How to do genealogy research at a city or county record office in England

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By bluegreeniris
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The London Metropolitan Archives

City and county record offices in England contain historical treasures such as original documents, maps, land records, tax records, wills and probate, parish registers and parish records, film recordings, photographs and many other collections which will aid your research. Most people have to travel far to reach a record office so this guide should help you prepare for your visit.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Family history files
Pencils
Scrap paper
ID with your address
ID with your signature
Laptop (optional)
Digital camera (optional)
Small change for photocopies

Step 1

The very first step is to determine when the record office is open. Hours can vary greatly and they may be open late one night a week or open on a Saturday. Record offices also close to the public during annual stocktaking. The record office website will list the opening hours.
Step 2

Call in advance to reserve your microfilm or microfiche reader. During busy times there may not be anywhere for you to sit unless you have a reservation, so do not make travel arrangements until after your reservation is confirmed.
Step 3

Now prepare a research plan. Use their online catalogs, research guides and A2A (Access to Archives) to determine what records you want to look at, and if any are available in original format only. You can usually order originals over the phone in advance to save time. Note down the source details for each record. If you are bringing a laptop and use family tree software, you can create the record citations in advance. Be as thorough as possible - the deadline approaches!
Step 4

Take the time to thoroughly understand what parishes your ancestors lived in, and what dates the parishes were in existence. Note down the neighboring parishes as your research may need to extend into other parishes. Don't worry if you get stuck. The information will be at the record office.
Step 5

Ensure you have identification with your address on it (i.e. bank statements, driving license) and an ID with your signature (i.e. passport, credit card). Alternatively, if you are going to visiting several record offices, you can apply for a CARN (County Archives Research Network) card. It will allow you access to any of the participating archives. CARN cards are free and are good for four years.
Step 6

Digital cameras are great to bring along. Ask about their digital camera policy in advance. Some record offices will charge a flat fee for the day (£5-20 per day) and others will charge by how many images you take. You will likely be asked to sign a statement declaring that the images are for personal use only and cannot be published without permission.
Step 7

Finally, it's the day of your visit. Arrive on time and sign in. Show your IDs to get a day ticket or a CARN. Store large bags and coats in the lockers provided. Only pencils are allowed in this research rooms - no pens. Archives are like libraries and you will be expected to work reasonably quietly.
Step 8

The record office staff are there to help. They can show you how to find microfilms, use the various machines and order original documents. And if you aren't sure how to handle an original document, ask.
Step 9

Be sure to ask where indexes are kept. Indexes will save you a lot of time and get your research off to a flying start. Indexes can be printed, available on the record office computers or both.
Step 10

Take time to check out their map collections. OS (Ordnance Survey) maps can be incredibly detailed and show individual farms and parish boundaries. Other maps you may wish to consult are the enclosure awards and tithe maps.
Step 11

Finally, if you run out of time or need additional help, the record office should maintain a list of professional genealogists you can hire. The record office may also offer their own research service for a fee.

Comments

tclough said

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on 8/14/2009 Super info. Thank you for this article.

FrazzledNanny said

on 4/3/2009 I've been wanting to do a genealogy search for a while. 5*

sanderdoe said

on 4/3/2009 Very detailed and helpful information. I have family in England so I am glad to learn how to do genealogy research at a city or county record office in England. I am going to add to my favorites for future reference. Thanks!