Hereford Cathedral Library and Archives welcome everyone to explore the cathedral’s diverse collections. Our users include family and house history researchers, scholars tracking down unique sources, and people wanting to explore and develop their Christian faith.

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Coronavirus Update (Updated 1 July 2020)

We are delighted to announce that from Tuesday 7 July 2020 the Reading Room is open during our regular opening times (see below) by appointment only. You may book a timed visit from thirty minutes to two hours in length.

To book a visit please email [email protected] with your preferred date, time and duration. Please await confirmation before visiting.

Protective measures are in place to keep everyone as safe as possible and we ask that everyone uses the hand sanitiser provided when entering the building. 

You may borrow and return books from the lending library. If you wish to work with books and documents from the historic collections you must request all items at least a day in advance.

If you have books out on loan you are not required to return them for the time being, unless another reader requests them, in which case we will contact you.

We will try to answer enquiries by email, but please note that we are unable to undertake lengthy research.

We look forward to welcoming our regular users back and to greeting new ones.

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Opening times and availability

Our regular opening times are:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am – 4 pm
First Saturday in the month 10 am – 1 pm

Other times may be possible by appointment.

Most books and documents can be produced on demand, but advance notice is required to retrieve medieval manuscript books and early printed books from the Chained Library. We also appreciate contact in advance if you wish to study other historical materials, although this is not essential. Users of the historical collections are required to complete a reader registration form which includes agreeing to follow our Reading Room regulations and Reading Room handling guidelines. You may be asked to produce identification and, in some cases, a letter of recommendation.

How to find us

Hereford Cathedral Library and Archives are housed in the New Library Building, the entrance to which is in Palace Yard, between the west end of the cathedral and the entrance to the Bishop’s Palace, adjacent to the north end of Gwynne Street.

For GPS devices use postcode HR4 9BJ.

Please press the CALL button to the left of the door. Once you are inside the building, the reading room is on the second floor, accessible by stairs or lift. All areas are accessible to wheelchair users.

Contact us

For further information, please contact:

Hereford Cathedral Library and Archives
5 College Cloisters
Hereford
HR1 2NG

Tel 01432 374225/6

[email protected]