Researching Henlow in the Archives

High Street, Henlow c.1910 [Z1306/58/2/8] 

Henlow is an ancient parish located 11 miles south east of Bedford with a hamlet at New Town. Bedfordshire Archives holds many documents relating to the parish; a search of our online catalogue with Henlow as the subject returns over 2700 items. Significant collections for researching people or places in Henlow include:  

• P39: Records for the parish of St Mary the Virgin, including: registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; records relating to church property; account books of overseers of the poor; parish magazines  

• PCHenlow: Parish council records, including: minutes; financial records  

• MC1/5/0/1: Books of reference to the first edition OS plans 

• ABP/W: Wills proved in the Archdeaconry of Bedford, 1536-1857  

• QSR: Quarter Sessions Records for Bedfordshire from 1714-1900. A search combining Henlow as the subject and QSR as the reference will find criminal cases in which the parish is mentioned.   

• SDHenlow Records of Henlow School [Boys, Girls, VC CP. VC CPI, Raynsford VC Lower] 

• Z1130/58: Postcards with pictures of Henlow  

• Z1306/58: Postcards with pictures of Henlow  

Further details of these items can be found through our online catalogue. Our detailed collection guides give more information about the types of records we hold.   

Other useful sources for information about Henlow include:  

• Victoria County History entry for Henlow, available through British History Online. Although published in 1908 most of the information is still relevant.   

• The National Archives' Manorial Documents Register lists all manorial documents known to survive for the manors of Henlow Grey, Henlow Warden, Henlow Zouches and Henlow Lanthony. 

• Open Domesday lists 5 entries for Henlow in the Domesday Book of 1086  

Copies of the parish registers listing baptisms, marriages and burials up to 1812 can be purchased from Bedfordshire Archives.   

We offer an enquiry and research service, however this is limited to local history, properties and general subjects; we are no longer able to carry out genealogy research.