Genealogy Chat

Hi all, I am now here in UK on my long-awaited visit, and having a fantastic time. Have visited several places where my ancestors originated, found gravestones in country churchyards, taken photographs of houses where they once lived and generally got back in touch with my roots. In the first week of June I will be in London and am hoping to solve some of my most persistent problems by going to the Records Office. I am looking for relatives from the Finsbury, Shoreditch and Westminster areas of London in the early 1800's and before. Is Kew the best place to go for information? I have already registered for a ticket online, but I want to make sure I make the best use of my last couple of days by going to the right places. Any advice on this would be great. Many thanks. Maggie P.S. I am even enjoying the rain!!

Maggie welcome home, I have never been to Kew but I was reading on their website that to save time when you visit you can pre order up to 3 documents ahead of your visit & they will have them ready for you when you arrive, so if you know what parish records you need to look at it might be worth phoning them. Good luck with the search. Georgina.

Kew is a national archive for government records, military archives, wills proved at the highest court etc. You will probably find more about your London ancestors from the London Archives - London Metropolitan Archive in Northampton Street, London EC1 holds records such as parish registers for the parts of London outside the city walls which used to be in Middlesex, Surrey and Kent (including Finsbury and Shoreditch), The City of Westminster Archives Centre is in Ann Street London SW1 and the Guildhall Library (covering the City of London) is in Aldermanbury London EC2 (and also has St Leonard's Shoreditch parish records I believe)

Hi Antoinette and Georgina: Thanks very much to you both for your advice. I should certainly go to Clerkenwell then, and I must get organised so I know what I will need to look at and not waste precious time. It would be great if I could have things ready for me when I got there!! best to you Maggie.

Thank you Shirley that sounds like a good idea. I will probably have a couple of days so will be able to do the LMA and FRC hopefully...never enough time, but if I break through even one brick wall I will be content. Best regards Maggie

The London Metropolitan Archives are just a short walk from The Family Records Centre ie the FRC. at the FRC you can look at BMDS for the GRO Ref and order certs. Look at census , and look for overseas Consular Bmds. plus lots more. I always visit the LMA first for Parish records , the walk over to the FRC for the rest of my day visit. Shirley

Hi Judith I am certainly glad I asked! That sounds just the ticket for me. I had planned on getting all this researched before I left home but I moved house two weeks before I came here and couldn't find anything I needed and my computer wouldn't be set up in my new house, it just refused. Thanks a lot. Rgds Maggie

Hi, if you go to Kew, all I would say to you is PREPARATION before you go ie get clued up about how things work at Kew otherwise you could waste half a day finding out how things work. ie you need to know about reader's tickets and where to leave your luggage etc. I don't mean it to sound daunting but if you haven't been before you can waste alot of time wondering what to do when you get there! If you need any advice, please PM me!! Otherwise, have a good day there, you'll enjoy it. The staff are really helpful..Happy searching!! Shirley-ann