This guide concerns ship registration and Custom House records. It 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) - see Ceredigion Archives

Aldeburgh (1824–1845) - see Suffolk Archives

Appledore (1786–1908) - see North Devon Record Office

Arundel (1824–1855) - see West Sussex Record Office

Barnstaple (1824–1906) - see North Devon Record Office

Barrow (1868–1925) - see Cumbria Archives: Barrow Archive Centre

Berwick (1824–1910) - see Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office

Bideford (1786– ) - (for 1786–1831 see Bristol Archives); (for 1831– see North Devon Record Office)  

Blyth (1897– ) - see Northumberland Archives

Boston (1827– ) - see Lincolnshire Archives

Bridgwater (1786–1906) - see Somerset Archives and Local Studies

Bridport (1832–1880) - see Dorset History Centre

Bristol (1824– ) - see Bristol Archives

Brixham (1864–1905) - see Devon Archives and Local Studies

Caernarfon (1840– ) - see Caernarfon Record Office

Cardiff (1824–1932) - see Glamorgan Archives

Cardigan (1824– ) - see Pembrokeshire Archives

Carlisle (1786–1886) - see Cumbria Archives

Carmarthen (1839–1849) - see Carmarthenshire Archives

Chepstow (1786–1881) - see Gloucestershire Archives

Chichester (1837–1852) - see West Sussex Record Office

Cley (1839–1853) - see Norfolk Record Office

Colchester (1786–1849) - see Essex Record Office

Cowes (1786– ) - see Isle of Wight County Record Office

Dartmouth (1824–1900) - see Devon Archives and Local Studies

Deal (1824– ) - see Kent Archives

Dover (1824– ) - see Kent Archives

Exeter (1786-1934) - see Devon Record Office

Falmouth (1842– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Faversham (1824– ) - see Kent Archives

Fleetwood (1897– ) - see Lancashire Archives and Local Studies

Folkestone (1855– ) - see Kent Archives

Fowey (1786– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Gloucester (1824– ) - see Gloucestershire Archives

Goole (1828– ) - see East Riding Archives

Grimsby (1824–1918) - see Lincolnshire Archives

Hartlepool (1845– ) - see Teesside Archives

Hartlepool West (1860– ) - see Teesside Archives

Harwich (1824–1884) - see Essex Record Office

Hull (1804–1994) - see Hull History Centre

England and Wales (I–W)

Ilfracombe (1824–1837) - see North Devon Record Office

Ipswich (1824– ) - see Suffolk Archives

King's Lynn (1836–1922) - see Norfolk Record Office

Lancaster (1786–1905) - see Cumbria Archives

Littlehampton (1855– ) - see West Sussex Record Office

Liverpool (1739–1890) - see Merseyside Maritime Museum

Llanelli - see Carmarthenshire Archives

London (1786– ) - see The National Archives

Lowestoft (1852–1946) - see Suffolk Archives

Lyme Regis (1786–1880) - see Dorset History Centre

Malden (1786–1920) - see Essex Record Office 

Manchester (1894– ) - see Manchester Archives and Local Studies

Maryport (1838– ) - see Cumbria Archives

Middlesbrough (1861– ) - see Teesside Archives

Milford Haven (1827– ) - see Pembrokeshire Archives

Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1786–1872) - see Tyne & Wear Archives

Newhaven (1856–1895) - see East Sussex Record Office

Newport (1824– ) - see Gwent Archives

Padstow (1824– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Penzance (1786– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Plymouth (1824–1920) - see Plymouth and West Devon Record Office

Poole (1855–1893) - see Dorset History Centre

Portsmouth (1824– ) - see Hampshire Record Office

Port Talbot (1917– ) - see West Glamorgan Archive Service

Preston (1786– ) - see Lancashire Archives and Local Studies

Pwlheli (1840–1851) - see Caernarfon Record Office

Ramsgate (1850– ) - see Kent Archives

Rochester (1824– ) - see Kent Archives

Runcorn (1862– ) - see Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Rye (1855–1946) - see East Sussex Record Office

St Ives (1786– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Salcombe (1867–1918) - see Devon Archives and Local Studies

Sandwich (1786–1849) - see Kent Archives

Scarborough (1781– ) - see North Yorkshire Archives

Scilly (1786– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Shields, North (1866–1931) - Tyne & Wear Archives

Shields, South (1859–1891) - Tyne & Wear Archives

Shoreham (1821– ) - see West Sussex Record Office

Southampton (1855– ) - see Hampshire Record Office

Stockton (1838– ) - see Teesside Archives

Sunderland (1786–1915) - see Tyne & Wear Archives

Swansea (1824– ) - see West Glamorgan Archive Service

Teignmouth (1853–1939) - see Devon Archives and Local Studies

Truro (1824– ) - see Cornwall Archives

Wells (1832–1859) - see Norfolk Record Office

Weymouth (1786–1913) - see Dorset History Centre

Whitby (1786– ) - see North Yorkshire Archives

Whitehaven (1786– ) - see Cumbria Archives

Wisbech (1836–1854) - see Norfolk Record Office

Woodbridge (1786–1880) - see Suffolk Archives

Workington (1839– ) - see Cumbria Archives

Yarmouth (1834–1886) - see Norfolk Record Office

 

Archives and Record Offices



Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office
Walkergate Building, Walkergate, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD15 1DB

Tel: +44 (0)1289 301865

Email: berwickarchives@northumberland.gov.uk 

Bristol Archives
'B' Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN

Tel: +44 (0)1179 224224

Email: Contact form

Caernarfon Record Office
Gwynedd Archive Service, Cyngor Gwynedd, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH

