Information about your family history, the history of your house or street.
Last updated: 18 August 2026
Next review: 14 January 2027
Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library are located at Chingford Assembly Hall, The Green, Station Road, London E4 7EN.
We hold on one site a wide range of manuscripts, printed and pictorial collections which can be used to research the development of our borough and its communities, the history of your house or street, or your family history in Waltham Forest. These collections are a free to use resource, available to everyone by prior appointment.
Please contact us to book your Searchroom visit, giving as much information as possible about your research topic so that we can prepare relevant sources for you in advance. We recommend that you book more than one visit if your research covers a range of topics.
We will ask you to complete a reader registration form before your first visit. For more information, please email wfa.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk
Archive sources include records of:
Printed sources include:
Lists of Local Studies Library subject files (some files may contain limited information)
The Vestry House Museum photo collection is available in the Searchroom. This comprises a vast range of images dating from the 1860s onwards, including street scenes, buildings, landmarks, businesses and events.
Searchroom visits are by prior appointment only on two days each week:
We will be closed from Wednesday 5 August to Friday 14 August due to essential site maintenance work.
Wednesday 10:30am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 5pm
Thursday 10:30am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 5pm
Friday 10:30am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 5pm
Saturday 10:30am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 5pm
Searchroom opening dates for the next two months. Appointments are subject to availability.
Friday 28 August
Saturday 29 August
Wednesday 3 September
Thursday 4 September
Friday 11 September
Saturday 12 September
Wednesday 16 September
Thursday 17 September
Friday 25 September
Wednesday 30 September
Thursday 1 October
Friday 9 October
Saturday 10 October
Wednesday 14 October
Thursday 15 October
Friday 23 October
Saturday 24 October
Wednesday 28 October
Thursday 29 October
Free Wi-Fi is available in our Searchroom.
Chingford Assembly Hall entrance, foyer and the ground floor Searchroom are fully accessible.
An accessible unisex toilet is located in the foyer.
There is a parking bay for Blue Badge holders in front of Chingford Library next door to the Assembly Hall, but this cannot be pre-booked.
Bus: routes 97, 179, 212, 313, 379, 385, 397 and 444 to Station Road/The Green. For Chingford Assembly Hall alight at stop L (eastbound) or stops J or K (westbound)
Rail: the overground Weaver Line runs from London Liverpool Street to Chingford Station. It is approximately a 10-minute walk from Chingford Station to Chingford Assembly Hall, or 2 minutes by bus from stop E in Station Road.
Tube: the Victoria Line terminates at Walthamstow Central. Transfer here to the overground rail on the Weaver Line as above.
Parking:
Station Road
Richmond Road
• Local and family history
• House history
Chingford Assembly Hall
The Green, Station Road
London E4 7EN