Genealogy Chat

That still doesn't explain why the Scotland 1881 images are not available though - even from the ScotlandsPeople site. Scotland 1881 seems to be the only census (Eng/Wales or Scotland) for which the original images, as opposed to the transcriptions, are not available online.

Although the LDS came up with the idea for the transcription project in the 1980s, and set up the process, the transcribers were volunteer members of local family history societies. It was co-ordinated in England and Wales by the Federation of Family History Societies.

I did a bit of the Greenwich 1881 transcription. I found it very irksome having to follow the "transcribe what you see" rule, since it was often obvious that the local enumerator had the wrong spelling for places from other counties! It was very interesting doing it though. I'd recommend taking part in the freecen project if you get the chance.

I don't think it's as simple as this. The LDS (it seems) have the England and Wales records from 1881, but not the Scottish records.

However, if you view the Scottish records on ScotlandsPeople, the 1881 census is the only one between 1841 and 1901 which does not have images of the original documents. For this reason, it costs 1, rather than the usual 1+5 credits, to view the 1881 census record.

There must have been some variation in the way the records were compiled in that year.

Alistair

Oh ok, I didn't realise it was as simple as that......thanks

Because the LDS people transcribed it and gave it to us............

I have been wondering this since I started my research. Why is the 1881 census the only one that is free to view?