Free access to ancestry and 1901 census etc

[littlemoo]

I recently went to the Essex Records Office and found that you now have to pay to access these. I'm sure they used to be free.

I know they have the library edition of ancestry which allows you to search BMD and get a brief transcription from the census records, but you have to pay to view the original census.

I know many of you guys pay for this access, but I know there any many people who are not able to do this.

Clare

[staticgirl]

It does seem hard when you have very little money, I agree, and has helped me back. I guess that these archives need specialist care and that's what we are paying for...It hurts the purse though.

1901 is online and although you can't see the actual thing, you can get some occupation details etc. 1901 Census of England and Wales Online

[KiteRunner]

If you go to a county record office then they will usually have the microfilm or microfiche of the censuses for their county and you can look at those free - often they will have indexes done by the local Family History Society, which are much better quality than ancestry's! And I guess all the census microfilms are available at TNA in Kew now?

[Phoenix]

Archives are being squeezed until the pips squeak. Each individual archive group has to decide how best to spend their limited resources. If we complain how expensive Ancestry is for an individual, imagine how much more expensive it is for an organisation.

On balance, I would prefer an archive to be cataloguing, conserving and making available their unique records, rather than providing a service that is available elsewhere.

(Personally, I would prefer 2012 to be taking place elsewhere and the money currently going into sport being diverted into archives, but that's just me!)

[Sue from Southend]

Clare - I work for Essex Libraries and we still have full free access to Ancestry. You only pay for printouts including original images. Not sure if you have access at home but you could pop into the Library at Benfleet (or come to Rayleigh to see me!) and use the PC's anytime!

[Kit]

I haven't been to an LDS lately but last time I was there I know there were discussions as to whether they would have access to ancestry as well. From memory though the cost of their sub was less than what I would have to pay.

[littlemoo]

Hi Sue,

I didn't know the smaller Libraries had access to Ancestry. I used to live near Westcliff Library which had no access :(

I will certainly pop down to Rayleigh Library, as it's now my nearest Library

Clare