Research in London
I'm going to be in London next month and don't want to miss the chance to do some family research while I'm there but I have no idea where to start. I've traced my line back to St Pancras and possibly to the workhouse there. Where are the on-site resources that can best help me, or does anyone have a lead on a researcher I may be able to hire there to help?
Answers
-
The first place that comes to mind for local and family history, specifically covering the St Pancras area, is the London Archives. Visit their website at https://www.thelondonarchives.org/ where you will find contact details and a catalogue of holdings. I would email or ring them, explaining that (as I imagine will be the case) you will have a very limited amount of time for research, so could they also recommend any likely alternative resources for the information you are seeking.
With regards to a professional researcher, the AGRA website, at https://www.agra.org.uk/ is well worth checking out.
From my experience, with the help of staff at the London Archives (or National Archives, or any other County Record Office in England) you should be able to avoid fees to hire a professional.
Another point to bear in mind is that as so much material is now online, one should always check what is available before making your journey. From my home in London, I have made two 3-4 day trips to the north of England, only to find that much of the material available in the record offices I visited could have been found online! Obviously, there will be certain useful material that is only available "locally", but checking beforehand to see what you can view from home will at least offer the opportunity of saving your valuable time whilst in London.
3 -
@carin_hunt - to reinforce what Paul says, there are a stack of records for London, in the widest sense, on Ancestry. Certainly parish registers and maybe also workhouse records (not sure but I think that I did see something workhouse related once on Ancestry).
It might be that your best place for research is via Ancestry (accessed at your local library perhaps) and your visit to London might be best employed walking the streets and seeing what your ancestors saw. Good luck
3 -
@carin_hunt You might also look for records at FindMyPast.com. They are focused on British records. FindMyPast & Ancestry are both available at local FamilySearch Centers at no charge. This link will help you find a FamilySearch Center near you .
0
