RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: markyb74 on Wednesday 30 March 11 14:48 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
I am planning to take my mum to Wolverhampton Archives when I visit her in a couple of weeks time. What advice would people have given this would be the first visit to the archives and also what records are best to look at (that cannot be found on-line)?
Regards,
Mark
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Wolverhampton Archives have a good on-line catalogue: here - http://blackcountryhistory.org/
Difficult to suggest what you could look for without knowing what you have so far.. the printed indices to the 1841 census is very useful.
The staff are very helpful: there is a decent coffee machine in the Oak Room: a nice garden if it's warm enough to sit outside with sandwiches.
Oh, and you'll need a CARN Card (though I think you can get a day ticket
Cati
PS there is NO access to ancestrylibrary
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Thanks for the reply Cati.
I have a subscription to Ancestry and FindMyPast and have seen the parish record transcripts that the Archives have put so was keen to find out what other records people have found interesting and useful
Mark
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There is a good collection of school records/school year books, and trade directories... also there are a vast number of photographs which do not yet appear in the online catalogue.
Oh - they're closed Mondays but last night opening on Wednesday. If you want a pub lunch, I would not recommend the pub next to the archive...
NB - see you have Burgess in your tree: is that Ann Burgess or her brother Benjamin by any chance?
Cati
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Thanks for the advice Cati. The on-line catalogue seems to be just pictures so do you know how far back the school records go?
I haven't come across Ann or Benjamin Burgess in my direct line back (George Burgess b1841), what dates were they?
Mark
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Ann Burgess born about 1823, Benjamin about 1831. No Georges that I've found so far...
The online catalogue does have quite a lot besides pictures - it's worth persevering with.
Wolverhampton Grammar School Registers start in 1515
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The Archive did have a printed catalogue - last updated in 2003 - they may still have a copy for sale: mine cost me a pound.
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Parish records were useful and some of the cemetry burials on film. I've only been once since they moved by the wolves ground. I walked all round trying to find the entrance. Only one is used. I was given a potted history on the house by the bloke on reception, its quite interesting. I found the staff were helpful. If you have n't a carn ticket, make sure you take the relevant ID with you to get issued with one or if you have one check the expiry. I was glad i realised before i went last time.
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Thanks Cati, I am not aware of any ancestors who went to WGS but might be interesting to see if I have time. I'll have a look for a printed catalogue. I notice you mention Ecclestone in your list of names, do you have a Catherine b1830, daughter of Thomas and Susannah?
Thanks Weste, I don't have a CARN ticket so will take my ID with me. Do you know which cemetery burials they have and what dates as those sound very interesting.
Mark
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I don't have your Catherine (yet! - you never know) - but do feel free to follow the link on my profile to my website.
Cemetery records:
Bilston 1865 -1981
Danescourt 1959- 1972
Merridale 1850 - 1937 (some gaps)
Bushbury Cemetery 1949 -1989
Beacon Hill Sedgley 1960-1993
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Thanks for the dates Cati, I presume by Bushbury Cemetery it means the Crem rather than the Church next door (St Mary's)?
I had a look at your family tree and didn't see any common ancestors (mine is now hopefully linked on my profile)
Mark
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The printed catalogue says
'Bushbury Cemetery, Underhill Lane, opened in August 1949 and closed in March 1994 (except for cremated remains)'. so I'd think this is St Marys
Can't see anything in the catalogue for crematoria.
Cati
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Hi Cati,
Busbury Crematoria is actually within Bushbury Cemetery and the whole area is often known locally as the Crem. The main entrance is in Underhill Lane.
The church is very close to the cemetery (but has an address of Bushbury Lane) and is several hundred years old with a small graveyard attached to it.
From the description in the catalogue it is not St Mary's but the main cemetery that the records are for.
Sorry for any confusion by me calling the cemetery the crem!
Mark
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Oh, thanks for that useful bit of info, marky!
I have been to the graveyard of St Mary's, but it was many years ago
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My catalogue is older than cati's it's 2001. Also some cemetry reels are divided into conformist and non conformist. I used bilston cem i was looking at one from 1874 onwards and it had addresses on. Also there is some very old stuff on wolvo archives web site. I.e. some of the older registers. Some churches are pictured as well.
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Thanks Weste, I had found the old records on the archives website. It is a shame they don't digitize more of their stuff (or get a company in to do it)