It also explains where to find transcripts of ship registers from Custom Houses throughout the British Isles. Before 1786, there were no central government records of ship registration, although ships began to be registered around the middle of the 17th century. 1661: Foreign-built ships were required to register with Custom Houses in order to obtain the same trading privileges as British-built ships. 1695: British-built ships also had to register before trading to or from the colonies. This was later extended to ships importing wool from Ireland. 1786: The Merchant Shipping Act (1786) required all British ships of more than 15 tons to register with Customs in their home port. A copy, known as a transcript of each entry was sent to the Custom House in London or Edinburgh. 1814: Fire in the London Custom House destroyed all the early transcripts sent from other ports. However, registration books for the Port of London itself survive, as do some local records kept by Custom Houses at other ports (see below). 1835: The official method of calculating tonnage was revised; for steamships, engine-room space was deducted. 1854: The Merchant Shipping Act (1854) introduced official numbers for all newly-registered ships and further revised calculations of tonnage. 1855: New measurement became compulsory for any ship re-registered or transferred to a different registry. 1857: The first generally-available Mercantile Navy List was published, covering all ships registered in Britain or at Empire (subsequently Commonwealth) ports, and was issued each year until 1976. Custom House ship registers England and Wales (A–H) | England and Wales (I–W) | Rest of UK Transcripts of ship registers made at every Custom House in Britain, 1814 onwards, should be found at The National Archives (see London, below); these include transcripts from Custom Houses in the South of Ireland until 1922. A list of Custom Houses for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, along with the dates for which they have ship registration records, is given below: England and Wales (A–H) Aberystwyth (1824–1925) Ceredigion Archives, Swyddfa'r Sir, Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DE Tel: 01970 633697/8 Email: archives@ceredigion.gov.uk Website: Ceredigion Archives. Aldeburgh (1824–1845) (see Ipswich) Appledore (1786–1908) (see Barnstaple) Arundel (1824–1855) (see Chichester) Barnstaple (1824–1906) North Devon Record Office, Barnstaple Library & Record Office, Tuly Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1EL Tel: 01271 388607/8 Fax: 01271 388608 Email: ndevrec@devon.gov.uk Website: North Devon Record Office. Barrow (1868–1925) Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library, 140 Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1XW Tel: 01229 894377 Fax: 01229 894364 Email: barrow.record.office@cumbriacc.gov.uk Website: Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library. Berwick (1824–1910) Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office, Borough Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED Tel: 01289 301865 Fax: 01289 330540 Email: lb@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk Website: Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office. Bideford (1786– ) (see Bristol (1786–1831)) (see Barnstaple (1831– )) Blyth (1897– ) Northumberland Record Office, Melton Park, North Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 5QX Tel: 0191 236 2680 Fax: 01289 330540 Website: Northumberland Record Office. Boston (1827– ) Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street, Lincoln, LN2 5AB Tel: (+44) 01522 525158 Fax: 01522 530047 Email: archive_bookings@lincolnshire.gov.uk Website: Lincolnshire Archives. Bridgwater (1786–1906) Somerset Archive and Record Office, Obridge Road, Taunton, TA2 7PU Tel: +44 (0)1823 278805 Fax: 01823 325402 Email: archives@somerset.gov.uk Website: Somerset Archive and Record Office. Bridport (1832–1880) (see Lyme Regis) Bristol (1824– ) Bristol Record Office, 'B' Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN Tel: 0117 922 4224 Fax: 0117 922 4236 Email: bro@bristol-city.gov.uk Website: Bristol Record Office. Brixham (1864–1905) (see Exeter) Caernarfon (1840– ) Caernarfon Record Office, County Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH Tel: 01286 679095 Fax: 01286 679637 Email: archives.caernarfon@gwynedd.gov.uk Website: Caernarfon Record Office. Cardiff (1824–1932) Glamorgan Record Office, The Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF1 3NE Tel: +44 (0)2920 780282 Email: glamro@cardiff.ac.uk Website: Glamorgan Record Office. Cardigan (1824– ) Pembrokeshire Record Office, The Castle, Haverfordwest, SA61 2EF Tel: +44 (0)1437 763707 Fax: 01437 768539 Website: Pembrokeshire Record Office. Carlisle (1786–1886) Cumbria Record Office, The Castle, Carlisle, CA3 8UR Tel: 01228 607285 Fax: 01228 707274 Email: carlisle.record.office@cumbriacc.gov.uk Website: Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library. Carmarthen (1839–1849) Carmarthenshire Archives Service, Parc Myrddin, Richmond Terrace, Carmarthen, SA31 1DS Tel: 01267 228232 Fax: 01267 228237 Email: archives@carmarthenshire.gov.uk Website: Carmarthenshire Archives Service. Chepstow (1786–1881) (see Gloucester) Chichester (1837–1852) West Sussex Record