Tel: +44 (0)1286 679095

Email: archifau@gwynedd.llyw.cymru 

Carmarthenshire Archives
Carmarthen Library, St Peter's Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1LN

Tel: +44 (0)1267 228232

Email: archives@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Ceredigion Archives
Old Town Hall, Queen's Square, Aberystwyth, SY23 2EB

Tel: +44 (0)1970 633698 or 633697

Email: archives@ceredigion.gov.uk

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RL

Tel: +44 (0)1244 602574

Email: recordoffice@cheshire.gov.uk

Cornwall Archives
Kresen Kernow, Little Vauxhall, Redruth TR15 1AS

Tel: (+44) 01872 324333  

Email: kresenkernow@cornwall.gov.uk 

Cumbria Archives: Barrow Archive Centre
Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1LL

Tel: +44 (0)1229 894377

Email: barrow.archives@cumberland.gov.uk 

Cumbria Archives: Carlisle Archive Centre
Lady Gillford's House, Petteril Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AJ

Tel: +44 (0)1228 227284

Email: carlisle.archives@cumberland.gov.uk 

Devon Archives and Local Studies
Devon Heritage Centre, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Exeter, EX2 7NL

Tel: +44 (0)1392 888700

Email: devonarchives@swheritage.org.uk 

Dorset History Centre
Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP

Tel: +44 (0)1305 250550

Email: archives@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 

East Riding Archives
Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE

Tel: +44 (0)1482 392790

Email: archives.service@eastriding.gov.uk 

East Sussex Record Office
The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP

Tel: +44 (0)1273 482349

Email: thekeep@eastsussex.gov.uk 

Essex Record Office
Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT

Tel: +44 (0)33301 32500

Email: ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk

Glamorgan Archives
Clos Parc Morgannwg, Leckwith, Cardiff, CF11 8AW

Tel: +44 (0)2920 872200

Email: glamro@cardiff.gov.uk 

Gloucestershire Archives
Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3DW

Tel: +44 (0)1452 425295

Email: archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Gwent Archives
Steelworks Road, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, NP23 6DN

Tel: +44 (0)1495 766261

Email: enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk

Hampshire Record Office
Sussex Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8TH

Tel: +44 (0)1962 846154

Email: enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk

Hull History Centre
Worship Street, Kingston-Upon-Hull, HU2 8BG

Tel: +44 (0)1482 317500

Email: hullhistorycentre@hcandl.co.uk

Isle of Wight County Record Office
26 Hillside, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EB

Tel: +44 (0)1983 823820

Email: record.office@iow.gov.uk

Kent Archives
Kent History and Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ

Tel: +44 (0)1622 694363

Email: archives@kent.gov.uk

Lancashire Archives and Local Studies
Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE

Tel: +44 (0)1722 263039

Email: archives@lancashire.gov.uk 

Lincolnshire Archives
St Rumbold Street, Lincoln, LN2 5AB

Tel: +44 (0)1522 782040

Email: lincolnshire.archives@lincolnshire.gov.uk 

Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD

Tel: +44 (0)1612 341979

Email: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Merseyside Maritime Archives Centre
Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AA

Tel: +44 (0)151 4784424

Email: maritime.archives@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk 

The National Archives
Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU

Tel: +44 (0)20 8876 3444

Norfolk Record Office
The Archive Centre, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DQ

Tel: +44 (0)1603 222599

Email: norfec@norfolk.gov.uk

North Devon Record Office
Barnstaple Library, Tuly Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1EL

Tel: +44 (0)1271 318792

Email: northdevon@swheritage.org.uk

North Yorkshire Archives
Malpas Road, Northallerton, DL7 8AF

Tel: +44 (0)1609 777585

Email: archives@northyorks.gov.uk

Northumberland Archives
QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF

Tel: +44 (0)191 236 2680

Pembrokeshire Archives
Prendergast, Haverfordwest, SA61 2PE

Tel: +44 (0)1437 775456

Email: record.office@pembrokeshire.gov.uk 

Plymouth and West Devon Record Office
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AX.

Tel: +44 (0)1752 305940

Email: pwdro@plymouth.gov.uk

Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, TA2 6SF

Tel: +44 (0)1823 337600

Email: somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk 

Suffolk Archives
The Hold, 131 Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1LR

Tel: +44 (0)1473 296666

Email: archives@suffolk.gov.uk 

Teesside Archives
Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6LA

Tel: +44 (0)1642 248321

Email: teessidearchives@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Tyne & Wear Archives
Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4JA

Tel: +44 (0)191 277 2248

Email: archives@northeastmuseums.org.uk 

West Glamorgan Archive Service
Y Storfa, 277-278 Oxford Street, Swansea, SA1 3EL

Tel: +44 (0)1792 636589

Email: westglam.archives@swansea.gov.uk 

West Sussex Record Office
3 Orchard Street, Chichester PO19 1DD

Tel: +44 (0)1243 753602

Email: records.office@westsussex.gov.uk

 

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:

National Records of Scotland

The West Search Room, West Register House, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH12 4DF

Tel: +44 (0)131 535 1400

 

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

2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast, BT3 9HQ

Tel: +44 (0)28 9025 5905

Email: proni@dcalni.gov.uk

 

Transcripts are available in:

Library and Archives at National Museums NI
Administration building, Cultra, Holywood, BT18 0EU

Tel: +44 (0)2890 395131

Email: library.archives@nationalmuseumsni.org 
 

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: library@mnh.im 


The Caird Library & Archive 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

P.O. Box 631, St Julian's Emplacement, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 3DL

Tel: 01481 720229

Email: shipsregistry@gov.gg

Next steps

Other guides in the series which may be useful for researching the Merchant Navy are:

For general research help, see:

Although care has been taken 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.