Genealogy Chat

I am going to the Records Office in Lewes, Sussex in a couple of weeks time to research the Rye, Sussex branch of my family tree. I have never been to a records office before & would welcome any tips for things I should do both in preperation beforehand & on the day to enable me to make full use of the time I have there. I live at the opposite end of the country so doubt I will be going back again soon. Thanking you all.

Take pencils won't allow pens in paper for notes - though I never use it change for photocopying usually 50p pieces take something to eat/drink if your there all day they usually have a room set aside for you notes on what you want to find out apart from that enjoy it Have a Good day Norah ps remember your glasses if you need them !!!

Check that they have what you want. Do your homework and prioritise what you need to find out - generally I always run out of time! Familiarise yourself with the place.

Extra cardigan they are a bit cold sometimes, in the search rooms. Make sure you have booked. Some places you need to take identification 2 photo's. Also a bill head with your name and address on. Make sure when you have looked at various notes that you write down what you have looked at. Magnifying glass .Enjoy

Hi Liz Joy has got a thread going for tips for record office just scroll down Sue

Check their website to see what is available. Have you booked a fiche or film reader if you need one? Lewes office was quite small and old, when I went there but they do have all sorts of things to look at. They do have a baptism card index, ( well they did) which could be useful. You could always check the actual register if you find something you need. Go armed with married names for the women, if you intend following them. It's easy to think you will remember names, marriage dates etc. but you don't always. I find the old fashioned exercise book useful. I put the surname in the margin in capital letters then jot down any items for any of the surnames of interest. Time will just go so quickly. Gather the information and make sense of it later. Record what you have looked at... even if it was a negative result. In months to come you may need to verify where you found out about Mary marrying Alfred so record your sources. Take time to visit Rye if you can. It's a lovely little town, best seen by walking in comfortable shoes. Enjoy your visit. Gwyn

Thank you all for your help and advice. I shall certainly take it all on board. Knowing me I wouldn't have thought to take food & thanks for the tip about taking a cardigan as I really feel the cold. I have now saved this thread & Joys for reference. I have actually been to Rye before. The Clarks don't seem to move about much. They were there in the early 1700's and my Dad was born there only 60yrs ago. I used to visit there quite alot as a kid but haven't been there for a good few years now. It certainly is a lovely town but my main port of call this visit will be the graveyards!!! Again many thanks to you all. Liz

I agree with the points already made - check whwther you need to book ahead for anything and what id you may need (it varies) - prioritise your work - allocate a bit of time (say an hour) to look at some of the things that aren't on your key tasks list (old maps, other indexes, eyc.), You might find some other areas you should be researching but it will also tell you the sort of things that are available should you decide to visit again and its sometimes useful to have a break - cash (paricularly small change for photocopies and vending machines)

You will certainly need a cardigan as the air con makes it very cold. At the Essex RO in Chelmsford you can buy a card that you insert into the photo copy machine. The value of this card varies, ie. £2.00.....£10.00. This does away with the need to have lots of coins. The Essex RO has a room with lockers for you to put your handbag etc. as they will only allow you to take some reference papers, writing pad and pencils. If the Essex RO is anything to go by you will meet very friendly staff only too willing to give you assistance. A relaxing area with coffee machine and soft drinks will probably be available. As stated previously, take notes even of info that you think is not relevant because you can bet your bottom dollar, it could well be the bit of info that will fill a space on your tree. Enjoy your time there, and I bet you will want to go back again. Happy hunting Kathlyn

One other thing Liz, Dont be frightened to ask for help there, Most people who work in these places are only too ready to help. And if you go to the same person each time, they will probably understand your follow up questions. Rod

nudge to put in my threads

I think I agree with the comments given already. Don't leave any valuables lying around, I have never had any problems myself but I have heard stories of things going missing in the larger offices. I have a A4 hard-back spiral bound notebook that I always use on visits, keeps everything in one place. I have a Palm Tungsten PDA which holds a copy of my tree, this is very useful for checking names and dates. There is a lot more than censuses and parish registers, I have spent a lot of time going through school log books. These make fascinating reading. Usually when I have finished my main task I spend a bit of time just looking through the card index and around what is on the open shelves - usually lots of indexes of specific subjects. Most record offices now have their catalogue online so you can have a look through before your trip. There is usually a name index to any appearances of names of people or places in newspapers and other records. This might be on card index or in a book, always worth a check. You will usually need a CARN card so have some sort of ID to show when you apply for one. Ask the staff to explain their system for getting records, they all vary slightly but you usually fill in a request slip, put in a box on the counter then it is brought to you with a limit on two or three though you can fill in several applications so they cna bring them all up from the store at the same time. MB

Thanks again for all your tips. I'm booked in for 30th oct & will let you all know how I do!

I have been to the Oxfordshire Records Office several times and recently got to the Hampshire one in Winchester. The procedures were quite different at both - Oxfordshire only asked for a Readers Ticket if you wanted to look at original documents, Hampshire wanted a ticket to get through the door, so it may be worth checking what is needed. It may also be an idea to check what format the information you want to look at is on in case you need to book a fiche or film reader. (Oxfordshire has its parish registers as hard copies, and Hampshire on fiche). I must say that I found the staff at both offices very friendly and helpful. Both had a nice room where you could eat your packed lunch and get a coffee. And I agree with the recommendation about the cardie!!! Wear something comfortable that you will be happy sitting in for several hours.

Before you go, spend a little time working out just what it is you hope to achieve and which records you want to aim to look at. Make a list of names, approximate dates and indicate the information you are trying to find in your note book against each one. If you don't go with a clear plan you could well find that you wast valuable time looking in the wrong places and even worse, forget to look for the very information you went for in the first place.