thewideeyedowl
24-08-2014, 10:09 PM
The National Archives (TNA) has updated its online search facility, which is called Discovery. The key point is that results can now include holdings in local record offices (but you can uncheck that, if you want TNA only). This can make searching more productive, because previously you had to get to local stuff via Access to Archives (A2A) in a new search, e.g. I have more than doubled the hits for 'my' Swantons in Somerset.
It is all explained in this blog from TNA: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/discovery-bigger-bolder-better/.
If you are new to searching at TNA, please be aware that only a small part of their holdings have been digitised - some can be downloaded free, some for a fee (MICs, for example), and some are available on pay-to-view sites like Ancestry and FMP. If the record you want has not been digitised, you would need to visit Kew to see it or get a quote from TNA (or an independent researcher) to find out how much it would cost to have it copied.
Most records at county record offices have not been digitised - again, you would need to visit the place or arrange to have an item copied.
Owl
It is all explained in this blog from TNA: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/discovery-bigger-bolder-better/.
If you are new to searching at TNA, please be aware that only a small part of their holdings have been digitised - some can be downloaded free, some for a fee (MICs, for example), and some are available on pay-to-view sites like Ancestry and FMP. If the record you want has not been digitised, you would need to visit Kew to see it or get a quote from TNA (or an independent researcher) to find out how much it would cost to have it copied.
Most records at county record offices have not been digitised - again, you would need to visit the place or arrange to have an item copied.
Owl