Office, County Hall, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RN Tel: +44 (0)1243 753600 Fax: 01243 533959 Email: records.office@westsussex.gov.uk Website: West Sussex Record Office. Cley (1839–1853) (see King's Lynn) Colchester (1786–1849) Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex Tel: +44 (0)1245 244644 Fax: 01245 244644 Email: ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk Website: Essex Record Office. Cowes (1786– ) Isle of Wight County Record Office, 26 Hillside, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EB Tel: +44 (0)1983 823820 Fax: 01983 823820 Email: record.office@iow.gov.uk Website: Isle of Wight Record Office Dartmouth (1824–1900) (see Exeter) Deal (1824– ) Centre for Kentish Studies, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1QX Tel: (+44) 01622 694363 Fax: 01622 694379 Email: archives@kent.gov.uk Website: Centre for Kentish Studies. Dover (1824– ) (see Deal) Exeter (1786–1934) Devon Record Office, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, EX2 7NL Tel: +44 (0)1392 384253 Email: devrec@devon.gov.uk Website: Devon Record Office. Falmouth (1842– ) (see Truro) Faversham (1824– ) (see Deal) Fleetwood (1897– ) (see Preston) Folkestone (1855– ) (see Deal) Fowey (1786– ) (see Truro) Gloucester (1824– ) Gloucester Archives, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3DW Tel: +44 (0)1452 425295 Email: archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk Website: Gloucester Archives. Goole (1828– ) East Riding of Yorkshire Archive Service, County Hall, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 9BA Tel: 01482 393939 Fax: 01482 393375 Email: customer.services@eastriding.gov.uk Website: East Riding of Yorkshire Archive Service. Grimsby (1824–1918) (see Boston) Hartlepool (1845– ) (see Middlesbrough) Hartlepool West (1860– ) (see Middlesborough) Harwich (1824–1884) (see Colchester) Hull (1804–1994) Hull History Centre, Worship Street, Kingston-Upon-Hull, HU2 8BG Tel: 01482 317500 Email: hullhistorycentre@hcandl.co.uk Website: Hull History Centre England and Wales (I–W) Ilfracombe (1824–1837) (see Barnstaple) Ipswich (1824– ) Suffolk Record Office, Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ Tel: 01473 584541 Fax: 01473 584533 Email: ipswich.ro@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk Website: Suffolk Record Office. King's Lynn (1836–1922) Norfolk Record Office, The Archive Centre, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DQ Tel: (0)1603 222599 Fax: (0)1603 761885 Email: norfec@norfolk.gov.uk Website: Norfolk Record Office. Lancaster (1786–1905) (see Barrow) Littlehampton (1855– ) (see Chichester) Liverpool (1739–1890) Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AA Tel: +44 (0)151 478 4499 Website: Merseyside Maritime Museum. Llanelli (see Carmarthen) London (1786– ) The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU Tel: +44 (0)20 8876 3444 Website: The National Archives. Lowestoft (1852–1946) Suffolk Record Office, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1DR Tel: 01502 405357 Fax: 01502 405350 Email: lowestoft.ro@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk Website: Suffolk Record Office. Lyme Regis (1786–1880) Dorset County Record Office, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP Tel: +44 (0)1305 250550 Fax: 01305 257184 Email: archives@dorsetcc.gov.uk Website: Dorset History Centre. Malden (1786–1920) Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT Tel: +44 (0)1245 244644 Email: ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk Website: Essex Record Office. Manchester (1894– ) Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD Tel: +44 (0)161 234 1979 Fax: 0161 234 1927 Email: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk Website: Manchester Archives and Local Studies. Maryport (1838– ) (see Carlisle) Middlesbrough (1861– ) Teesside Archives, Exchange House, 6 Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1DB Tel: +44 (0)1642 248321 Fax: 01642 248391 Email: teessidearchives@middlesbrough.gov.uk Website: Teesside Archives. Milford Haven (1827– ) (see Cardigan) Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1786–1872) Tyne & Wear Archives Service, Blandford House, Blandford Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4JA Tel: +44 (0)191 277 2248 Fax: 0191 230 2614 Email: twas@gateshead.gov.uk Website: Tyne & Wear Archives Service. Newhaven (1856–1895) East Sussex Record Office, The Maltings, Castle Precincts, Lewes, BN17 1YT Tel: 01273 482349 Fax: 01273 482341 Website: East Sussex Record Office. Newport (1824– ) Gwent Archives, Steelworks Road, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, NP23 6DN Tel: 01495 353362 Email: enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk Website: Gwent Archives Padstow (1824– ) (see Truro) Penzance (1786– ) (see Truro) Plymouth (1824–1920) Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, Unit 3 Clare Place, Plymouth, PL4 0JW Tel: (+44) 01752 305940 Email: pwdro@plymouth.gov.uk Website: Plymouth and West Devon Record Office. Poole (1855–1893) (see Lyme Regis) Portsmouth (1824– ) Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8TH Tel: +44 (0)1962 846154 Email: enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk Website: Hampshire Record Office. Port Talbot (1917– ) (see Swansea) Preston (1786– ) Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE Tel: +44 (0)1722 263039 Fax: 01772 533050 Email: record.office@ed.lancscc.gov.uk Website: Lancashire Record Office. Pwlheli (1840–1851) (see Caernarfon) Ramsgate (1850– ) (see Deal) Rochester (1824– ) (see Deal) Runcorn (1862– ) Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service, Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RL Tel: +44 (0)1244 602574 Email: recordoffice@cheshire.gov.uk Website: Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service. Rye (1855–1946) (see Newhaven) St Ives (1786– ) (see Truro) Salcombe (1867–1918) (see Exeter) Sandwich (1786–1849) (see Deal) Scarborough (1781– ) North Yorkshire County Record Office, County Hall, Malpas Road, Northallerton, DL7 8AF Tel: +44 (0)1609 777585 Fax: 01609 777078 Email: archives@northyorks.gov.uk Website: North Yorkshire County Record Office. Scilly (1786– ) (see Truro) Shields, North (1866–1931) (see Newcastle upon Tyne) Shields, South (1859–1891 (see Newcastle upon Tyne) Shoreham (1821– ) (see Littlehampton) Southampton (1855– ) (see Portsmouth) Stockton (1838– ) (see Middlesborough) Sunderland (1786–1915) (see Newcastle upon Tyne) Swansea (1824– ) West Glamorgan Archive Service, County Hall, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN Tel: +44 (0)1792 636589 Email: archives@swansea.gov.uk Website: West Glamorgan Archive Service. Teignmouth (1853–1939) (see Exeter) Truro (1824– ) Cornwall Record Office, County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY Tel: (+44) 01872 323127 Fax: 01872 322292 Email: cro@cornwall.gov.uk Website: Cornwall Record Office. Wells (1832–1859) (see King's Lynn) Weymouth (1786–1913) (see Lyme Regis) Whitby (1786– ) (see Scarborough) Whitehaven (1786– ) (see Carlisle) Wisbech (1836–1854) (see King's Lynn) Woodbridge (1786–1880) (see Ipswich) Workington (1839– ) (see Carlisle) Yarmouth (1834–1886) (see King's Lynn) Rest of the UK Scotland Registers should have been transferred to Scottish regional record offices, but some volumes are held by local history societies. The regional record office should be able to advise on the current location for any Custom House in its area. Any queries regarding Registers of Shipping should be directed to: The West Search Room National Archives of Scotland West Register House Charlotte Square Edinburgh EH12 4DF Tel: +44 (0)131 535 1400 Fax: 0131 535 1430 Website: http://www.nas.gov.uk Ireland Dublin ship registers were destroyed in 1920, but transcripts of these and other ship registers for the South of Ireland until 1922 are held by the National Archives (see London, above). Ship registers for Northern Ireland are held by: The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast BT9 6NY Tel: +44 (0)28 9025 5905 Fax: 028 9025 5999 Email: proni@dcalni.gov.uk Website: http://www.proni.gov.uk Transcripts are available in: The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Cultra Holywood Co.Down BT18 0EU Tel: +44 (0)28 9042 8428 Email: uftm@talk21.com Website: http://www.nidex.com/uftm/index.htm Isle of Man Ship registers are held by: The Manx Museum Kingswood Grove Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3LY Tel: +44 (0)1624 648000 Email: enquiries@mnh.gov.im Website: http://www.gov.im/mnh/ManxMuseum.asp The Caird Library holds registers for the following Isle of Man ports: Douglas, 1824–1908 Derbyhaven, 1824–1853 Castletown, 1824–1947 Ramsey, 1824–1900 (except 1856–1876) Peel, 1824–1953 (except for the period 1850–1863) Channel Islands Jersey Ship registers 1803 to the present day are held at: The Registry Office Jersey Harbour Department Maritime House La Route du Port Elizabeth St Helier Jersey JE1 1HE Guernsey A number of the original Register ledgers from 1895–1922 are missing. Registers after 1922 are held at: The States of Guernsey Registry of British Ships Registry of British Ships P.O. Box 631 St Julian's Emplacement St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 3DL. Tel: 01481 720229 Fax: 01481 705824 / 714177 Email: shipsregistry@gov.gg Next steps Other guides in the series which may be useful for researching the Merchant Navy are: Research guide C1: The Merchant Navy: Tracing people: Crew lists, agreements and official logs Research guide C2: The Merchant Navy: Tracing people: Master mariners, mates and engineers Research guide C4: The Merchant Navy: Sources for enquiries Research guide C5: The Merchant Navy: Sources for ship histories Research guide C6: The Merchant Navy: The Mercantile Navy List Research guide C8: The Merchant Navy: Wrecks, losses and casualties Research guide C9: The Merchant Navy: World War One Research guide C10: The Merchant Navy: World War Two Research guide C12: The Merchant Navy: Ship registration and Custom House records Research guide C13: The Merchant Navy: Merchant seamen’s records: Sources of information at the NMM For general research help see: Research guide A2: Principal records for maritime research at the National Maritime Museum Research guide A3: Tracing family history from maritime records Although care has been taking in preparing the information contained in this document, anyone using it shall be deemed to indemnify the National Maritime Museum from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.