Genealogy Chat

hi read your thread about the census going live and found this info census open? The 1911 Census must remain closed as a whole document until 2012, to protect personally sensitive information. However the Information Commissioner's decision means that The National Archives must supply some information from the 1911 Census in response to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Go to The Information Commissioner's website to read the decision notice Will there be an online service? In response to great public demand The National Archives is developing an online 1911 Census service, covering most parts of the census, with an external partner; we are actively investigating the possibility of launching this digital service in 2009. Over two kilometres of census records, containing the details of 35 million UK ancestors, will be digitised. This will provide an online service, across most fields of the Census, enabling researchers anywhere in the world to search and download digital scans of images from the census. As with our current online census services it will be both address and name searchable. It is anticipated that it will be available from 2009. It will offer a much cheaper and speedier access to the census returns than the planned FOI service. The full 1911 census won't be released until 2012. Can I get any information from the census now? In response to the Information Commissioners decision we shall respond to individual requests for some information from the 1911 census through our existing paid search service. This service is more limited, and almost certainly a lot more expensive to you, than the online service will be. Our recommendation is that you will get much more value out of the 1911 census if you are able wait until the online service is launched. What is the service that you are providing now? A basic research service to enable you to request information from specific addresses in the 1911 census The 1911 Census does not have a surname index so we cannot conduct searches for names in the original documents - when it goes online this will be easy to do We cannot provide personally sensitive information from the 1911 census How do I make a request now? You will need to provide: 1. House name or number / Building name / Vessel name 2. County 3. Civil Parish Requests cannot be processed without this information. All requests must be in writing and an online form is provided for your convenience. Go to our form to apply online Will I have to pay for this information? This will be a charged service in line with The National Archives paid search service - currently £45 per address search The fee is for the research work and we will endeavour to do all we can to find the information you want. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer refunds on unsuccessful searches

It would appear that the £45 is for one search. It will cost £5 in 2009 when there will still be limited access to info and then it will all be on online in 2012. Eileen

Rebecca, This is a paid search service asking the National Archives to do a search for you - this is BEFORE it goes online in 2009. Yes, it is £45 for each search. Details all in the article! Cheers, Horatia

OK! I know you're all going to start telling me that £45 is too expensive for a paid census search and you'll be waiting until it goes online in 2009, but thought I'd let you know anyway - just in case anyone out there is desperate to break down some brickwalls! Read all about it here: http://www.yourfamilytreemag(.)co(.)uk/page/yft?entry=1911_census_search_service_goes Remove brackets from web address. Cheers, Horatia

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