Dunstable Library
Local and Family
History A - Z > By Library
For more information on any of these resources, please see
Local and Family History A-Z
- Ancestry Library Edition
Free access in the library to 'Ancestry Library Edition', a web site that has a huge range of resources for family historians. For details, see the top of Local and Family History A-Z page
- Baptism records
Register of Methodist baptisms in Dunstable 1843-1960s
Register of Methodist baptisms in Luton 1830-1960s
- Books
Dunstable: its history and surroundings, by Smith Worthington G
Dunstable in detail, by N. Benson (Book Castle, 1986)
Proud heritage: a brief history of Dunstable, by V. Evans (Book Castle, 1999)
Streets ahead: an illustrated guide to the streets of Dunstable, by R. Walden (Book Castle, 1999)
The book of Dunstable and Houghton Regis, by V. Evans (Barracuda, 1985)
For further details please see the library catalogue
- Burial
and cemetery
records
Dunstable cemetery records 1861-1987, on microfiche
National Burial Index on CD-ROM for England and Wales from 1538 onwards
- Census indexes
Surname index to 1851 Bedfordshire census
The 1881 British Census National Index on CD-ROM
- Censuses
Free access to census records 1841- 1901 on 'Ancestry Library Edition' web site
Dunstable and local area census records from 1841-1901on microfilm
1851 census records for Devon, Norfolk and Warwick on CD-ROM
1881 British Census on CD-ROM
1871 and 1891 census records for Bedfordshire on CD-ROM
- Council papers
Bedfordshire County Council 1 year back file
Dunstable Town Council Minutes 1 year back file
South Bedfordshire District Council 1 year back file
- County guides and directories
Kelly's directories on microfiche
Kelly's Post Office Trades Directory of Bedfordshire 1847 on CD-ROM
Guides from the 20th century
- Electoral registers
South Beds Electoral Registers 1957-to date on microfiche (1976/77 not available; from 2003 onwards, edited version only)
-
Highway Board
minutes
Luton Highway Board Minutes 1863-1868, 1873-1881
- Photographs and prints
A collection of photographs, prints and slides of Dunstable
- International Genealogical Index
(I.G.I.)
British Isles (1992 edition) on microfiche and on CD-ROM for the British Isles and other countries
- Magazines and journals
Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal volumes 2 (1964) to 15 (1981)
Bedfordshire Archaeology volumes 16 (1983) to date
Bedfordshire County Life magazine, current copy plus 5 year back file
Bedfordshire Historical Record Society volumes 1 (1912) to 84 (2005)
Bedfordshire Magazine volumes 1 (1947) to 20 (1987) plus index, volumes 21 (1988) to 26 (1999), not indexed
Bedfordshire Naturalist volumes 1 (1946) to 42 (1988)
Manshead Magazine: journal of Manshead Archaeological Society of Dunstable volumes 1 (1958) to date
-
Military
lists
- Newspapers
Dunstable Chronicle and Advertiser 1856-1860
Dunstable Borough Gazette 1869 -1948
Dunstable Gazette 1949-date
Luton News June 1979-1988
- Parish registers
Complete set of transcribed Anglican parish registers from 1500s to 1812 (dates vary for different events and places), in book format
Surname index to complete set of (Anglican) Bedfordshire Parish Registers, on CD-ROM
Parish registers for Dunstable and local area 1813-1930s, on microfiche
-
Poor Law Union
minutes
Woburn Poor Law minute book Vols 1-3
- Statistics
Summary census data for Bedfordshire towns and villages from 1841 to date
- Telephone directories
Recent back file of the local area
- Town guides and
directories
Dunstable guides and directories from the 20th century
- Victoria County History of
Bedfordshire
Volumes I, II & III, plus index
- Vital records index
'Vital records index British Isles' is a CD-ROM which covers selected records of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland between 1538 and 1888. Not all counties are represented and some are more completely represented than others.
Dunstable
Library contact details and opening times![]()

