The centre, run by Cumbria County Council is located at:Scotch Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7NL
Sources available at this Archive Centre include:

Original historical documents dating from the twelfth century to the present day relating to the area of West Cumbria bounded by the River Derwent in the North and the River Duddon in the South. The areas around Workington, Cockermouth, and Whitehaven are amongst those for which material is available. These include: Church of England Parishes **, Nonconformist Churches **, Local Authorities, Official records, Civil Parishes, Schools, Businesses and Industries, Landed Estates, Solicitors, Societies.

Other material includes: Census returns 1841-1891 for Cumberland**, 1901 modern county of Cumbria**, 1881 census transcript and index to Cumberland, Westmorland and the Isle of Man **, Newspapers (such as Whitehaven News and Cumberland Pacquet) **, Ordnance Survey maps, Probate records, Deanery of Copeland 1541-1858 **, Electoral rolls, 1832-2002, Index to civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths (England & Wales), 1837-2003**, Trade Directories. **

Many of these records are available on microfilm/fiche.
The Local Studies Library contains an important collection of books, illustrations, journals, reports and other printed and original materials relating to all aspects of life in Whitehaven and West Cumbria up to the present day.

More on Whitehaven's history...