« Reply #21 on: Friday 05 March 10 23:26 GMT (UK) »
Following comments here I decided to check the non-GRO certificates that I have, most of which were obtained from my local Register Office in Warrington. I noted that up to October 2007 they were all hand-written copies made by the deputy superintendant registrar, but after that date they all appeared to be actual copies of the original. Further examination showed that that date was when a different person became the deputy, so perhaps the method used is at the discretion of whoever is doing it.
Whilst agreeing that one usually receives better service from local offices, one advantage of the GRO I find is that their certificates are A4 in size. Local offices in my experience always issue long certificates which are not as easy to file, unless you buy a certificate folder which accommodates them. An alternative is to use an A3 photocopier with a reduction facility but relishing a challenge I worked out a procedure for reducing these long certificates to A4 size using image processing software on my computer.
Andrew, Banks, Birchall, Burgess, Burk, Carnell, Cartwright, Clare, Costello, Cragg, Daniels, Gregory, Hague, Hamblett, Hardman, Jackson, Marland, Mee, Mollyneux, Mullin, Naylor, Orford, Owen, Richardson, Robinson, Smith, Street, Tyldsley, Ward, Whalley, Wright
(Mainly Lancs and Cheshire)