we are unable to refund the research fee.
When will I get the results?
All forms will be acknowledged on receipt and the research will be completed within twenty working days.
