What is HALS and what is changing?
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) is the primary repository for the history of Hertfordshire, serving as a hub for research, preservation and education. It holds over 3 million documents, including maps, photographs, wills, and parish records dating from 1060 to the present day. It enables, for free, the exploration of local and family history through its reading room and library, and is currently planning a new facility.
Hertfordshire parishes use HALS for storing their historical records and parish registers (including baptisms, marriages, burials). HALS also holds diocesan records which parishes may sometimes need to access.
Chris Bennett, County Archivist for HALS, explained:
We are continuing to develop plans for a new, long-term home for Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) to re-locate the whole service into more modern purpose-built facilities. Although this move is still years away, the size of our collections and the scale of the project mean we need to begin preparation work now.
New building feasibility work is focusing on the Hertford Fire Station site, which is large enough to accommodate a purpose-built archive and local studies facility alongside the Fire Service.
What do parishes need to know?
To support this work, opening hours at the centre will change from Friday 6 February 2026. From that date, HALS will:
- Close on Friday mornings, and
- Open on one Saturday per month only – the first Saturday.
These changes will give staff time for planning the move and preparation work. Friday mornings and Saturdays are often quieter periods in the reading rooms, so the team hope the impact on visitors will be minimised.
Other usual working hours continue:
- Tuesday – Thursday: 0900-1700
- The first Saturday of the month: 1000-1400
- By appointment/pre-booking only, the first Tuesday of the month until 1930
Full details of opening hours are available on the HALS website.
Chris said:
“All other HALS services continue as usual from our County Hall site, where free visitor parking remains available. We continue to accept new material for the collections by appointment, according to our normal procedures. Further temporary changes are likely as the project develops, and we will keep staff and customers informed.”
More information
If you have any enquiries, please email hals.enquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk