The ARK is the repository of Knowsley Archives, providing access to a wide range of resources to help you discover the heritage of the people and communities which make up the Borough of Knowsley. Our ARCHON number, which identifies us in The National Archives' Find an Archive directory, is 1076.

The ARK: Archive Resource for Knowsley is located on the 1st floor of the Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby L32 8XY. It is accessible by lift or stairs. It is open during normal Library opening hours, Monday to Friday and by appointment at other times.

The repository houses a unique collection of archive materials, from public, local government and ecclesiastical records, to legal papers, private and estate records, school records, business records and materials relating to voluntary organisations, clubs, charities and societies. There are also many maps, plans, historical photographs and ephemeral materials available for you to view.

The public search room offers 4 research seats and houses 2 dedicated PCs for web-based research. There are also 2 microfilm scanners and a fiche reader to enable researchers to view local newspapers, cemetery records, Church of England parish records, Protestant non-conformist and Catholic parish records, civil registration indices and electoral rolls on microfilm or microfiche.

For book-based research, The ARK houses its Special Collection of rare books covering topics of local and regional interest, plus a wide selection of reference books relating to the rich history of Knowsley, Merseyside and the wider Lancashire area and proceedings of local and family history societies.

With all of the family history resources and archive collections held on-site, The ARK's dedicated team can offer seamless access to Knowsley's historic records.

As Knowsley Council's accredited archive service and a Place of Deposit for Public Records, we aim to collect items relating to Knowsley, its people and its past and we are keen to add to the range of materials we hold. If you have any documents, photographs or other items which you think researchers will find interesting, do get in touch and help us to build an archive for the future.

The ARK catalogue is a work in progress and is not a complete catalogue of the entire holdings: the records of more collections are being added on a regular basis and there are additional finding aids available which can be used to source materials.

If you have any queries about The ARK, its holdings or to make an appointment, please do contact us and we will do our best to help.