Old Books and County Directories

A tremendous source of family history information, not only for locating ancestors, but to find information on the places where they lived, and their lifestyle.
Find out more about old books

Census Data

There were some earlier local censuses, but the first major census in England & Wales was carried out in 1841, and then every ten years, excluding 1941.
Find out more about censuses

Parish Registers

These were started in 1538, and were records of baptisms, marriages and burials in the parish churches.
Find out more about parish registers

Newspapers and Magazines

Old local newspapers can be a superb source of information for history and genealogy. Magazines from the 1800s contain lots of fascinating articles about towns, and include some superb old illustrations. Then there are specialist magazines, such as the 272 weekly volumes of the Magazine of the Great War.
Find out more about newspapers and magazines

Birth Marriage and Death Certificates

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths (BMDs) began in England & Wales in 1837.
Find out more about birth marriage and death certificates

Maps

Enhance your family history file with old maps

Wills

Wills are relatively easy to locate (even those back into the 1500s) and form a really useful resource for family history.

Gravestone Inscriptions

The inscriptions on gravestones in church yards and cemeteries are superb sources of family history information.
More about Gravestone Inscriptions