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Online records are a very valuable source and can provide a lot of information, particularly if your research is focused on the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the further back in time we go, the more likely we are to need to search original records or transcripts, most of which are only available in record offices and archives. It is often necessary to make a trip to a record office or archive, in order to view original records (such as parish registers) on microfilm or microfiche, or even to look at the original documents themselves under the supervision of an archivist.
It may be necessary to visit other record offices or archives in order to carry out research into your family tree. If that is the case, I will let you know in advance what my travel costs will be, so you can decide whether you wish me to go there or not. Original records are held in various record offices and archives around the country. I have described the main record offices of interest to genealogists below, but this is not an exhaustive list - I may need to use others under certain circumstances.
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The National Archives (TNA) are in Kew, southwest London. The records of the armed forces (Army, Royal Navy and RAF) are all kept here, as well as migration records, occupational records such as those for customs officers and the Merchant Navy, death duty records and many others. Some sets of records have been indexed, but many have not, so research does sometimes involve searching through original documents for information.
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The London Metropolitan Archives
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The London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is in the City of London and holds many records for both the City and County of London and for the old county of Middlesex, now part of Greater London. There is also a good collection of wills which have been indexed, and a large collection of newspapers.
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The Society of Genealogists (SOG) has an extensive collection of books, indexes and original documents useful to family historians. These records relate to the whole UK, not just London, as well as many other countries. As a member of the Society I am able to access the records they hold, both online and the physical records at their library.
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County and diocesan record offices
(frequently in the same location nowadays) hold local civil and Church
of England records. This includes parish registers, other parish
records such as vestry minutes and poor law records, and pre-1858
probate records. You can find links to these record offices for London
and the Home Counties by clicking on the relevant county link under
'Areas covered', in the left hand panel on this page. |
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