Thread: Question about the national archives

Am I right in thinking that the national archives in london hold all of the records that the individual centres around the country hold for instance all the infomation that can be found in wolverhampton archive centre can also be found the the NA in London?



Dan

Hi Dan,



Yes, I am sure you are right. If I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me as I haven't actually been there.

TNA holds the national records of the country. These include army records, assize court records, Metropolitan police records, the original census returns and a wealth of stuff - its quite mind-boggling. They have a huge store of maps as large as carpet rolls, prison returns and so forth. It's the repository for the government departments.



County records offices hold local information like parish registers, settlement papers, quarter sessions records, local maps, newspapers, street & trades directories.



Nat Archives at Kew is a national treasure with a wealth of information of use to family historians, but you need to do your homework before you visit. More info on their website.

national archives only hold the index's of BMD you need to go to local archives for BMD , i went to the national archives on wednesday for the first time and was disapointed that all they did was get me on a pc to look at websites which you can do on your own pc

Thanks for the question Dan



Also for all the replies. I am glad I haven't been there or I would probably have been dissapointed too. I am lucky in a way that most of my tree is based in one County, so one records office has had most of what I have needed.

i gotta go to norwich and hertfordshire archives for my family and edmonton archives, their easy to get to for me exp norwich as its like hours away in norfolk,lmao

Im surprised Mand as would love to go and explore at kew , my hidden rellies must be their somewere, but if i visit a libary or records office i use to get sidetracked too much marvellous things to read , and the old newspapers are a wealth of info so are school records. best i shut up can bore you for hours lol.

i wanna find more on my family, more then just BMD's would love to find where they lived and how long, where they went to school and if they had any illnesses etc..

Snap im with you their , at norfolk records office i found a school and was lucky to find rellie their , ive taken photos of places they lived and 1 i managed to get a photo of house was in his time and a inn he had , great stuff isnt it