Co-operative Archive Visit The Archive From October 2025 the reading room will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am - 4pm. This is to support important collaborative projects and necessary backroom work on our collections. To book a visit to do your own research at Holyoake House please download and fill in the User Registration Form indicating: the day and time you wish to visit which archives or rare books you wish to consult and email [email protected] It is helpful to have a list of the materials that you want to see in advance so we can prepare them. We can then assess your requests and advise you on availability. For details of our holdings visit the Search the Archive page. Limited spaces are available, and you must give a minimum of a weeks' notice when booking an appointment. Please only visit the reading room if we have confirmed your visit. We close for lunch from 13:00 - 13:45 and ask researchers to go offsite during this time. First Time? Watch our film made by interns from Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC) who support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The guide from The National Archives How to Use Archives may also be useful. An article from Peel Archives in Toronto, Canada called How Can You Help Archivists to Help You? is a useful insight to how archives work and how to get the best out of your visit. Photography Self service photography is allowed in the reading room upon completion of a reprographics form to state this is for personal research only. If you wish to use material for any other purpose, then permission from the Archive must be sought. Day of Visit Please make yourself known to the reception desk at Holyoake House who will inform us of your arrival. Bookable Services Initial enquiries and doing your own research is free but if you need us to do remote research for you (if you don't wish to travel) or answer a more in-depth research enquiry the following charges may apply. *Please consider that this may be cheaper than the cost of travelling to Manchester for a visit in person. £15 for scanning identified material (when we are asked for a specific image or document). £15 for 30 minutes of research. If further research is required this would be charged at £30 per hour with a minimum of 1 hour, maximum 3 hours. We are able to undertake quick enquiries but as we are a small team, we charge for more in depth research to help offset the costs of staff time. If we do research for you, scans and information sent by email or File sharing platforms will not have additional charges. Documents can be transcribed if requested at the additional rate of £10 per page. Donate Here Referencing For details on how to reference items used in the archives, please see this worksheet. Finding Us The Archive is located at Holyoake House on Hanover Street, Manchester, M60 0AS in Manchester City Centre's Co-operative Quarter. Hanover Street is just across the road from Victoria Train Station and a short Metrolink (tram) ride to Shudehill from Manchester Piccadilly Station. The building has an access ramp from street level and a lift. We have no onsite parking; the closest public car park is NCP Printworks, Shudehill, M4 2AT. Banner Image - CHT CR 2019 A. Hirst Manage Cookie Preferences