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A white building with dark, pointed tiled roofs with a green grass lawn in front and sign indicating it is called Alexander Ross House and houses Lochaber Archive Centre
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Lochaber Archive Centre

Alexander Ross House
Achintore Road
FORT WILLIAM
PH33 6RQ
01397 707050
lochaber.archives@highlifehighland.com
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Welcome to Lochaber Archive Centre

Located in Fort William, Lochaber Archive Centre collects, preserves, and provides access to historical records relating to Lochaber. 

Our archive collections span from the 17th century to the present day and covers the collections relating to Lochaber from the historic counties of Inverness and Argyll.  To get a feel for what collections we hold in advance of your visit you can explore the archives held at the centre or browse our online catalogue.

Visiting us 

Lochaber Archive Centre is open to the public Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00am–1:00pm and 2:00pm-4.30pm. Closed on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. 

You’re welcome to drop in anytime, but if you’d like to make the most of your visit, you can pre-book a time and request specific documents in advance.

For details on how to book and what to expect on arrival, please see our visitor information page.

More information

Visitor information

Visitor information

All the information you need to plan your visit to Lochaber Archive Centre

A person wearing a light striped shirt and a blue lanyard is standing beside a shelving unit in an archive storage area, removing a large green-bound volume labeled “Valuation Roll” from the shelf. The shelves are filled with similar large books wrapped in protective covers. A white door and fire exit signs are visible in the background.

Archives held at the centre

Discover historical records held at Lochaber Archive Centre

A screenshot of a website homepage for ‘CalmView’, a archival online collections database. The background features a collage of Highland Archie Service's archive centre buildings. In the centre of the foreground, a search box titled ‘Find a record’ indicates that this is a link to an searchable online archive catalogue.

Online catalogue

Discover the rich history of the Highlands through our online catalogue

A man wearing a white striped shirt and a blue lanyard is seated at a wooden desk in an archive or research room. In front of them is a large open ledger or archival book resting on a foam book cradle. Behind the desk, there is office equipment including a printer and a microfilm reader.

Can’t visit? We can help

Expert archival and family history research carried out for you by the Highland Archive Service

A close-up, slightly angled photograph of a printed family tree chart. The image shows connected boxes containing names, birth dates, and death dates. Visible entries include “John Trotter Ramage,” with dates “b. 8 Sep 1844 Wesruther” and “d. 23 Nov 1928 Denholm, shepherd,” and “Elizabeth Elliot,” with dates “b. 23 Nov 1852 Southdean” and “d. 5 Dec 1932 Crailing.” Lines link these individuals to others whose names and details appear partially out of focus. The overall document is printed in black text on white paper.

Family history at Lochaber Archive Centre

Highland Archive Service is here to help you research your family history

Two people sit at a desk across from an archivist who is working on a computer with dual monitors. The desk is covered with papers, folders, and printed documents, including a booklet with a crest on the cover. Behind the desk are bookshelves filled with books, and a large wall chart is partially visible.

One-to-one consultations and family trees

Get expert guidance on family history research, a personal consultation, or a fully researched family tree

Portrait photograph of three herring gutters c.1890 , taken by Johnston Photographers Wick. This photograph illustrates how the gutters would wrap their fingers in strips cut from flour sacks to protect them from cuts .

Online exhibitions

Explore Highland Archive Service's online exhibitions

A black-and-white photograph of a rural landscape featuring traditional stone cottages with thatched roofs, surrounded by low stone walls and dense vegetation. A dirt path leads toward the foreground cottage, which has a sloping roof and chimney. In the middle ground, additional cottages are visible among trees and open fields. The background shows a large, gently sloping mountain under a clear sky. The overall scene conveys a historic crofting settlement in a countryside setting.

Am Baile

Explore the Scottish Highlands and Islands through photographs, illustrations, maps, documents, audio and video

A light bright room with people looking at white tables covered with displays of historic documents.

Learning and outreach

Learning and outreach activities and opportunities from the Highland Archive Service

Our Blog

Stories from the archives - Lochaber Archive Centre

Blogs from Lochaber Archive Centre

Read our blog
Black-and-white photograph of a small crofting township in a rural Highland landscape. The scene shows two traditional stone cottages with thick thatched roofs, surrounded by rough stone walls and a simple wooden gate. A winding dirt track curves through the foreground, leading toward the houses. In the background, rolling hills and rugged mountains rise under an open sky, creating a remote and picturesque setting.

Explore our
online shop

Visit our online shop to explore the products and services available from Highland Archive Service

Donate to Lochaber Archive Centre

The Archive Service preserves, conserves and makes accessible over 700 years of Highland history. There is no charge to visit our Archive Centres and access the collections we hold, but High Life Highland is a charity and we rely on your donations.

Opening times

  • mon
    Closed
  • tue
    10:00 - 13:00 14:00 - 16:30
  • wed
    Closed
  • thu
    10:00 - 13:00 14:00 - 16:30
  • fri
    10:00 - 13:00 14:00 - 16:30
  • sat
    Closed
  • sun
    Closed
Alexander Ross House , Achintore Road , FORT WILLIAM , PH33 6RQ

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