Guidance

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Archive

An overview of the UKHO Archive, accessing our archive and ordering copies of archive material.

About us

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Archive in Taunton, Somerset, holds over 400 years of maritime history. It is one of the most comprehensive maritime collections of its type worldwide.

Since the UKHO’s establishment in 1795, our archive has remained a valuable repository for our maritime heritage, preserving centuries of navigational and hydrographic records for future generations.

In 1962, we became a Place of Deposit under the Public Records Act 1958.

Discover the UKHO Archive

Search our records

You can find descriptions of records in our online catalogue or in our PDF catalogue (PDF, 1.38 MB, 249 pages).

The catalogue does not contain information about every record in our collection, although we have an ongoing cataloguing programme. For help finding a record, please email research@ukho.gov.uk.

You can find details of our collection of ADMIRALTY charts from 1800 to 2016 in OCB series coverage 1800-2016 (PDF, 1.81 MB, 107 pages).

The National Archives’ catalogue also includes descriptions of some of our collections.

Table of online chart catalogues

Year How to access
1825 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1839 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1849 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1852, 1855 and 1857 PDFs available on request
1860 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1862 PDFs available on request
1864 Archives.org - 1864 catalogue
1866 and 1868 PDFs available on request
1870 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1872 and 1875 PDFs available on request
1879 Archive.org - 1879 catalogue
1880 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1890 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1898 Archive.org - 1898 catalogue
1900 PDFs available on request
1914 UKHO/TNA Legacy website - various catalogues
1915 (Fleet) and 1919 (Fleet) PDFs available on request
1942, 1945 (Fleet) and 1951 PDFs available on request
1967 Archive.org - 1967 catalogue home edition

Please email research@ukho.gov.uk to request a PDF catalogue.

Externally held records

Record type Dates Location
Hydrographic surveys pre 1830 The National Archives
Coastal views 18th, 19th and early 20th century The National Archives at Kew (TNA series ADM 344)
ADMIRALTY charts of Scottish waters 1795 to 1963 National Library of Scotland

Modern survey data

You can find modern survey data on the ADMIRALTY Marine Data Portal.

Research information

You can find information and prices in our pricing guide (PDF, 788 KB, 6 pages).

Please direct research enquires to research@ukho.gov.uk.

Visitor information

To arrange a visit to our archive for research purposes, complete an archive visit request form with the appropriate amount of notice.

Notice required
British nationals 1 to 2 weeks
Foreign nationals 4 to 6 weeks

Failure to apply far enough in advance may mean we refuse a visit. Please do not make travel and hotel arrangements before we have confirmed a visit date and security clearances.

Personal access to the archive is free. We charge for reproductions of documents, any research work and handling undertaken by our staff. The last document orders are at 15:30.

Research visits are:

  • by appointment only
  • subject to security clearance
  • open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:30, excluding bank holidays

Visitor request form

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email customerservices@ukho.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Please send completed visitor request forms to research@ukho.gov.uk.

Remote research

If it is not possible for you to visit our archive in Taunton, you can conduct study remotely. Use our online catalogue or PDF catalogue (PDF, 1.38 MB, 249 pages) to find reference numbers, then contact research@ukho.gov.uk to order a digital or print copy.

For more information about pricing, please see our pricing guide (PDF, 788 KB, 6 pages).

Employ our specialist researchers

Specialist research costs £80 per hour. We will provide you with an estimated number of hours, which will require payment in advance.

We can include preview images in the specialist research fee. Preview images are low-resolution photographs taken using a camera or tablet for preview purposes only.

Contact research@ukho.gov.uk to discuss your requirements.

Employ a record agent

You can employ a record agent to visit and research. Contact research@ukho.gov.uk to request a list of specialist record agents and discuss your requirements.

The UKHO does not endorse the work of any persons whose details are on this list.

Freedom of Information

For closed or classified records subject to Freedom of Information (FOI), we can provide up to 4 hours of research for free. Fees apply for obtaining reproduction copies within a FOI request.

Contact research@ukho.gov.uk for more information.

Buy a copy of our records

We have a high-quality studio camera and lighting system, which allows us to make reproduction copies of our records without damaging them. We can then provide reproduction copies as printed copies or as digital images.

For more information about pricing, please see our pricing guide (PDF, 788 KB, 6 pages).

Please remember to add:

  • administration/handling charge (£15 per order)
  • postage and packing (minimum of £3 per order)
  • VAT at the current rate (if applicable)

Order form

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email customerservices@ukho.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Please send completed order forms to research@ukho.gov.uk.

Digital and printed copies of our records are subject to contract. Do not reproduce or sell copies of our records.

Please refer to our copyright and licensing section for details.

Authenticate a copy

Our experts will review, sign and stamp the copy to confirm it is a authentic copy of the original record. If you request a digital copy, it will come with a signed electronic certificate.

Information Asset Register

The UKHO Archive Information Asset Register (IAR) contributes to the government-wide IAR available through the Office of Public Sector Information.

View the contents of the IAR

Contact details

Tel: +44 (0)1823 483341 / 483409

Email: research@ukho.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 29 August 2014
Last updated 23 August 2023 + show all updates
  1. Edited 'Archive Contents' section - new link added allowing access to UKHO archive online catalogue.

  2. Content structure amended from: 1. About the Archive 2. Accessing the UKHO Archive 3. Research 4. Obtaining copies of archive material 5. Archive contents 6. The UKHO Archive Information Asset Register 7. Contact details to 1. About the Archive 2. Archive contents 3. Research 4. Obtaining copies of archive material 5. Research visits to the UKHO Archive 6. The UKHO Archive IAR 7. Contact details Pricing information updated within Price Table B and new Price Table A added. Furthermore, PDF 'UKHO Archive research and reproduction services, pricing and help guide' available for download. PDF 'OCB series coverage 1800 - 2016' also now available for download.

  3. Information on the National Archives Discovery catalogue added.

  4. Change of pricing schedule.

  5. Admiralty charts of Scottish waters, 1795-1963 are now all online

  6. First published.

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