Genealogy Chat

Helen Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself! Frances The Family Record Centre in London is part of The National Archives. It's primary aim is to help family researchers, and it has the GRO indexes for births, marriages, deaths, censuses, wills indexes and other records designed to help find out about individuals and families. The National Archives is what used to be the Public Record Office and has all sorts of materials such as Navy Lists, World War 1 Records, Metropolitan Police records, pensions details, prison registers [basically all kinds of records kept by the government for all kinds of purposes] and masses and masses of info which could be useful for family researchers, but which wasn't kept or maintained for that purpose originally. You can check out the website and look at the section on family history to see what it offers, but it is much bigger than the FRC and you need to really plan your visit.

Thank-you to everyone who gave me all these useful tips. I went yesterday and loved the experience as it was relatively painless! The only thing I needed to ask was how to load microfilm onto the readers. I was there all afternoon but there was no sign of my two soldiers anywhere. Guess their records must have disappeared in the fire. I was saddened by what I did read of others, though, the 18yr olds who died on the Somme, only 5' 3" some of them and chests of only 35 inches. Poor things.

Zoe, thank-you, that's great. I shall have to print off this thread if I can for a last minute check!

Helen when you go in the self service room (where all your WWI records will be kept) there are loads of displays with little leaflets under them. These leaflets give you the idiots guide to what you're looking for i.e. exactly what shelf you'll find all the bits and what info you get to take you to the next step. I found these invaluable when I was there. Oh - and remember to take a pencil with you - you're not allowed pens or pencil sharpeners but they have sharpeners in the room you pass through to get to the self service room. The self service room also has all the England and wales BMD on fiche so takes notes of anything you haven't been able to find on FreeBMD in case you find yourself with spare time. There's also some census in there to but I can't remember which and I dont know if they have indexes either. Its great fun There's free car parking on site if you're driving or (if you don't get there early enough and its full) theres a shopping park a few mins walk away where you can park and also get something to eat if you don't like the canteen. Enjoy Zoe

Thank-you to all of you. I'm going to check records for a great-uncle not listed on CWGC so I'm not expecting too much success - I'm going to look at all the 'likelys' to eliminate them. I've never been before so am feeling it's all a bit daunting! I'll let you know how I get on.

You need a £1 coin for the locker, which has a removable key. Yes they do supply you with a plastic bag - but you need to have a pocket where you can keep the key safe! Believe me, it is embarassing to lose the locker key! YOu can buy a £5 copy card which I think also works at the FRC. Saves having to carry change around with you.

I went last week. It's a very large place and pretty overwhelming. You have to register when you get there, find a locker, go through security then find the right department. There wasnt many members of staff about so read as much as you can before you go...the one I managed to find just pointed to a leaflet and said it's pretty clear..(.which I didnt think so) then they vanished. I have to go back again because the time just flew by. Good Luck Sheila

Helen You sound pretty organised already. I have never been to Kew so would greatly appreciate any advice you can give once you've visited. Thanks, Helen

take lot of silver with you in case you want to use the self service fiche/microfilm copier. Good luck and stay calm!!! Jan

nudge

I've got myself organised and have booked in for next month, read the website and ordered my documents. Has anyone got any other tips?