Genealogy Chat

Bit selfish I know.. But Kew is so much easier for me....I do like it there. Only takes about 40 minutes.. Shame they are intending to close FRC as that is the first place I went to. Pat

Yet another one from Herts (Hi Janet - I'm in Hertford too) bemoaning the closure of FRC. I find looking through the microfiches easier than 'flicking' through the pages on ancestry census images, although I admit to finding ancestors on ancestry, who had moved away from where I expected them. Looks like I shall have to spend more of the Summer holidays there than I intended, searching through the other resources I haven't yet tackled.

Thanks Jean, missed it first time around. Only been to Kew once (with Nell) and was not that impressed with the place.It is a real b*gger to get to and takes so long. I live in Letchworth and the FRC is so easy to get to. I also use the LMA but have not done the Local Studies Centre yet. I shall be really upset when they move, I love those big books!!! Much nicer to read than a computer screen. Viv (in North Herts)

Thanks for putting this up Jean as I missed the first thread. From a purely selfish point of view Kew is a lot easier for me, a nice drive through Richmond Park and free parking, but before all the bmds and census records were available online I spent some happy days at Myddleton House and before that St Catherine's House, and I agree searching through those old handwritten ledgers is more satisfying that scrolling through online. Carolyn

Helen, the Public records office was originally in Central London just off Fleet Street and only relocated to Kew in the late 1970's.

I wonder if they will take those antiquated microfilm readers or if they'll transfer onto a digital system. Half of their machines aren't even motorised - they must be at least 40 years old.

That's a pain - being within walking distance of KC meant I didn't even have to bother with the underground. I've milked censuses and civ reg fairly well but could still have used some of the other records there.

I love the FRC and shall miss going there. Always makes me smile seeing the name of the road opposite - makes me think of Del Boy. Joy

Margaret I so agree with you. Now Ancestry have the GRO indexes on line I really have no need to go to the FRC but I'm afraid I find trawling through them on line plain boring. Lifting the great books off and on the shelves at the FRC gives me neck ache, arm ache and back ache but my goodness I do sleep well after a day there LOL.....added to which I have met some lovely people. Jean x.

Hi All, I have only been doing my family history just under a year but I have visited the FRC many many times. Very easy to reach by public transport like someone has all ready said. I have just looked at where Kew is on the tube map (have not been there yet) and I must say what a nightmare to get to. Last but one stop on the district line. On reading the press release I get the feeling the new location will concentrate on digital versions rather than actual hard copies of BMD books etc.

Hi, Helen. We seem to have quite a little North Herts clique going here!! Kew is The Wilds compared to Islington although not maybe compared to the Outer Hebrides! I must admit that I have only been there to go to the gardens (Kew that is, not the Outer Hebrides). Kew is just such a pain to get to on public transport, and not the greatest place to drive to either.

FRC is only five mins up the road on a no 38 :( I know Islington is hard to park but when it comes to public trasport Islington beats Kew hands down.

Angela Kew is hardly the wilds! but it is a loong way. I live in Hitchin and I've been various different routes, on a good day I can do it in about an hour and a half. nell

Like Janet, I find the FRC nice and easy to get to. It is only a 20 minute walk from Kings Cross Station (Hello, Janet - I am in Stevenage!). Kew will take hours. What I find amazing is that so much money can be spent on that wonderful building only for it to be abandoned and everyone sent out into the wilds.

The FRC's only been there for 15-20 years. No doubt it'll be turned into luxury flats. I'm really cross, it's the only London office I can get to easily by public transport. Kew would take me about three hours from Hertford.

me

I was a bit perturbed at first, as I find that corner of Islington useful - its got the FRC, the LMA and the Islington Local History Centre all nearby, not to mention various roads lived in by both my and my husband's families. But on the other hand, the FRC bmd indexes are readily available online, with easier access coming once they've digitised it all, and with Ancestry having the complete set of censuses, plus 1837online having 1861 and 1891 and various transcriptions online too, I don't think I would necessarily need to be going there. I would find it easier if they could relocate Kew in Central London though!!!!!!!!!!!!! nell

Like I didn't see it first time around, for instance! Christine

I wouldn't bother deleting it. It's another reminder for those that didn't see it first time round!!! Kat

Oh sorry Kat. I didn't see it. Perhaps I should delete this then I'm devastated as I spend a lot of time there and I love the place. Kew is much harder to get to for me and I find it intimidating. Christine thanks for that. You can tell how much I post. Jean x.